In a recent tell-all interview, Krystle D'Souza spoke about the gruelling working conditions in the TV industry. From fainting to being put on an IV drip, here are all the details.
Krystle D’Souza’s acting debut in Hindi cinema was far from ordinary. In her very first stint in Chehre, the talented actress had the opportunity to share screen space with the legendary actor, Amitabh Bachchan. Krystle, who wanted to make the most of her successful debut, threw herself into her next project not long after. She played a significant role in the Riteish Deshmukh and Fardeen Khan-starrer, Visfot, which released on September 6, 2024.
However, Krystle’s work on the small screen holds a special place in the hearts of fans who have been following her career for a while. In an interview with Siddharth Kannan, Krystle recently revealed that she is equally fond of her time on TV. The actress also candidly spoke about the many struggles she endured in the industry.
In conversation with Siddharth, Krystle revealed how taxing it was to work on the sets of shows produced by Balaji. She mentioned that shoots would go on for 30 days and 20-30 hours at a stretch back then. Krystle said:
“I started with Rs. 2,500 per day. There were no rules back then that said that the shooting needed to stop after 12 hours. Even governing bodies like CINTAA wouldn’t get involved. I have even shot for 60 hours non-stop. We used to shoot every day because the telecast would either be for the same day or the next.”
Siddharth expressed concern over the actor’s well-being in such conditions. He asked her if she had ever felt burnt out, and Krystle responded:
“Yes, I have. I’ve even fainted on set many times. They would call for an ambulance, put me on an IV drip, give me medicines, and then I’d be back to the set. There was no time to go to the hospital. (laughs) They’d bring the hospital to the set and fix you up in an ambulance. It was taking a toll on me, and anyway I wasn’t able to keep up.”
While working conditions on Ekta Kapoor’s sets may have been far from humane, Krystal still believes that she owes her success to the producer. She shared a fun anecdote about her chance meeting with Ekta when she was bunking college.
Krystle was “chilling” outside her college when Ekta stopped her car and asked her if she wanted to be an actor. The Ek Nayi Pehchaan star, whose first concern was getting paid, considered it and said “yes”. Ekta then told her to show up for a meeting. Krystle said:
“So I went for a meeting, then I did an audition, and I held a placard, which said ‘Krystle’ with a ‘K’. I think that’s what did it for her. She said, ‘I found my Kinjal.’”
While reminiscing over her time on the small screen, Krystle mentioned that it is a common misconception that film stars make more money. According to her, the per-day payout TV actors received made them financially stable enough to be more selective about their work. However, as a newcomer in cinema, that stability was missing.
What do you think about Krystle’s shocking revelations about working in the TV industry? Let us know.
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