NewKerala.com

Harsh Chhaya Recalls When TV Shoots Meant 8-Hour Days and Weekends Off

Veteran actor Harsh Chhaya reflected on the changing work culture in television, recalling a time when shoots were only eight hours with weekends off. He noted that despite similar workloads, past schedules were more organized and disciplined compared to today's 12-hour shifts. Harsh has been in the industry for over three decades, known for shows like 'Hasratein' and 'Tara', and films like 'Company' and 'Fashion'. He is currently receiving praise for his performance in the OTT series 'Undekhi'.

Key Points: Harsh Chhaya on TV’s Past: 8-Hour Shifts, Fixed Weekends

  • Veteran Harsh Chhaya recalls 8-hour TV shoot days
  • Past schedules had fixed Saturdays and Sundays off
  • Current industry works 12-hour shifts for 5-day airing
  • Harsh praised for OTT series Undekhi
2 min read

Harsh Chhaya recalls times when TV shoots meant 8-hour shifts and fixed weekends off

Veteran actor Harsh Chhaya recalls when TV shoots were only 8 hours with weekends off, contrasting today's 12-hour shifts and constant deadlines.

Harsh Chhaya recalls times when TV shoots meant 8-hour shifts and fixed weekends off
"We used to shoot from 9 to 6 and weekends were off. - Harsh Chhaya"

Mumbai, May 7

Veteran star Harsh Chhaya, at his candid best, reflected on the changing work culture in the television industry.

He recalled a time when actors would shoot for only eight hours a day, with both Saturdays and Sundays off, despite dealing with the same amount of workload as they do now.

In an exclusive conversation with IANS, the actor spoke about how television schedules were once far more balanced despite delivering successful yet hectic and long-running content.

"It used to be a lot of work even back then, but we worked only for eight hours because the industry functioned that way. An episode would air every week and people today cannot believe that we used to shoot daily from 9 am to 6 pm with Saturdays and Sundays off," shared Harsh.

Talking further about the disciplined schedules during his early years of television, he elaborated, "We shot like this for almost two-and-a-half to three years. It was not as if we didn't work hard. The shoots were simply prepared in a more organised way. We used to shoot from 9 to 6 and weekends were off."

He quipped, "If a new scene came in at 5:30 PM, we would worry that it might stretch till 7, because the shift was supposed to end by then. But there is a huge difference today. Now people work 12-hour shifts and are still constantly fighting against time because shows need to air five days a week."

Talking about Harsh Chhaya, the actor has been a part of the entertainment industry for over three decades and is known for his powerful performances across television, films and OTT.

He gained immense popularity through shows like 'Hasratein', 'Tara', 'Koshish - Ek Aashaa', 'Margarita', and many other hit projects.

Apart from television, Harsh has also featured in films like Company, Corporate, Fashion and many others.

Currently, the actor has been receiving praise for his performance in the OTT series Undekhi, which also stars Varun Badola and Gautam Rode.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

J
James A
Interesting insight from Harsh Chhaya. It's rare to hear actors talk about the "good old days" without romanticizing them. He's right—12-hour shifts are brutal, and it shows in the quality of final product. Indian TV could learn a lot from western mini-series models where quality wins over quantity. But with TRP pressure and daily soaps, I doubt things will change anytime soon. 😕
S
Sneha F
It's great that Harsh Chhaya is speaking up about this. But let's be honest—the real problem is the audience's demand for daily episodes. We want fresh content every day, and then actors suffer. Maybe we should all slow down and appreciate weekly episodes like before? Even OTT shows like his 'Undekhi' are proof that less frequent releases can be more impactful. We need to rethink our binge-watching culture!
K
Kavya N
Honestly, I feel for the actors, but what about the crew? They work even longer hours. Harsh Bhai makes a valid point about organised scheduling. In the old days, studios respected boundaries. Today, it's all about "chalo, karte hain"—just get it done, no matter what. That mentality is toxic. Good on him for reminding us that there was a saner way to work. 👏
D
Deepak U
I remember watching Harsh Chhaya in 'Margarita' and thinking what a brilliant actor. This interview shows he's just as thoughtful off-screen. But I respectfully disagree on one point—yes, 8-hour shifts are better, but the workload now is also heavier because shows run 5-6 days a week. The solution isn't just going back to 8 hours; it's also reducing the number of episodes per week. Why can't we have 3 episodes a week like many global dramas? That would solve both quality and work-life balance. Just a thought...

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50