Indian television’s golden era in the early 2000s was marked by grueling schedules, as revealed by actors like Chetan Hansraj. He recalls shooting for 22 hours a day across three shows, a common experience echoed by Shweta Tiwari, who once worked 72 hours straight.

The early 2000s were a golden era for Indian television. Family dramas ruled prime time, TRPs soared, and the small screen gave rise to some of its most iconic stars. Among them was Chetan Hansraj, known for his strong screen presence in shows like Kkusum, Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii, Kya Hadsaa Kya Haqeeqat, and many more. But while the audience saw the glamour, behind the scenes was a world of relentless shooting schedules and sleepless nights.Speaking to Siddharth Kannan on his YouTube channel, Chetan opened about just how packed his days were back then. At one point, he was juggling three popular shows at the same time. “I was doing three shows at the same time. I would shoot for 22 hours a day for 2-3 years straight. I would sleep whenever I got the chance, sometimes between shots,” he recalled.Days off were rare, usually only when he was completely drained. Otherwise, it was straight from one set to another, barely pausing to rest. Yet, despite the extreme hours, Chetan says he has no regrets. “It was the most amazing experience of my life,” he said, calling that period the “golden era of television.”He also credited Ektaa Kapoor for giving him the opportunities that transformed his career and life. “When 2004 started, my bank balance wasn’t great. But by the end of that year, I got married, bought a house in Bandra, and even bought my first car. My life transformed,” he shared.Chetan’s story isn’t unique. Many stars from that era have spoken about the intense grind. Shweta Tiwari, who became a household name as Prerna in Kasautii Zindagii Kay, told Bharti Singh and Harsh Limbachiyaa on their podcast that she sometimes worked for 72 hours without a break. “Our industry was known for the fact that no one slept. I shot for 72 hours straight. After working a 30-day schedule, I used to get paid for 45 days because my shifts would just roll into each other.” Apart from Kasautii, Shweta also appeared in Parvarrish and Baal Veer.Krystle D’Souza, known for Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behna Hai and Brahmarakshas, also recalled working 60 hours straight. “I fainted on set so many times. They had to bring the hospital to me, with IV drips and medicines, and then I would go back to shooting,” she laughed.