Nia Sharma on Her Absence from TV: A Conscious Decision

Mumbai, Actor Nia Sharma, known for popular TV shows like “Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behna Hai” and “Jamai Raja,” recently opened up about her deliberate hiatus from television. Speaking candidly, Nia explained that her decision stemmed from skepticism about the future of TV, particularly during a period when many shows were going off air within months.

Nia, who has starred in long-running soap operas such as “Ishq Mein Marjawan,” revealed that she was waiting for the right opportunity. This came in the form of her latest project, “Suhagan Chudail,” which airs on Colors TV. Her last TV appearance was in the Ekta Kapoor-produced “Naagin 4,” which concluded in 2020. Since then, she has participated in reality shows like “Khatron Ke Khiladi: Made in India,” where she emerged as the winner, and “Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 10.”

Challenges in the Indian TV Industry

The Indian TV industry has long struggled with issues such as long working hours, delayed payments, harassment, and toxic work environments. Nia Sharma acknowledged these persistent problems, stating, “We always know of certain things that television faces, it’s the working conditions, which will always be there because it’s daily soaps. They’re churning out content on a daily basis, they’re not here to set examples about how a TV show set should be.”

After establishing herself in the industry, Nia has begun demanding the treatment she believes she deserves. She now insists on better working conditions, including a lavish vanity, timely payments, and reasonable working hours. “I want a great treatment. That’s the only condition I have. I want to be treated very well… I want to go back home after a certain number of hours, where most of the time actors are expected to just stay back.”

Nia also highlighted the lack of creative freedom and preparation time for actors in daily soaps. “You think you’ll get to really read a scene 10 times before doing a scene in the initial bit. Yes, but going forward, they’ll only be bothered about sending a telecast to be uploaded on air.”

Nia Sharma’s Role in “Suhagan Chudail”

In “Suhagan Chudail,” Nia Sharma plays Nishigandha, a witch driven by a thirst for immortality. She clarified that her character is not typically negative but rather has her own agenda. “It’s just that she has her own agenda in the show. It will be a love triangle between these three people. Like, how she will keep protecting the love of her life and how Nishigandha is on a quest to kill that guy. That’s what the show is going to be about and not a typically negative lead, whose only agenda is to break the couple up.”

Nia Sharma’s return to television marks a new chapter in her career, as she navigates the challenges of the industry while maintaining her standards and values.