Ekta Sharma opens up about the harsh realities behind the glamour of television—audition rejections, delayed payments, and the constant pressure to stay relevant.
Despite 25 years in the industry, she reveals that the struggle to land meaningful roles never truly ends.
After her track as Prema in Mangal Lakshmi came to an abrupt end, seasoned actress Ekta Sharma found herself once again navigating the uncertain waters of the television industry. Despite over 25 years of experience, she admits that the hustle never really stops.
“My character was written off in April—they sent Prema to Canada, just like that. After that, I did a five-day shoot for a vertical series on an app. Since then, I’ve been auditioning and waiting for something new to work out,” Ekta Sharma shares, adding, “Actors often work for a few days—maybe 15, 20, or even just two—depending on the role. So I’ve started giving auditions again, searching for work.”
Ask her what kind of roles she’s looking for, and she responds with the grounded perspective of a true performer. Ekta Sharma says, “Work can’t be labeled as good or bad; it depends on personal comfort and choice. Work is work. What we seek is job satisfaction. I enjoy doing comedy as much as I do positive or negative roles—as long as the character is well-written. A real actor can take on anything.”
Ekta Sharma says, I get DMs saying, ‘Mujhe bhi actor bana do.’
Despite her experience, Ekta Sharma reveals that the audition grind never ends. The actress, who has been part of shows like Kkusum, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, and Mann Sundar, shares, “People think this industry is all glamorous, but the truth is, our struggles are constant and very real. I get DMs saying, ‘Mujhe bhi actor bana do.’ But they don’t realise how much hard work it takes. If you’re talented and persistent, the hard work does pay off—but nothing comes easy.”
Ekta Sharma adds, “We sometimes wait three months to get paid. We have bills, responsibilities. We shoot comedy scenes when we’re sad, or intense, emotional ones when we’re actually in a good mood. That’s the job. I remember someone clicking my picture and saying, ‘Yeh negative smile nahi chahiye.’ Even our expressions get judged.”
The challenges continue off-screen too. Ekta Sharma shares, “People say, ‘Madam, aap toh serial mein aate ho, why are you bargaining?’ Or when I was once crying in public, someone joked, ‘Aapka daily soap yahaan kyun chal raha hai?’ They forget we’re human too. We feel everything—pain, pressure, and the constant need to maintain a certain image.”
Ekta Sharma adds, “Sometimes, it’s even tough to rent a house. Once a show ends, we’re back to square one, waiting for the next. And in the middle of all this, we’re expected to always look our best, uphold a certain lifestyle. This is what truly goes on in an actor’s life beyond the spotlight.”
