Gauri Pradhan feels TV actors are left with very little family time

Actor Gauri Pradhan, who shot to fame with TV shows such as Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Kutumb, took a break from the small screen for several years, before making her comeback with Meri Ashiqui Tumse Hi in 2014. The reason she took the sabbatical was to look after her twins, Katya and Neevan, born in 2009.

Asked whether anything has changed in television in all these years, she says, “The content has become bolder. People are open to more ideas, and there are a lot of interesting concepts coming up.” The one thing which she rues is the fact that working on television leaves you with very less or almost no family time. “My schedule is very tough. I get up at 5 in the morning, get my kids ready for school, and do my workout and yoga. Then I leave for my shoot by 10-10.30, and usually return by 9. I try to take offs whenever possible to spend time with my kids.”

Things became even more difficult for Gauri, when her husband, actor Hiten Tejwani, participated in a reality show recently. He had to live in a house with other contestants, away from their families.

“It was even more hard work (without Hiten). I had to do everything single handedly. There was so much of running around that it became physically and mentally taxing. We haven’t been apart from each other for more than, say, 20-25 days when he had to go for an outdoor shoot. Two and a half months was a very long time.” They are now planning a family vacation.

PHOTO: FOTOCORP Gauri Pradhan is married to actor Hiten Tejwani