EXCLUSIVE: Iqbal Khan BACKS Rupali Ganguly’s National Award Demand For TV Actors, Admits Shooting Hours Were Long; Says, “Hum To Dinon Din Ghar Nahi Jaate The”

Iqbal Khan has opened up about the demanding work culture in the television industry, shedding light on long shooting hours and how conditions have evolved over the years. While conversations around work-life balance continue to grow louder, the actor believes there still needs to be more structure and accountability on sets. In an exclusive conversation with Bollywood Bubble, Iqbal Khan spoke about exhausting schedules, changing times, and also weighed in on whether television actors deserve National Awards. Read on to know what he had to say.

Iqbal Khan Admits Shooting Hours Were Long

Talking about long working hours, Iqbal Khan questioned the need for excessively stretched schedules and stressed the importance of efficiency on set. He said, “Pata nahi, humare to 12 ghante ho rahe hain. Kiske hote hain? Aur isse zyada bhi hote hain. Shayad mere khayal se jab show naya-naya hota hai tab hota hoga. Technically, mere khayal se 12 ghante bahut hote hain shoot karne ke liye. Aur agar usmein kaam nahi ho raha hai, to phir kahin kuch gadbad hai.” He further added that even rest time should be structured, saying, “Mere hisaab se to isse zyada nahi hona chahiye. Aur aapka roll-back time bhi 12 ghante ka hona chahiye. Aur agar woh nahi ho raha hai, to phir kuch gadbad hai. Kyunki itna time kaafi hota hai.”

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Reflecting on his early days in the industry, Iqbal recalled how things were far more intense, especially in television. “Ab jo TV hota tha na pehle, film to khair aaram se shoot hoti thi, us time bhi hoti thi. Lekin TV ke shooting hours bahut zyada hote the. Definitely, shooting hours kaafi zyada hote the, matlab pack-up hi nahi hota tha. Ab kaafi had tak theek ho gaya hai, thoda normal ho gaya hai. Lekin us time to sach mein pack-up naam ki cheez nahi hoti thi,” he shared.

He went on to describe just how extreme schedules used to get, and the toll it took on health. “Aaj koi bolta hai na ki hum 16–17 ghante shoot karte hain, to mujhe lagta hai hum to dinon-din ghar hi nahi jaate the. Teen din, chaar din tak ghar nahi jaate the. Uska health pe bhi bahut bura effect padta tha. Lekin us time karna padta tha, kya karein,” he added.

Iqbal Khan BACKS Rupali Ganguly’s National Award Demand For TV Actors

Iqbal Khan also addressed the debate around television actors being recognised at the national level, supporting the idea, but with a clear condition. He said, “National Award milna chahiye. Agar koi performance waise level ki ho, waise story ho, waise performance ho, to kyun nahi milna chahiye? National Award isliye milta hai na kyunki aapne kuch bahut alag kiya hai. It has… maybe… matlab art ko ek alag tareeke se dekha jaata hai. Yeh normal award nahi hota, yeh National Award hai. Ismein kuch bahut alag hona chahiye. Toh agar woh TV mein ho raha hai, to phir kyun nahi milna chahiye? Lekin agar nahi ho raha ho, to phir kyun milna chahiye?”

In conclusion, Iqbal Khan offered a practical and experience-driven perspective on the industry’s work culture. While he acknowledged that conditions have improved over time, he made it clear that long hours still need better regulation. At the same time, he supported greater recognition for television actors, provided the work meets the highest creative standards.

Watch Full Interview Here:

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Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Iqbal Khan SLAMS Casting Based On Social Media Followers; Says, “Log Instagram Pe Nahi Hoke Bhi Acha Kaam Karte Hai”

Varsha Tiwari

Varsha Tiwari is a budding content writer passionate about Bollywood, pop culture, and the stories behind the spotlight. She enjoys breaking down trends, celebrity moments, and film narratives into engaging, reader-friendly content. Always curious and observant, she is currently pursuing a Master’s in Communication and Journalism. Outside of writing, she enjoys painting because storytelling doesn’t always need words to make an impact.