She did not have proper food for 3 days because of her shooting schedule. Ashnoor Kaur remembers her days when she couldn’t eat as she had back-to-back shootings.

Ashnoor Kaur is a popular Indian actress who began her journey as a child artist when she was just five years old. Many of us know her through her serial,  Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai.

In an interview, Ashnoor shared how once she fainted because she had been working long hours without food for three straight days. And this was when she was just 6 years old.

The Harsh Reality of Child Stardom

When we see children on TV or in films, we assume them to be happy. But what we don’t see is their hectic schedule and the physical stress they go through.

The entertainment industry has always been a high-pressure industry. Here children are not given any consideration. Working for 30 hours at a stretch and skipping meals can affect their mental well-being.

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A Message for Parents?

Parents want their children to excel in their respective fields and that’s okay. But children are still young. Their basic needs are food, rest and play. And these must never be compromised for ambition or fame.

When a child faints from not eating, it is a red flag that their well-being has been compromised.

The Pressure of Success

It is not just the industry but also society that push children into situations they are not ready for. There is pressure to earn and become famous.

But success at a young age comes with hidden costs. Instead of playing, children spend their days on sets. The meal time is not fixed, which can weaken growing bodies. Lack of sleep adds on.

Childhood Shouldn’t Be a Race

Childhood is meant for learning and growing. Their body is not made for 30-hour shifts and starving for the sake of a scene. While talent should be nurtured, it should never come at the cost of health.

Protecting Children in Glamorous Careers

If you take care of a few things, children can get comfortable in any industry

• A child should never miss meals, sleep, or school for work.
• There must be a limit to work hours. They should have enough time for rest and play.
• If a child says they are tired or hungry. Their voice must matter more than deadlines or contracts.

Ashnoor Kaur is now grown up and successful. But her childhood memory of fainting from hunger will always remain with her.

Let talent shine but let childhood remain sacred.