Kajal Pisal: Becoming an actor was not something I had planned

Jhanak actress Kajal Pisal looks back at her entry into the television industry, which happened by chance. “In 2007, acting was not something I had planned. A friend took me along for an audition for Ekta Kapoor’s Kuchh Is Tara. I decided to give it a try and was selected. But soon after, I found out I was pregnant.

It was during the early days of the shoot, and I had to step away,” she recalls. A few years later, in 2011, Kajal returned to television with Bade Achhe Lagte Hain season one. “This time, I was ready. Things fell into place, and since then, I have been working consistently,” she says. Over the years, she has been part of shows such as Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behna Hai, Ek Mutthi Aasmaan, Saath Nibhaana Saathiya, Udaan, Sirf Tum and others. For her, acting has been a process of learning on the job. “I never attended an acting school. I learnt from my directors and co-actors on set. Even today, I consider myself a learner. By God’s grace, the roles I’ve played have given me recognition, and that makes me proud,” she says. On the growing influence of social media in casting, Kajal has a clear view. “I don’t believe work comes because of follower count. My work comes from my talent. Maybe social media brings opportunities for reality shows, but television is different. Going viral online is easy, but sustaining fame on TV requires hard work, consistency, and a bit of luck too,” she adds.