The
shockingly
sudden
death
of
television
actor
Abir
Goswami
of
a
heart
attack
has
raised
the
perennial
issue
of
unearthly
hours
and
dreadful
work
conditions
afforded
to
television
actors.
Ronit
Roy,
who
has
been
working
in
the
television
industry
for
over
15
years
and
has
now
phased
out
into
big-screen
acting,
says
the
arduous
hours
and
deplorable
work
conditions
provided
on
the
sets
of
television
serials
are
potentially
dangerous
for
the
health
of
the
cast
and
crew.
"The
conditions
under
which
TV
actors
work
are
unimaginable," said
Ronit
who
has
been
part
of
TV
shows
such
as
Kasautii
Zindagii
Kay.
"We
have
to
work
almost
non-stop
for
14-16
hours
in
the
most
unhygienic
conditions.
I
was
once
shooting
for
my
serial
Adaalat
on
a
set
erected
right
next
to
a
garbage
dump...day
and
night!
By
evening
the
whole
place
would
be
stinking
with
garbage.
I
shudder
to
think
what
diseases
that
filth
must
have
carried
on
to
our
sets," he
added.
Ronit
finally
got
the
set
removed
from
the
garbage
dump.
But
when
it
comes
to
the
food
provided,
the
actor
had
to
concede
defeat.
"Luckily
they
listened
to
me
about
removing
the
set
from
near
the
garbage
dump.
But
many
times
I
am
helpless.
The
food
provided
during
television
shootings
is
most
of
the
time
unpalatable.
And
there's
nothing
that
can
be
done
about
it," said
the
actor.
This
shocking
truth
about
the
quality
of
food
on
television
shootings,
Ronit
discovered
by
chance.
He
said:
"I
never
touch
the
food
on
the
television
sets.
I
get
ghar
ka
dabba
that
my
wife
sends
no
matter
where
I
am
shooting.
But
most
actors
can't
take
home-cooked
food
with
them."
"I
remember
we
were
shooting
for
this
long-running
serial
for
one
of
the
biggest
production
houses.
The
crew
and
cast
came
to
me
to
complain
about
the
food.
I
tasted
the
food.
It
was
absolutely
unpalatable.
Not
fit
for
human
consumption.
I
complained
to
the
production
company's
head
about
the
food.
For
five
days
the
food
improved,
then
the
quality
went
back
to
being
what
it
used
to
be,"
said
the
47-year-old.
Abir,
seen
in
shows
like
Kkusum
and
Pyaar
Ka
Dard
Hai,
passed
away
Friday.
Ronit
admits
television
actors
work
under
conditions
of
tremendous
health
hazards.
"I
don't
know
if
Abir
Goswami
could
have
lived
longer
if
he
worked
under
better
conditions.
But
we
certainly
don't
guarantee
even
basic
amenities,
forget
about
luxuries
for
television
actors.
I
am
glad
I've
cut
down
on
television.
It
would
have
surely
taken
a
toll
on
my
health,"
said
Ronit,
who
impressed
with
his
performance
in
Udaan.
Abir
too
was
gravitating
towards
the
big
screen.
"Abir
was
my
co-star
in
Ugly.
A
talented
actor.
We
had
also
done
television
together.
He
had
a
very
bright
future
as
an
actor.
I
rushed
to
his
home
after
the
tragedy.
It's
hard
to
believe
Abir
is
gone.
We
had
recently
completed
'Ugly' where
he
played
an
ACP,"
said
Ronit.
"I
believe
he
suffered
from
a
heart
condition.
My
advice
to
fellow-actors
on
television:
please
insist
on
getting
basic
amenities
and
decent
food
on
the
sets
during
those
long
hours
that
television
demands,"
he
added.
IANS