Television actor Akanksha Chamola recently appeared on Honestly, Why Not With MNL Season 2, hosted by Mohammed Nagaman Lateef, where she spoke openly about her career, marriage and the changing reality of the television industry. During the conversation, Akanksha shared her views on lead roles, social media influence, relationships and the challenges actors face while working on television.
One of the biggest moments from the interview came when she was asked if she believed she deserved more opportunities as a lead actor. Akanksha answered confidently, saying, “I deserve a lot of lead roles. Gaurav has already done a lot of lead roles. I’m not comparing myself with him, but yes, I want to have many more opportunities as a lead.”
She also spoke about how the entertainment industry has changed over the years. According to Akanksha, an actor’s popularity on social media often becomes more important than talent alone. Sharing her thoughts, she said, “It feels like followers are valued over talent today. Being in the right circles has become very important.” She explained that networking and maintaining visibility have become important parts of building a career.
Akanksha also reflected on how marriage affected her professional life. She admitted that she received more acting offers before getting married and believes her career slowed down afterwards. Speaking honestly about that phase, she said, “I had more offers before marriage. After marriage, they definitely reduced. Looking back, I think I was a little stupid.” She added that the experience helped her understand the industry better.
Talking about working relationships, the actor admitted that maintaining a peaceful atmosphere on a film or television set sometimes requires compromise. She said, “Yes, I have pretended to like a co-actor just to keep the peace on set. Sometimes you do what is needed for a healthy working environment.”
When asked whether it is possible for actors to fall in love while working together, Akanksha gave a thoughtful response. She said, “Falling in love is something that just happens. You can’t control it. Obviously, I would never want such a situation after marriage.”
The actress also discussed the long working hours that many television actors experience. She explained that while actors begin projects hoping for meaningful roles and strong scripts, practical responsibilities also influence career decisions. She shared, “I’ve been working long, toxic hours for months. Initially, you hope for a great script and a meaningful role, but sometimes reality is different and you also have to think about paying your bills.”
Throughout the episode, Akanksha spoke honestly about the realities of the television industry, balancing personal life with professional commitments and adapting to changing expectations. Her candid conversation offered viewers a closer look at the challenges actors face behind the scenes while pursuing long term careers in entertainment.