The television drama Jhanak has been making waves for months with its gripping plot and character arcs. However, not all the buzz surrounding the show has been flattering. Social media platforms have become a space for fans to air their frustration, and the criticism hasn’t gone unnoticed by the cast.
Kajal Pisal, who essays the role of Tanuja in the daily soap, recently addressed the backlash during an interaction with Times of India TV.
“At this point of time, I have accepted that trolling is a part of my job,” she stated openly. The actress admitted that while some criticism is harmless, it often crosses a line. According to Kajal, audiences sometimes fail to separate actors from the characters they portray, leading to unnecessary personal attacks.
Kajal emphasized that actors merely perform the parts assigned to them within a storyline created by writers and directors. Today she’s playing Tanuja, but tomorrow it could be someone entirely different. The actress revealed that enduring constant trolling isn’t easy and it does weigh heavily on mental health at times. She confessed, “It’s a lot to take sometimes,” while sharing that even light-hearted social media posts attract harsh remarks.
Fans have not only criticized the plot twists but also passed derogatory comments about Kajal and her co-actors. Some of the remarks, she revealed, have been juvenile and baseless. There have been instances where people have commented on her reels, referring to her co-stars as ‘chamchi’. Though the cast often laughs off these remarks, it reflects a certain immaturity among sections of the audience.
Despite the negativity, Kajal stands by her colleagues and the narrative. She praised Hiba Nawab and Krushal Ahuja for their performances and shared that the pair enjoys tremendous popularity among fans. “Ani and Jhanak are loved. Hiba and Krushal are fantastic actors with great chemistry,” she said, pointing out that discontent over a plot turn shouldn’t be directed personally at actors.
Kajal explained that the story belongs to the writer’s vision. While actors bring characters to life, they don’t control the direction of the plot. Every narrative decision is made by the creative team, and actors follow through with their roles, regardless of whether the audience agrees. She admitted that even within the cast, there are occasional debates about certain story elements.
There are times when she personally aligns with the audience’s perspective. Kajal acknowledged, “Sometimes we do agree with audience. Like people tell me that Tanuja should accept Jhanak as her bahu because from personal perspective it is different but from Tanuja’s perspective, it is her ego that’s not allowing her.”
As Jhanak continues its dramatic run, the divide between audience expectation and the storyline’s trajectory remains a topic of discussion. While social media serves as a platform for fan engagement, it also reveals the harsh side of public opinion.
