Exclusive: Jhanak actress Kajal Pisal reacts to audience backlash due to Hiba Nawab and Krushal Ahuja's storyline; says ‘People forget between real and reel'

Time of India

23-05-2025

As Jhanak continues to make headlines for its dramatic twists and evolving characters, not all the attention has been positive. The show, starring Hiba Nawab and Krushal Ahuja, has recently faced significant audience backlash, with fans taking to social media to express displeasure over the current storyline.
Actress Kajal Pisal, who plays Tanuja in the show, addressed the criticism in an exclusive chat with Times of India TV, offering a grounded and honest perspective.
'At this point of time, I have accepted that trolling is a part of my job,' Kajal shared candidly. 'With fame and love also comes trolling. Sometimes it is okay, but sometimes people go overboard — and that's not acceptable.'
She stressed that viewers often blur the lines between fiction and reality.
'People forget that there is a lot of difference between real and reel. We are just playing characters in a story written by someone else. Today I am playing the role of Tanuja — tomorrow it may be someone completely different.'
The actress also opened up about the mental toll such constant criticism can take. 'It's a lot to take sometimes,' she admitted. 'People even comment on my reels, calling my co-actors 'chamchi'.
We laugh it off, but it shows how immature some reactions can be.'
Despite the backlash, Kajal remains supportive of her co-stars and the narrative. 'Ani and Jhanak are loved. Hiba and Krushal are fantastic actors with great chemistry. But when the story doesn't go the audience's way, it's easy to blame actors on social media. Every story is told from the writer's point of view.'
Reflecting on her character, she added, 'As a character, sometimes you do questions and there are creative discussions but everything is said and done. You just have to play it. We can't change the storyline. 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.
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Kajal's honest reflections are a reminder of the challenges actors face behind the scenes — balancing storytelling, criticism, and public perception, all while staying true to their craft.