Mumbai: Rhythm Sanadhya, who is a popular song director, shares that in high-pressure industries like acting and music, the stress and pressure to constantly deliver the best is immense. She said, "I myself often shoot for 14 to 18 hours straight and then immediately sit down for the edits. Today, the rapidly increasing demand for content is putting direct pressure on creators like us to keep delivering at an almost crazy pace."
"In fact, I truly appreciate actors because they not only have to perform well but also maintain themselves to look perfect on screen, which takes an enormous amount of energy, discipline, and time. Balancing all of this is, of course, extremely stressful. No matter how well you eat, if you are not giving your body proper rest after such demanding shoots, it will definitely affect you in the long run," she added.
Sharing her thoughts on singer Neha Kakkar stepping away from singing at the peak of her career and Arijit Singh announcing retirement from film playback singing, she said, "I truly respect all the artists who understand the importance of taking a break to breathe and recover from the pressures of such stressful careers. Maintaining a glamorous lifestyle can be extremely demanding and taxing on a person’s life."
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Apr 2, 2026"It affects you internally and, of course, has an impact on your health as well. At the same time, there is constant pressure to look perfect for the world. If actors, singers, and performers are choosing to take a break these days, I believe it means they are becoming more self-aware and conscious of their well-being. They are doing it not only for themselves but also for the people they love," she added.
Rhythm explained that people should not view an artist or performer taking a break after a long and demanding career as impulsive or thoughtless behavior. She said, "Performers do not just perform for themselves; they give their energy, emotions, and often their entire being to society and to the people who admire them. After giving so much of themselves for years, there may come a point where they feel emotionally, mentally, or physically exhausted. They may be at a stage where they are close to breaking, yet they still gather the strength to pause and step back, not for society this time, but for themselves."
"People should respect that. They have already given a significant part of their life and service to the world. If they now choose to slow down, take a break, or retire in their own way, that decision deserves understanding and dignity.
Every person has the right to decide the timing and meaning of their own retirement. And we should applaud them for their immense contribution. It takes a great deal of courage to know when to stop and to feel satisfied with what you have achieved so far," she added.
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Apr 2, 2026She also pointed out that fame often makes it harder to prioritize health over expectations. She said, "You may appear perfect from the outside, but internally, you could be going through a hormonal or emotional tsunami. Even if you are doing everything right on the surface, if you are not well internally, it eventually shows on your face and in your overall health as you age."
"At times, it puts immense pressure on us to maintain a 'perfect' image and live up to certain standards. In the process, it can negatively affect us and make us stop listening to our own mind, body, and what we truly need," she added.
She revealed that she has seen many creative people smoking back-to-back in the belief that it helps bring out their creativity. However, she mentioned the pressure in the film industry is undeniably intense, but thankfully, people are slowly moving towards change.
She said, "I have noticed an unhealthy trend in the entertainment industry where some people begin to rely on one addiction or another, convincing themselves that they can only be creative if they consume something, whether it is drugs, marijuana, alcohol, or cigarettes."
"The shift has come after corporates entered the entertainment business, bringing more structure and professionalism into the industry. They tend to respect working hours, decorum, mental health, and overall well-being much more. They are not only systematic but also helpful in creating the right workflow and a healthier environment for creative work," Rhythm added.
