Shweta Tiwari Reveals She Tried To Copy Ekta Kapoor On Kasautii Sets: ‘She Was A Better Performer’

Shweta Tiwari recounted the demanding early days of Indian television, highlighting Ekta Kapoor's unmatched work ethic. Tiwari recalled shooting for 72 hours straight and being inspired by Ekta.

Shweta Tiwari recounted the demanding early days of Indian television, highlighting Ekta Kapoor's unmatched work ethic.

Source : Instagram

Actor Shweta Tiwari has shared a fascinating glimpse into the grueling schedules and relentless hustle that shaped her early days in Indian television. Reflecting on the golden era of daily soaps, the Kasautii Zindagii Kay star revealed that she once shot non-stop for 72 hours — and was equally amazed by producer Ekta Kapoor, who she says worked just as hard, if not harder.

Shweta Tiwari on Ekta Kapoor’s Unmatched Energy

In a conversation on Bharti Singh’s podcast, Shweta recalled being in awe of Ekta Kapoor’s dedication at a time when she was managing a staggering 22 shows.

“Ekta soti hi nahi thi (she never used to sleep), she had 22 shows running at one time. People used to ask me, ‘Aren’t you tired?’ and I would say, but Ekta is working too. Whenever I used to call Ekta, she would pick up the call in one ring. She used to explain the whole scene in detail,” Shweta said, praising the producer’s commitment.

Ekta as a Natural Performer

Shweta also revealed that Ekta wasn’t just a producer — she was a storyteller with a performer’s flair.

“The way she used to explain the story, one would get goosebumps. Whenever she used to say the lines, I felt she was performing better than I. So many times, I used to try to copy Ekta Kapoor's way of delivering lines. Her passion was something,” she added.

The Golden Era of Indian TV

Shweta’s revelations shed light on the intense work culture of the early 2000s, where television stars and creators worked tirelessly to deliver iconic shows that remain unforgettable to this day.

About Kasautii Zindagii Kay

Produced by Ekta Kapoor under Balaji Telefilms, Kasautii Zindagii Kay aired from 2001 to 2008 on Star Plus. Starring Shweta Tiwari as Prerna Sharma and Cezanne Khan as Anurag Basu, the show became one of the most beloved daily soaps in Indian television history.

With its mix of love, betrayal, sacrifice, and destiny — along with unforgettable characters like Komolika — the series became a cultural phenomenon, even leading to a successful reboot in 2018.