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Journalism of Courage
Whether it is a film, television show, sitcom, or even an advertisement, shooting can be incredibly demanding for artists. The stakes and pressure are even higher when the project is high-budget. Popular Hindi film actress Raveena Tandon once shared one such experience on Zee TV’s talk show Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai. She recalled an expensive Cadbury commercial she shot with a young Aftab Shivdasani, who had eaten too much chocolate because of multiple retakes. “Aftab itne chocolate retake kar chuka tha ki usko ulti aa rahi thi” (Aftab had eaten so much chocolate in retakes that he felt like vomiting).
Tandon added that the set was pure white and absolutely spotless, and the team was under immense pressure not to create any mess. “Safed set tha ekdum… agar set kharab ho gaya to ye hum logon ko sooli se latka denge” (The set was completely white… if anything got ruined, they would hang us).
As soon as Aftab’s nausea peaked and he began making pukish sounds, the seniors panicked. “Jaise hi woh ‘wua wua’ karne laga, Prahlad da chillaane ka: ‘Don’t let him puke on the set… set pe ek drop nahi girna chahiye’” (As soon as he started gagging, Prahlad started shouting: ‘Don’t let him puke on the set… not a single drop should fall’).
Feeling crushed under the pressure, Tandon instinctively put out her hands for the child to vomit into. “Fat karke maine apna haath aise aage kiya aur aankhein band kar ke… aur Aftab mere haath pe ulti kar raha hai, thook raha hai woh chocolate… main bhaag rahi hoon” (Suddenly I put my hands forward with my eyes shut… and Aftab is vomiting into my hands and spitting out chocolate… and I am running).
While this was a humorous memory that Raveena Tandon shared, it raises an important concern about how high-pressure work environments can overwhelm even seasoned professionals. To understand how such situations affect the mind and body, we reached out to Arpita Kohli, psychologist and counsellor at PSRI Hospital.
High-pressure situations trigger the body’s stress response, releasing hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, Kohli says. This prepares the body to act quickly but can cloud judgment if the pressure is prolonged. Under such conditions, the brain focuses on survival rather than thoughtful decision-making. Short bursts of stress may improve alertness, but constant pressure leads to anxiety, overthinking, and impaired reasoning. The brain shifts into “fight or flight”, making it difficult to stay calm.
When someone faces intense pressure, the hypothalamus signals the adrenal glands to release stress hormones. Heart rate, blood pressure, and alertness rise to prepare the body for immediate action. This can temporarily boost performance in creative or high-stakes environments. However, if stress continues for hours or days, fatigue, irritability, and decision fatigue appear, reducing emotional stability and efficiency.
Individual personality traits and psychological factors play a major role, Kohli explains. People with resilience, optimism, or strong emotional regulation often view pressure as a challenge rather than a threat. Those with perfectionist or anxious tendencies may feel overwhelmed. Experience, confidence, and coping skills also influence how someone responds to stress.
Continuous exposure keeps the body in chronic stress mode. Over time, this leads to emotional exhaustion, irritability, poor sleep, and burnout. Mental health may deteriorate, with higher risk of anxiety and depression. Emotional regulation becomes difficult, relationships suffer, and day-to-day functioning declines. Long-term, this can affect both mental and physical well-being.
Those in demanding fields should proactively manage stress. Regular breaks, mindfulness, and breathing exercises help calm the nervous system. Setting realistic goals, delegating tasks, and maintaining boundaries can prevent overload. Good sleep, nutrition, and physical activity strengthen resilience. Above all, acknowledging emotions instead of suppressing them builds long-term stability. Seeking professional help when stress becomes overwhelming is an act of self-care, Kohli emphasises.
