Prachi Singh on mental health in TV: 'Stay grounded, stay connected to roots'
Synopsis
Prachi Singh, who plays Manjuri in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2, says staying connected to family and roots is her mental health lifeline in a demanding industry — and that emotional scenes are the hardest part of her craft. Her account is a rare, unfiltered look at the psychological cost of Indian television's gruelling production culture.
Key Takeaways
Prachi Singh plays Manjuri (Munni) in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 , which premiered on 29 July 2025 on StarPlus .
She says staying connected to family and roots is her primary strategy for maintaining mental well-being in the television industry.
Prachi describes emotional scenes as the most challenging aspect of her performance, using personal internalisation as her preparation technique.
She landed the role after an urgent audition process, receiving confirmation within 10 to 15 days .
The show also streams on JioHotstar and features Smriti Irani and Amar Upadhyay reprising their original roles.
Actress Prachi Singh, who plays Manjuri (Munni) in the popular StarPlus serial Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2, has opened up about the mental health pressures facing television actors — and the personal strategies she uses to stay emotionally balanced amid the industry's relentless demands.
The Pressure Behind the Camera
Speaking candidly, Prachi described the television profession as deeply demanding, requiring sustained patience and emotional resilience. 'The job is very demanding, and how you look after your mental health and how you think about it is very important. You have to take a lot of care because here you need a lot of patience,' she said.
Her primary anchor, she revealed, is family and staying rooted in her personal identity. 'And I feel that if you stay connected to your family, if you stay connected to your roots and you don't forget them, then you are mentally at peace. Be yourself,' she added.
Staying Grounded in a Glamorous World
Prachi emphasised that maintaining humility is both essential and challenging in the entertainment world. 'It's very important to stay grounded in this industry, which is also a little difficult. But I would say people should stay grounded,' she noted. This philosophy, she suggested, is what separates performers who endure from those who burn out.
Preparing for Emotional Scenes
For Prachi, emotionally intense scenes present a distinct challenge compared to other types of performances. Her method involves deep personal internalisation — imagining the situation as her own lived experience. 'You have to feel that whatever is happening is happening to you. I think that maybe this is happening to me, and if it happened to me, how would I react? So maybe when you start feeling that thing, then you are able to show it properly on screen,' she explained.
Learning from Senior Co-Stars
The cast of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 includes veterans Smriti Irani and Amar Upadhyay, who reprise their iconic roles as Tulsi and Mihir Virani respectively. Prachi described the atmosphere on set as both energising and educational. 'The set of Saas 2 is super fun. At the same time, when you are working with such senior actors, you get to learn a lot,' she said.
How She Landed the Role
Prachi's entry into the show came through a swift audition process. She recalled being given an urgent brief: 'Send the audition urgently. We need it.' After submitting her audition, she waited roughly 10 to 15 days before receiving confirmation. 'I got a call saying, 'You are shortlisted.' Then I got selected for this role,' she said.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 premiered on 29 July 2025 on StarPlus and is also available for streaming on JioHotstar. It is a sequel and reboot of the iconic original series of the same name. With conversations around mental health in the entertainment industry growing louder, Prachi's candid account adds a grounded, personal dimension to a debate that is only likely to intensify.
Point of View
While personal, point to a structural gap: the industry's punishing shoot schedules and public scrutiny create conditions for burnout, yet support systems remain informal and individual. The fact that 'staying grounded' and 'calling family' are the go-to coping strategies reveals how little institutional infrastructure exists. As streaming platforms push content volumes higher, the psychological toll on actors — especially those navigating live audience expectations on daily soaps — deserves more than anecdotal acknowledgement.
NationPress
29 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Prachi Singh in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2?
Prachi Singh plays the character of Manjuri, also called Munni, in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2. The show premiered on 29 July 2025 on StarPlus and is also available on JioHotstar.
What does Prachi Singh say about mental health for TV actors?
Prachi Singh says the television profession demands significant patience and emotional resilience. She advises actors to stay connected to their family and roots, and to remain grounded, as these are her primary strategies for maintaining mental peace.
How did Prachi Singh get her role in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2?
She was given an urgent character brief and asked to submit an audition quickly. After 10 to 15 days, she received a call confirming she had been shortlisted and subsequently selected for the role.
How does Prachi Singh prepare for emotional scenes?
Prachi uses a method of personal internalisation — imagining the situation as if it were happening to her and considering how she would react. She says this approach helps her portray emotions authentically on screen.
Who else stars in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2?
The show features Smriti Irani and Amar Upadhyay reprising their iconic roles as Tulsi and Mihir Virani from the original series. Prachi Singh describes working alongside such senior actors as both fun and a major learning experience.
