Sumbul Touqeel opens up on emotional toll of sudden TV show closures: 'Everything eventually ends'
Synopsis
Actress Sumbul Touqeel has opened up about the emotional turbulence of sudden TV cancellations, revealing she cried extensively when Imlie ended without warning. Over time, she has learned to accept the impermanence of daily soaps and now values the friendships and growth gained from each project over the loss of a show.
Key Takeaways
Sumbul Touqeel revealed she cried extensively when Imlie ended suddenly.
She described the emotional toll of investing months into daily television projects that wrap up without notice.
Imlie premiered on 16 November 2020 and featured Gashmeer Mahajani , Mayuri Deshmukh , and Fahmaan Khan in pivotal roles.
Sumbul began her career as a child artist in shows like Jodha Akbar , Waaris , and Chandragupta Maurya .
Her breakthrough came with her participation in Bigg Boss 16 .
She now prioritises lasting friendships and personal growth over the permanence of television projects.
Actress Sumbul Touqeel has revealed the emotional challenge of navigating sudden cancellations in daily television, recalling how the abrupt wrap-up of her shows left her devastated. In an exclusive conversation with IANS, the Imlie star described the difficulty of investing months or years into a project only to see it end without warning.
The Imlie heartbreak
"In daily television, you often get to know very suddenly that the show is wrapping up within a short time," Sumbul said. "It never feels good because you have invested so much time and emotion into a project." She recalled the particularly painful experience during Imlie's closure. "I remember crying a lot during Imlie. When it ends unexpectedly, it definitely hurts, as it is not something you anticipate," she added.
Learning to let go
Over time, the actress has come to terms with the impermanence of television projects. "Over time, I have understood that no show lasts forever. Everything eventually comes to an end. Earlier, I used to feel very emotional," Sumbul explained. She has since shifted her perspective, focusing on the value gained from each experience rather than the loss of a show. "What truly matters is what you take away from the experience," she said.
Lasting friendships from Itti Si Khushi
One of her most meaningful takeaways came from the show Itti Si Khushi, where she formed deep bonds with her co-stars. "For me, one of the biggest takeaways from Itti Si Khushi was the wonderful friendships I made," Sumbul reflected, highlighting how relationships forged on set often outlast the shows themselves.
Career trajectory: From child artist to Bigg Boss fame
Sumbul Touqeel Khan began her television journey as a child artist, appearing in historical dramas including Jodha Akbar, Waaris, and Chandragupta Maurya. Her career expanded into reality and entertainment formats, but her breakthrough moment arrived with her participation in Bigg Boss 16, which significantly amplified her public profile.
Imlie: The defining role
Her career-defining moment came on 16 November 2020, when Imlie premiered on television. The show, which also featured Gashmeer Mahajani, Mayuri Deshmukh, and later Fahmaan Khan in pivotal roles, saw Sumbul play the titular character — a fearless and emotionally resilient village girl whose narrative resonated deeply with audiences. The show's unexpected cancellation became one of the defining challenges of her career, yet it also taught her resilience in an unpredictable industry.
Point of View
This volatility is not merely a career inconvenience; it is an emotional and financial shock that the industry has normalised. Her candid admission that she cried during Imlie's closure underscores a broader truth: daily TV remains precarious, and actors bear the cost of a system that treats human investment as disposable.
NationPress
10 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Sumbul Touqeel cry when Imlie ended?
Sumbul cried because the show ended unexpectedly after she had invested significant time and emotion into the project. In daily television, actors often receive short notice of cancellations, which she described as deeply hurtful because it is not something she anticipated.
When did Imlie premiere on television?
Imlie premiered on 16 November 2020 on television. The show featured Sumbul Touqeel in the titular role, alongside Gashmeer Mahajani, Mayuri Deshmukh, and later Fahmaan Khan.
What did Sumbul Touqeel learn from her experience with show cancellations?
Over time, Sumbul learned to accept that no television show lasts forever and that everything eventually comes to an end. She now focuses on what she gains from each experience — such as lasting friendships — rather than grieving the loss of a project.
How did Sumbul Touqeel begin her television career?
Sumbul began as a child artist, appearing in historical dramas including Jodha Akbar, Waaris, and Chandragupta Maurya. Over the years, she expanded into reality and entertainment shows before her breakthrough with Bigg Boss 16.
Which show gave Sumbul Touqeel her biggest takeaway in terms of friendships?
Itti Si Khushi was the show from which Sumbul gained some of her most meaningful friendships, which she values as one of the most important takeaways from her television career.
