Actor Rati Pandey was given a clear brief. Zee TV was hosting a press conference to mark the success of her show, Hitler Didi, for which she was flown in from Delhi to Mumbai, put up in a plush five-star hotel and was asked to interact with the media. It was a three-hour event that a reluctant Pandey had conceded to attend. However, an hour into it, she walked out. Apparently, Pandey was too tired and disinterested.

The tales of such tantrums galore in the television industry. Priyal Gor — the original Mona on Zee’s Ram Milaaye Jodi — would slip out for Dandiya nights and reach the sets next day, tired and cranky. A “coy” Rattan Rajput of Zee’s Agle Janam Mohe Bitiye Hi Kijo! proved to be an embarrassment for the channel with her dressing sense and starry airs. On Pavitra Rishta, Ankita Lokhande’s ‘nakhras’ were famous. “She would turn up in jeans and kurtis for a press conference and not as her character, Archana. She would spend hours with Sushant Singh, who was also on the show, delaying the shoot,” says a channel insider. When she was paired with comedian Kapil Sharma for a season on Comedy Circus, Sharma gave up. “She is extremely insecure and wants the limelight,” says Sharma. When Bidaai was on air on Star, Sara Khan was problematic. “Her marriage to Ali Merchant was a disaster and she would turn up on the sets groggy and hungover. After she left Ali, her behaviour matured on Ram Milaye Jodi,” shares a channel PR.

In men’s department, Ram Kapoor tops the list with his “eat, sleep and do-as-I-please attitude”. People are still guessing why Mohnish Bahl walked out of Kuch Toh Log Kahenge on Sony just six months after its launch. According to sources, Bahl was committed to shoot 12 to 13 days in a month for the show. But that was not enough for the five-day daily and he agreed to give a extra days. “Problems cropped up when he refused to cooperate,” says the source.

From creating ruckus over costumes, delaying the shoots, tagging the family along, negotiating payments to turning up late for shoots, taking production property home — the drama behind the glossy sets of the small screen comes to life. Tina Dutta (Ichcha in Uttaran, Colors) is said to delay shoots while Hina Khan (as Akshara on Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, Star) and Pooja Gor in Pratigya make too many demands. A mercurial Krushna smashed his runner-up trophy when he missed the top spot on Sony’s Comedy Circus in the last season.

However, there is a flip side to the story. Actors like Cezanne Khan, Iqbal Khan (Karam Apna Apna), Mishal Raheja (Laagi Tujhse Lagan), Eijaz Khan (Shubh Vivah), Mona Wasu (Parichay) were dropped unceremoniously in the past. The latest are Giaa Manek (Gopi Bahu on Saath Nibhana Saathiya, Star Plus) and Sarvar Ahuja (Prashant on Punar Vivaah, Zee). Both were shown the door for unprofessional conduct and breach of contract. Ahuja signed on a show on a rival channel while Manek was apparently removed when she accepted Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa. Manek says, “I had informed the production house that my participation in Jhalak… will not affect Saathiya, but they did not listen.” Meanwhile, Life OK perhaps hopes that Harshad Chopra’s entry on Dil Se Di Dua… Saubhagyavati Bhava? will end Karanvir Bohra’s demands for a fat paycheck.

“When the problems are caused due to illness or a late night, it is excused. When it is a result of temperamental behaviour, we address it,” says Sukesh Motwani, Zee’s Fiction head. Producer of Punar Vivaah, Shashi Mittal adds, “If an actor goes and signs another project without notice, we might as well cancel the deal.” Dr Chandraprakash Dwivedi, who made Chanakya and now, Upanishad Ganga on Doordarshan, echoes similar sentiments. “One has to draw the line and be firm that no nonsense will be tolerated,” he says.