Tanishaa Mukerji, the Bollywood actress and sister of Kajol, has recently shared her perspective on reality shows, describing them as "traumatic" and revealing how they can manipulate a celebrity's image. In an interview with Pinkvilla, Mukerji, who has participated in several reality shows like Bigg Boss 7, Khatron Ke Khiladi 7 and Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 11, explained how these shows often "edit" celebrities at will, showing audiences only what they want them to see.

Mukerji expressed that reality shows can be distressing, even though they are designed to be entertaining. She described the experience as "trauma bonding," stating that one can experience trauma on these shows that they might not experience in real life. Despite this, she participated in them because she considers herself to have an adventurous spirit.

The actress highlighted the impact of reality shows on self-image and career, explaining that they often typecast individuals into specific roles, making it difficult to break free from that image. She emphasized that people begin to believe the character portrayed on screen is the real person, which can be challenging to overcome. She added that reality shows want the audience to invest in a character, while portraying another as the villain.

Mukerji pointed out that the edited version of events is what is ultimately presented to the public. She explained that participants cannot be their true selves because someone else is editing and showing them, only showcasing what they want viewers to see. She stated that once a character is established on a reality show, it becomes very difficult to redefine oneself.

Tanishaa also addressed the perception of reality shows as a potential step down for Bollywood stars, dismissing such notions. She expressed feeling honored to share the stage with accomplished individuals on these shows. Mukerji sees her participation in a dance reality show as a chance to revive her career and considers it a gift from God.

While Tanishaa stated that she is personally unaffected by a lack of work, she acknowledged that this is not the case for everyone. She recounted how people often bring up her season of Bigg Boss with a smirk, but she is unbothered because "He saw what they showed in the show".

Despite her critique, Tanishaa doesn't regret her reality show experiences. She believes that Bigg Boss 7, in particular, has made her wiser. Mukerji enjoys trying new things without dwelling on the potential consequences. She believes that sometimes it is necessary to consider the consequences, but ultimately, that is life.