Krystal D'Souza, seen as protective elder sister in "Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behna Hai", says shooting a daily soap is not easy. One has to look happy onscreen despite gruelling 14-hour schedules.

"'Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behna Hai' takes 14 hours of my day. At 8:30 in the morning I have to report to work everyday and look fresh no matter what is going on in my life or how bad I must be feeling. I have to be happy and pepped up and even dance to somebody's sangeet," Krystal, seen as Jeevika in the show, told.

"An actor can't let his audience think that the actor is not okay. And it is not easy. We start at 8:30 in the morning and wind up by 10 p.m," said the actress who spends two hours on travelling everyday.

"It is very hectic. We shoot today for tomorrow's telecast. But in the end, I love it because I am very passionate about my work," added the 22- year-old.

In the show, Niaa Sharma plays her younger sister. They are of the same age, so it was a challenge to project herself convincingly as an elder sister.

"Niaa and I are both of the same age. Playing her elder sister came as a challenge, but today both of us have fitted into the role. It is not a put on anymore. But yes, in the beginning it was a little difficult," she said.

They are more like best friends.

"When we met each other, we immediately got along. We like the same things; we were just out of our teenage and want to have fun. Our onscreen chemistry is superb and it only comes because our off-screen chemistry is so good," said Krystal, who takes inspiration from her elder brother to play Jeevika in the show.

"Just like my character, my brother is very protective about me," she added.