‘It’s a Catch-22 situation, need to find a way’
Dealing with Covid-19 pandemic hasn’t been easy for anyone. But life will always throw challenges at us, and how we get over them defines us, believes Waheeda Rehman. The veteran actor says this crisis requires us “to be careful, sensible and intelligent”.
“I feel it’s important to be patient. If you get paranoid, it’ll stress you out and you might make mistakes,” says the Padma Bhushan awardee. Holed up with her daughter and her family, Rehman admits it isn’t easy. “It’s like a catch-22 situation. Whether we’re at home or have to go outside, we need to find a way. I see many flouting safety norms, not wearing masks since the lockdown has been eased. That’s wrong,” she says.
With no intention to seem philosophical, the actor, 82, says that we know nothing about our future, adding, “Par darr darr ke nahi jee sakte. We must face difficulties head on.”
Rehman is spending her time watching films, doing yoga, taking a walk in the garden, and enjoying photography. Not a fan of mobile phones, she, however, has realised it is a necessity. “I talk to my sister, nephews and nieces a lot these days. Asha (Parekh; actor) aur Helen (actor) se bhi baat hoti rehti hai,” she says. Her family is ensuring that they take care of their staff. “If we have food to eat, then people who work for us should also have food,” she adds.
Concerned about people facing mental health issues, she says, “Chinta karne se kuch fayda nahi. Bas Allah ka shukar karo, dil aur niyat saaf rakho aur aagey badho.”