'WE HAVE TO SLOWLY GET BACK TO NORMALCY'
Actor Vidya Balan, who resumed work post three months of lockdown, says that while it is important to realise the seriousness of the pandemic situation, it’s wonderful to be working again
After Akshay Kumar stepped out to shoot an ad, with all necessary precautions, amid the pandemic, actor Vidya Balan has resumed work post almost three months of lockdown. The Tumhari Sulu (2017) actor shot for an ad at Mehboob Studios with a small unit. They were the only ones shooting, so it was “peaceful and non-hectic”.
Talking about her experience during the shoot, Balan says, “It feels wonderful to be back on set. Everyone was in PPE kits and all of us were following social distancing rules. All precautions were being taken, and guidelines were being followed. There was a sanitisation booth and temperatures were checked regularly, too. Everyone realised the seriousness of the situation. We are all trying to do the best we can. It is a new experience but I am very happy to have stepped out for work.”
The actor hopes that when everyone starts working in full force, people are “not reckless and are careful”. “All of us, at some point, will have to adapt to the situation. We will have to slowly get back to normalcy. We will have to be responsible and cautious and work around the virus, till it lasts. I am glad we made this start. I wasn’t wearing a mask as I was in front of the camera but wearing it all day is tough. If we are worried about ourselves and want to keep safe, then precautions have to be taken. There are so many things to keep in mind. It is tough but not impossible. Getting back to work slowly will also mean that people feel better in terms of just being out there working and earning, too.”
Balan admits she wasn’t hesitant to go back to work, when the brand approached her for the shoot. “I had been thinking about work, and I don’t know when Sherni will resume shooting. It will most probably be post the monsoon. Hopefully, by then, the curve would have flattened. Meanwhile, I will be busy promoting Shakuntala Devi from home. Moreover, I don’t know when film shoots will restart in India in full force. It will happen soon, but basically, we all have to ensure that we take precautions. And that’s why, though my parents stay five minutes away from my house, I won’t be visiting them for the next 15 days, now that I’ve stepped out for work.”
Balan has two other ad shoots lined up next.