P’KULA REGION 6TH IN INDIA

■ By securing 94.31 pass percentage, Panchkula region, comprising of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, has bagged sixth position nationally

■ Chandigarh region, which comprises of Chandigarh, Punjab, Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir, is at ninth position with 91.83 pass percentage

■ Both regions have scored better than the national average of 91.46%

■ In 2019, when the two regions were combined, the results stood at 93.72%

Alot of things have fallen in place and we have been able to prioritise our lives very differently for the better. For me, it was all about working on myself, and I wanted to find creative ways to keep myself busy, ” says actor Shriya Pilgaonkar, who calls lockdown “an important phase” of her life.

As shoots have begun on a small scale, does she think it is the right decision to resume shooting? “It depends on the scale of the shoot, and if the safety and hygiene standards are as per the guidelines. A film set is a beautifully chaotic place, so we will have to be more responsible,” says the 31-year-old actor, who hasn’t started any shoots yet.

When asked her take on the debate around nepotism in the industry, she says, “Nepotism and favouritism exist in every industry. In spite of it, everyone has their own journey. A lot of factors come into play for an actor’s success, and it is not just about the opportunity. It is the response of the audience, the person’s talent and skills, too. I don’t think we can put every person from a film family into the bracket of those who have got unjustified luxury. I like to believe that the industry has welcomed (everyone).”