Hindustan Times (Lucknow) - Hindustan Times (Lucknow) - Live
‘We give second chances to others, then why not ourselves?’
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).”
The ongoing pandemic and the long months of the lockdown have been a learning experience for the captain of the Indian Women’s T20 Cricket Team, Harmanpreet Kaur. “I’ve gained a lot of patience,” she says, as staying indoors and unable to practice were quite tough for her. Kaur, 31, admits that the initial days “brought in many apprehensions”. But, now, she is looking forward to the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, scheduled in February. “I’m desperately waiting to get back on the field and play matches, once things are normal,” she adds.
Actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death shocked many, including
Kaur, who also tweeted to share her grief over his untimely demise. Talking about the pressures of a job and challenges in life, she says, “The journey towards success is not very easy — some succeed in one go and some have to wait. When we give second chances to people and things in life, then why not ourselves? If we learn to forgive and love ourselves, life will seem easier. Humans tend to rush sometimes, but it’s okay to wait and be kind to yourself. It’s important to handle success and failure with an open heart.”
Ask her if there was ever a time when she was affected by circumstances, and the cricketer says, “There have been times when I have felt a million emotions — both good and bad. Emotions are irrelevant after a while, and if we allow them to overpower us, then they have the tendency to drown us. Emotions are good if put in the right place. I learned quite early in life that letting go is the best way to be happy. Not everyday will work out the way we want, so we have to just keep moving forward.”
HARMANPREET KAUR,
Actor Tom Hanks has said he’s clueless how he and wife Rita Wilson (63) got Covid-19 in March. Talking to host Stephen Colbert on The Late Show, Hanks (64) said, “We had no idea how it could have happened”, adding it took them about nine days to get over the infection. According to The Hollywood Reporter, he also said his bones “felt like they were made of soda crackers” and that even after recovery he doesn’t know if he might contract the virus again. The actor has also donated plasma for those who might need it for their treatment.
Humans tend to rush sometimes, but it’s okay to wait and be kind to yourself.
ACTOR