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I had panic attacks due to Amphan, thinking about my loved ones: Rituparna
THE MYSTERY MESSIAH
The destruction caused by super cyclone Amphan in eastern India is so severe that over a week later, normal life is still out of gear. Actor Rituparna Sengupta, who is currently in Singapore with her husband and children, recalls the nightmare of being unable to contact her mother, in-laws, relatives, friends and colleagues in Kolkata.“i had panic attacks thinking about their well-being. Some of them reside in areas that have been badly affected. I was feeling helpless,” she says, adding she felt better after she spoke to them, almost a day later.
Sengupta’s NGO, which provides rations to hundreds of unprivileged people, is now working day and night to help those affected by the cyclone.
The 48-year-old is unable to travel as international flights from Singapore haven’t resumed yet. “My family and friends are asking me to not come to Kolkata right now but I want to be by their side. It’s my city, my home, it’s difficult to be away,” says Sengupta, who has also been helping technicians and supporting actors in Kolkata and Mumbai. She says that it hurts actors’ self-respect to ask for help, and instead they end up taking drastic steps. “A number of people work for me. I’m paying their salaries... I’m there for them,” she adds.
Expressing concern about the mental well-being of people amid this crisis, she adds,
“Many have lost their jobs… There’s a rise in domestic violence cases, relationships falling apart. Mental health is of prime concern and only compassion towards each other can save us,” she adds.
On the professional front, Sengupta’s latest film, Parcel, released in March and could only run for three days as theatres were shut amid the pandemic. However, makers are not eyeing an OTT release yet. “OTT platforms are giving makers and actors a space to release their work and earn back the money. But theatres also need to run. That’s where films thrive. This is a neverending debate… Both mediums employ several people and need to survive,” she explains.
IAlot of matches were in the pipeline, such as the Indian Premiere League, T20 World Cup and one-day internationals. But now, all of it is on hold because of the current situation,” says cricketer Kuldeep Yadav. Though the lockdown has upset the apple cart, Yadav says “safety comes first”. He shares, “We were busy training, practising and doing net sessions before the pandemic broke out. We’re all geared to get back to playing, but we need to be safe and sound [first].”
The spinner reveals that he has gone back to his old hobby and is enjoying it. “Painting is something that I did as a child. I’ve picked up the brush again during the lockdown. I’ve created some art and put them out on my digital platforms. It’s nice to get appreciation for it,” Yadav, 25, says.
Talking about spending quality time with his family in his home town, Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh), he says, “We had been touring a lot prior to the lockdown... so, it’s a delight to spend time with family. It’s been over two months of bonding with each other. But we are waiting to get back to our respective professions.”
So what does he miss the most about cricket? “I don’t have an outdoor field and I miss bowling the most. I can’t wait to start spinning,” says Yadav.
He, however, has found ways to keep himself motivated. “I stay in touch with my coach. We discuss matches, analyse my skills and watch a lot of videos together. He shares his experiences with me and that’s helping me improve myself,” he says, adding, “Our association also arranges calls with the state team and that’s the best way to motivate each other during this period.”
Fitness, he shares, is an essential part of his routine much like any other sportsperson. Being unable to train himself outdoors, he has modified his fitness regime. “I’m doing some indoor training as suggested by my trainer and keeping a check on my diet, which is of utmost importance,” the cricketer adds.