‘I tried to write but it is quite tough’
Actor Sachin Khedekar who’s known for his performances in films such as Astitva (2000) and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero (2004) says the lockdown has hit actors and technicians severely.
“Theatres will be the last ones to open. They were also the first to close down. If there is no gathering, there is no theatre. I think television shootings will be the first to start because they will have to start shooting. Bollywood will take a considerable amount of time because I don’t think the stars will come out and shoot until they feel safe,” he says.
The actor who started spending a lot more time with his family owing to the lockdown, says, “I bingewatched a lot of shows. I am also reading a lot. I started writing but it is quite tough. I am also working towards reading a one act play. I haven’t thought about performing it. I am going to do a solo show. If the theatres don’t open by the time it’s done, I will perform it for an online audience.”
Talking about his recent Gujarati film, Golkeri, which couldn’t have it’s proper run in the cinema halls due to the pandemic, Khedekar says, “It is a very well made film. I was very happy to get the opportunity to do this role again. I played the same role in the Marathi version of the film, Muramba. It was released on February 20, then the lockdown happened. But it’s now on an OTT platform and I am glad a larger audience will be able to watch it. I would have been happier if the film was in the theatre for some more time. But I always believe that a good film will find its own audience.”
The 55-year-old actor also worked with the late actor Irrfan Khan in a show titled Adhikaar. “The show was shot over a period of three years. I used to find Irrfan very interesting. He was not a very talkative fellow, he used to keep to himself but when he came in front of the camera, it was magic,” he recounts.
For those confined to their homes due to the neverending lockdown, video calls have emerged as a crucial way to hold work meetings remotely, catch up with friends and family, or even have a party. But for all its benefits, this reliance has given rise to a new problem — video call fatigue.
Irrespective of the platform, users are finding out that being part of so many video conferences is exhausting. Since the lockdown began, there has been a sudden spike in the mention of “video call fatigue” on social media and more people are looking up the term on Google.
“These video calls go on and on, and get draining after some time. I feel more tired now than when I was working 10 hours in the office,” says Jhanvi Karnik, a marketing manager. One reason for this exhaustion is that many nonverbal cues that we typically rely upon during in-person conversations are missing.
“Sustained eye contact, subtle shifts such as a sharp intake of breath or leaning forward that indicate someone is about to speak and other cues are lost in video calls that include multiple people,” says behavioural expert Vandana Shah. This, according to her, can lead to a disjointed conversation with long periods of silence during which no one t , by people talking all at once, over each other. This exhausts the brain, leading to satiation.
Overconsumption also means that after a stressful day, you find yourself avoiding opportunities to catch up with family and friends on the same platform. There are other implications to consider. “The blue rays emitted are harmful to the eyes and sleep centre of the brain. They c insomnia by affecting the circadian rhythm. Insomnia can cause irritability, fatigue and loss of concentration. At times, video chat may result in a late lunch or comfort eating. This may result in acidity, weight gain and fluctuations in blood sugar levels,” says Dr Santosh Bangar, consultant psychiatrist.
To manage this, a meetings and take short breaks between them, when possible, to relax the mind. Also, keep meetings short and give them a miss, if you are not needed. Lastly, be aware of the room lighting to avoid straining the eyes and reduce on-screen time.
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