Arti Singh postpones birthday trip to the Maldives
With numerous popular web series to his credit, Pankaj Tripathi has become a credible name in the OTT space, along with films, over the past few years. With the release of Mirzapur and Sacred Games 2, he has been able to reach out to the audience in far flung countries as well. He had earlier said, “I got messages on day one (of the release of Sacred Games) from Afghanistan, the Philippines and the US. Some of them have gone back and Googled my other work and have watched Mirzapur, too.”
A source close to the actor says his popularity in the West made him a perfect choice for a web film that became his debut international project. “When he was vacationing in Europe with his family, he has had many NRIs approach him for autographs and selfies. When the makers of the Chris Hemsworth starrer were casting in the country, Tripathi was among the first few people they called,” says the source.
The actor was very particular about his first international project. Even though he has a brief role in the film, Tripathi wanted it to be worth it. “The producers were keen to cast him because of his popularity among Indians and South Asians abroad by virtue of his web series and characters in movies. But it was eventually the story of the web film that he was sold on. It was a brief schedule in Thailand where he shot along with Hemsworth. His character is quite the surprise package and a crucial link in the film’s climax,” adds the source.
Arti Singh was looking forward to a pre-birthday holiday trip to the Maldives. Not just for herself, but she planned the vacation as a gift to her mother, who always wanted to visit the islands. However, due to the current world situation and the pandemic, Arti had to postpone her trip. She also feels that it is best to stay indoors and spend time with family.
“I always wanted to take my mom to the Maldives and that’s why I had planned this trip. But at this time, as a global citizen, it’s our duty to stay put, stay indoors and not travel. Hence, I am postponing this trip as I want to ensure the safety of my mother, my family and those around us,” says the Waaris actor.
While she admits that staying in the house is difficult as one is unable to meet up with friends or even go to the gym, one should look at the positive side, too. “I have been cooking, working out and catching up on TV shows that I missed out on. We are so busy in our lives, and now we have time to spend quality time with family. I am the chef at home and my own critic too,” she laughs.
However, Arti also feels there are greater worries for the people who earn money on a daily basis to take care of their families. “While we are cribbing about boredom and staying at home, my true worry is for the daily wage earners. There are lakhs of people in India who have to work every day, earn money and put dinner on the table for their families. What about them? And how will they survive? I hope that each one of us can help those working for us, so that we create a chain of humanity worldwide,” she says.