‘I’M WORRIED ABOUT MIGRANT WORKERS’
Saif Ali Khan finds it ‘hollow’ to talk about how he is managing this lockdown as others are in pain
Saif Ali Khan, like all of us, is stuck at home due to the ongoing lockdown. Knowing that he has an advantage due to his position, the actor doesn’t feel right to talk about it. “First of all, we are really privileged, so every time someone asks me if I am okay in a lockdown, I start worrying about what migrant workers are going through. Me sitting and telling you how I can chill, feels a little hollow. But I think at a time like this, and at all times, beauty is where it always was — in great books, great music, great conversations, good thoughts and good meals,” says Khan.
The actor adds that he has been spending his time playing the guitar, among other things. “I want to be a better guitar player. I might also polish up a language like French. There are so many things to do. I am also learning to cook, and spending time with my son (Taimur Ali Khan).”
The Jawaani Jaaneman actor hopes that the lockdown allows for the healthcare system to get in place. “We have all been home and some people are finding it harder than others, financially and emotionally. But the point is that we should be prepping for the spike in cases, so I hope that’s happening. At some point, we are all going to have to go out and risk that, or those who can afford it will have to lock themselves up for a year. Those are the two choices I can see. So, I hope the government is preparing,” he explains.
Online streaming platforms have come to people’s rescue in a big way during the lockodwn. As someone who forayed into digital entertainment long before it became popular in the country, Khan says the medium is creatively more satisfying, “OTT is more artistic than films. That’s the main thing. If you are an artiste, you want to act, and be in an amazing environment. Looking back, the decision to work on the web was a good idea,” he says.
As far as the changes in shooting structure and storytelling process post lockdown are concerned, the actor says there is a lot of uncertainty. “We don’t know how we are yet, so nobody will be prepared to actually make a movie. Maybe, we’ll just go back to normal, or we are going to have a new normal,” he says.