‘Films give hope, so our industry must get back on its feet’
Actor Huma S Qureshi feels it will be a while before things normalise, though the Maharashtra government has given its nod to resume shoots, and people in the industry will have to watch each other’s backs.
“I feel we all have to support each other,” she says. Asked if she may accept a pay cut, Qureshi says, “I don’t think it’s time to think about yourself, but in the larger interest of what’s going on. Everybody will have to change.”
The 33-year-old, however, believes films offer hope to people, especially in such testing times, and hence it’s essential everyone works towards the common goal of bringing them back on track. “Right now, basic necessities matter to people. But films in a way are an escape. People come to watch films when they’re feeling low and need inspiration, which is also why I feel our industry should get back on its feet soon. The [Maharashtra] government is already figuring out ways how this can happen in a safe manner. Everyone is thinking in the right direction, as the heart is in the right place,” says Qureshi.
The actor also shares her concern about unskilled labourers on a film set, who, she feels, will have to be helped to stand on their feet. “We have to be aware of the fact that in India, because we’re a developing nation, there’s a lot of unskilled labour. So, while we’re trying to figure out how to make the sets safer, we’ll also have to invest in programmes to make sure that more and more people are trained and educated. That’s the foundation. Everything is dependent on each other,” she adds.