‘Now is the time to slow down’
Actor Urmila Matondkar is spending the lockdown at her farmhouse near Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra, and is making the most of her time by indulging in nature, books and yoga. Urging people to pause and introspect, she says, “This is like a wakeup call to all of us. We’ve been exploiting nature every possible way. Now it’s time to slow down.” Enjoying the company of her husband Mir Mohsin Akhtar, Matondkar, 46, is also doing her bit to help those in need. “The other day, a friend was worried about her old parents who urgently needed medicine. So, we took the help of police to ensure that medicine reaches them on time. These things worry me. The plight of daily wagers, farmers, migrant workers,” she says. With cases of domestic violence on the rise, the actor feels women should stand up for one another. “People need to speak up and the taboos attached should be erased. We shouldn’t pass judgments. Women should stand up for other women. In my career, I’ve always avoided all kinds of loose talks and made sure I don’t hurt another woman’s efforts or sentiments,” she explains, adding, “It’s time to introspect. Let this lockdown make us self aware, make us humane.”
Matondkar also reveals she was in talks for her web debut. “We were supposed to start shooting in March but this (lockdown) happened. There were other offers too,” she reveals.