Daughters lighting up Lisa Ray’s lockdown

Ihave sort of already gone through the dark night of the soul, simplified my life and made friends with the reality of change. And that has definitely given me the tools to face this pandemic. The other thing I consciously do is to moderate my intake of information and time on social media,” shares actor Lisa Ray, who is also a cancer survivor.

The 48-year-old is currently in Singapore with her one-year-old twin daughters. “We pulled our girls from school before the lockdown, but keeping them engaged has its own challenges. I’ve turned our home into a play school, and I feel really happy hearing their delighted shrieks when I’m writing in my office. Mornings and evenings, we put on masks and go for a bit of fresh air,” shares Ray, who is currently working on her next book, after her debut memoir Close to the Bone.

From cleaner air to liberated wildlife, the lockdown has had many positive effects on Nature, something that the actor is happy about. “Just like it takes pressure and heat to create a diamond, these times have the potential to mould something precious from difficult circumstances. I wish it didn’t take a pandemic to convince society that we need to do things differently. We need to respect our planet and the natural world,” she ends.

LISA RAY Kavita Awaasthi

Actor Rasika Dugal, who is quarantining at her home in Bandra, Mumbai, with husband-actor Mukul Chadda, feels the world has changed, and “no one knows what the new normal will be”.

“There has been, as in the case of migrant labourers, a lot of suffering. And… a lot more to come for many, with respect to basic healthcare and other necessities. I am struggling to not give into this sense of doom and gloom, and keep my sense of humour alive! Sadly, as someone has said, ‘We are in the same storm, but not in the same boat’,” she says.

With all her shoots postponed, Dugal, 35, shares, “I have no idea when will it be possible to start shooting. Some actors are shooting from home, and while it is interesting and challenging, I hope that this is not the new normal. Being on set was something I used to thrive on.”

On engaging with fans on social media, she feels, “Do what your heart desires or what floats your boat. As long as it’s responsible and respectful! And keep that sense of humour!”

RASIKA DUGAL

Do what your heart desires or what floats your boat.

ACTOR

PHOTO: DEV PURBIYA