With the shooting of Karan Johar’s production of Jug Jugg Jeeyo being completed after coming to a grinding halt with two of the principal actors Neetu Singh and Varun Dhawan and the film’s director Raj Mehta had tested COVID positive, and Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Gangubai Kathiawadi almost complete, the future of film shootings in Bollywood nonetheless appears bleak.
One hears from reliable sources that the central government may re-impose a ban on all film shootings. A source from the government informs this writer, “It is now felt that the decision to re-open cinemas and resume shooting was premature. We should have waited until next year when the COVID situation would be clearer. Shooting at the moment is not safe.”.
Rupali Ganguly who shoots for her popular serial Anupama round the clock says, “Every day we’re rushing against time to complete episodes which during these COVID times is not an easy task. But we spend so much time together that we forget about COVID once we are on the set every morning. I spend more time with the cast and crew of Anupama than I do with my own family. I’ve a 7 year old son and and an old mother-in-law at home. But the producer Rajan Shahi to whom, along with director Romesh Kalra, I give all the credit for the success of Anupamaa insisted on having me on boardhave taken every precaution.”
Saif Ali Khan has spoken to me about how unsafe it felt to shoot and complete Bunty Aur Babli during COVID times. In fact the real reason he has taken paternity leave is to protect his baby from infection.
Image source: Instagram/kareenakapoorkhan
Image source: Instagram/kareenakapoorkhan