SHOULD 65+ ACTORS & DIRECTORS NOT GET BACK TO WORK FOR THE TIME BEING, POST LOCKDOWN?
The Coronavirus-induced
lockdown has led to immense losses for all sectors and entertainment
industry is no exception. As discussed previously, the shoots were
stopped from March 19 and since then, not a single shoot of a TV, film
or web has taken place in the country. Since few weeks, the industry
heavyweights have been meeting the representatives of the Maharashtra
government and also the CM Uddhav Thackeray in order to get
permission to resume shoots. Finally, on Sunday May 31, the government
passed a resolution and made it clear that filming can resume soon.
However,
it however laid down certain rules and regulations. Permissions from
the cops and authorities will be a must. While casting for families,
real families should be used so that physical contact is restricted.
Audience will not be allowed for non-fiction or game shows. Actors won’t
be allowed with their make-up and hair stylist. Actors will be asked to
carry their own scripts. Minimal crew and junior artistes will be
allowed. And finally, actors or crew members above the age of 65 won’t be allowed to work.
This last condition has not gone down well with the industry. The Indian Film and Television Directors’ Association, headed by Ashoke Pandit, have written to Uddhav Thackeray to alter this rule. They said that many who are senior citizens are actively working like Amitabh
Bachchan, Anupam Kher, Paresh Rawal, Annu Kapoor, Naseeruddin Shah,
Shakti Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Danny Denzongpa, Dalip Tahil, Tinnu Anand,
Rakesh Bedi, Kabir Bedi etc. Also, non-acting artistes like Anil
Sharma, David Dhawan, Subhash Ghai, Shyam Benegal, Mani Ratnam, Prakash
Jha, Shekhar Kapur, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Mahesh Bhatt, Priyadarshan,
Gulzar, Javed Akhtar etc too have been writing or directing. Hence,
they feel that this particular cause would not allow them to work and
show their creativity.
They have also raised objection to another
clause which states that nurses and doctors should be available at the
shooting spots. The letter states that at a time when the society is
facing due to shortage of medical practioners, it is not practical to
utilize their services during the time of shooting. Instead, they said
‘we suggest having a Doctor and Nurse available area wise at the
shooting locations’.
The bottom line however is that shootings shall resume soon and if all goes well, it might happen before the end of this month.
Fenil’s Bollywood Talk # 624
