Nishad Neelambaran (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 21, 2020)

For actor Shruti Haasan, the Coronavirus lockdown had been a “crazy challenging time”. The actor, who is currently in Hyderabad for a shoot, shares that she tried to be productive and positive in the last four months. “The lockdown has allowed me to spend some time to get to know myself better. Apart from writing music, I also did some photoshoots on my own with all the hair, makeup and camera work done by me,” says Haasan, 34.

The actor believes that the new normal would be about playing by the ear, one day at a time with extreme caution. “I also think that people will learn to be more cost-effective, smart and efficient,” she shares.

Will shooting be more challenging with fewer people on the sets? “Yes, but I also think it’ll streamline the work. People will be more focused. I’d rather see the positives of it since we don’t have a choice,” she replies. Ask her if she thinks people will prefer to watch movies on web even when theatres reopen, and she says, “Eventually, when things are safer, people will still go to theatre as it’s a wholesome experience. They are two separate experiences.”

Haasan admits that “it is a scary time to start shooting”. However, she says, “There are a lot of livelihoods that are dependent on our industry, so if we start shooting carefully, it’ll help everyone.” About the debate on nepotism in the industry, the actor — the daughter of actors Sarika and Kamal Haasan — says, “I understand the value my surname holds and it opened doors for me. But there is also favouritism... I am well aware of the work I have put in and the rejections I faced.”