Juhi Chakraborty (HINDUSTAN TIMES; August 1, 2020)

To wait or not to wait for theatres is the question that every filmmaker with a ready for release film is posed with, amid the ongoing Coronavirus scenario. Acknowledging this dilemma, actor-director Renuka Shahane, believes that one has to be ‘flexible’ now.

“I don’t blame the producers who want to show their film online. I’m sure in a way it is a loss for them as none of them planned to release their film on an OTT. My heart goes out to theatre owners. There are some producers, who can wait with their releases but there are producers, who can’t sustain,” says Shahane, whose next web film, Tribhanga, is scheduled to release soon.

The actor, 53, also feels that there is no right or wrong in opting for web releases. “The only way theatre owners can be helped is through the government,” she says, adding, “We do not have any idea when the theatres will open, (and) what kind of social distancing will be introduced. The ticket prices might go up because theatres will have to be maintained. Anyway people are scared of confined spaces.”

Lauding the OTT platforms for being a great alternative for entertainment, during the pandemic, she says, “Without it, we would all have felt very isolated, both mentally and physically.”