Nikita Deb (HINDUSTAN TIMES; September 16, 2020)

Like many in the industry, actor Namit Das, too, was itching to go back to work for the last six months. And now, the actor has started shooting for a web film in Nashik. He says that although, there is a lot of fear of the Coronavirus, he’s stepping out because he has to work. “I am not partying. It’s not like I am out there shaking my legs with 150 other people. In fact, my wife (Shruti Vyas) has also started shooting in Kolkata, and we both avoid meeting our parents because they are more vulnerable. One is apprehensive, but one has to move on. It’s been six months,” the 36-year-old exclaims.

But lately, even though Bollywood is trying to get back on its feet, there are reports about drug abuse and the toxic work culture in the industry, which has taken centre stage. Das feels that not everybody in the industry consumes drugs and this is just a generalisation. “Generalisation can lead to the death of anything and anyone. Putting everything under one umbrella is easy. Human beings exist in the society in different professions and we are far more complex. If someone is consuming drugs, you can’t say everyone does it. I don’t know why we are suddenly being looked at ki hum log toh aise hi hai. Every individual is different, and that is what I don’t agree with in today’s world, that negativity catches on much faster than positivity,” says the Arya actor.

Das is also a singer and he used the lockdown period to make some covers along with his band. “My lead guitarist told me ‘let’s do something fun’. So, our bass guitarist, who is in Virar, our drummer, who is in Vancouver, our saxophone player, who is in Ahmedabad, all worked remotely to make some Bollywood covers including songs like Badan Pe Sitare. We call it the Virar to Vancouver project,” says Das with a laugh.