The shoot of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, which resumed earlier this month in the city, ground to a halt after lead actor Kartik Aaryan tested positive for Coronavirus.

A special set had been erected at Chitrarth Studio in Powai where the unit was slated to shoot for the horror-comedy till the month-end. Scenes involving Kiara Advani, Tabu, Rajpal Yadav, Ashwini Kalsekar and Amar Upadhyay were being shot. Instead of sanitising the premises and resuming the shoot, the makers decided to pull the brakes on the schedule.

Says director Anees Bazmee, “In the new normal, you never know how one can contract the virus. We had been taking all the required care, including testing our crew members regularly, wearing face masks and having sanitising stations. Kartik used to take extra precautions; he comes from a family of doctors, so he is well-informed.”

As soon as Aaryan provided a health update on Monday, “each and every unit member was advised to take the test,” informs Bazmee, who tested negative. Advani did too. “We have been monitoring the tests of the crew, and, so far, they are negative.”

The director admits that in the prevailing situation, one will have to deal with hiccups. “Delays mean mounting costs for a producer. It is expensive to keep a film on hold, but the health and well-being of each member is more important. We can only hope that everything goes off well.”

Bazmee is adopting a “wait-and-watch” policy till Aaryan tests negative and completes the quarantine period. “I have been talking to him, and he says he is doing fine,” says the director. Post the Mumbai schedule, they were slated to shoot in Lucknow, “but now everything is on hold”.

Bazmee adds that the delay in the shooting schedule is not likely to affect the film’s November release. “We have been simultaneously working on the post-production and special effects.”