With shoots tentatively stalled till May 15, filmmakers will have an uphill task of making up for lost time when they resume work. But a tougher road ahead awaits big-budget productions that have been envisioned against the picturesque backdrops of foreign locations. As several countries barred flights from India in the wake of the deadly second wave and the possibility of international travel in the coming months remains bleak, producers have little option but to defer their projects.

A prime example is Akshay Kumar’s The End, an ambitious series that was to go on floors in the last quarter of 2021. Producer Vikram Malhotra says the team is taking it one day a time. “We are shortlisting countries at this stage. Various factors, including the conditions in the country we go to, will play a role in determining our destination. We also need [clarity] on travel restrictions and [the implementation of] vaccine passports. Our crew members belong to the 18-44 age bracket, and we need them to be vaccinated before starting work.”

If things had gone as per plan, Katrina Kaif would be showing her action prowess in front of the camera by mid-2021. But director Ali Abbas Zafar cannot kick off his actioner in the UAE until the entire team is inoculated. The timeline of several projects is linked to the nationwide vaccination drive. A unit hand, who was expected to head to Europe in August for a Disney+ Hotstar show, notes, “Given the vaccine shortage and the backlog it will create, it’s unlikely that those in the 18-44 bracket will complete both their doses before the year-end.” 

Director Anil Sharma, who pushed the filming of Apne 2 from April to August, may be second time unlucky. “If things aren’t under control by then, we will delay the London leg, but we won’t risk anybody’s life.” He adds that adhering to the quarantine rules means exceeding the crew’s stay by two weeks in the UK, which will be an added expense.