Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; January 1, 2022)

It’s the first day of 2022, but more than rejoicing, people are worried about a possible third wave of Coronavirus. With the cases soaring, showbiz is feeling the heat, too. From film releases getting pushed to actors testing Covid-19 positive – there’s a lot at stake. But people from the industry are hopeful.

Director Anees Bazmee, who has helmed Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, says, “If a lockdown happens again, people will suffer more. The poor went through a lot. And look at our films. Jersey release se ek hafta pehle postpone ho gayi, the makers must have faced so many problems.”

Many actors, including Arjun Kapoor and Nora Fatehi, have tested positive. Trade expert Atul Mohan blames it on the ‘chalta hai’ attitude once the shoots resumed. “Nobody was taking good care; everybody thought things are getting back to normal. At the same time, it was not practically viable for the producers to have PPE kits, especially the smaller filmmakers. Also, filmmaking is a creative business. When you see people moving around in PPE suits and masks, it’s scary,” he opines.

Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar says the industry had bounced back in recent times, with many films doing well at the box office. “We became soft targets. It’s sad that we’re negatively impacted even though we take utmost precautions, like 50% occupancy in theatres. People have work, so much money is invested, movies are getting shut,” says Bhandarkar, who has a release, India: Lockdown, this year.

A glimmer of hope is the fact that almost every big star has a release this year. While Shah Rukh Khan has Pathan, Aamir Khan has Laal Singh Chaddha. Akshay Kumar will be seen in Raksha Bandhan.

REOPEN CINEMAS IN DELHI: B-TOWN
Many people from the film industry want cinemas to be reopened in Delhi. Filmmaker Karan Johar tweeted, “We urge the Delhi Government to allow cinemas to operate. Cinemas are equipped with better ability to ensure a hygienic environment while maintaining social distancing norms as compared to other out-of-home settings.”

In a release, Multiplex Association of India (MAI) President Kamal Gianchandani said that the Delhi Government’s decision to shut down cinemas could lead to irreparable damage for the Indian film industry.