Amid tensions in West Asia that have led many to reconsider travel plans, Ram Kapoor is preparing to return to Dubai next week to complete pending work. The actor had travelled to the city with his wife, Gautami, two weeks ago but cut the trip short as the situation escalated.

He says, “Last time, we were there for about a week. I thought I would come back to Mumbai and wait for things to calm down before starting again. But now I don’t have a choice. My work is still pending, and the situation does not seem likely to resolve anytime soon and appears to be escalating. It could continue for months, or even longer. If that is the case, I cannot delay any further. I will have to go and complete the timelines I had planned, despite the situation.”

The urgency, he explains, is tied to strict timelines. He shares, “There is work underway at my home in the Burj Khalifa. We received the necessary permissions and have a fixed timeframe within which it needs to be completed, but everything has now come to a standstill. I could request an extension, but we don’t know how long this situation will last. So the idea is to continue with the work and try to finish it as per the original plan. People I know in Dubai are continuing with their lives as much as possible. It’s not an ideal situation, but I am not panicking.”

This time, Gautami will not be travelling with him. He says, “I’m going alone. I am flying on Tuesday after finishing a few things here. I expect to be there for a couple of weeks this time.”

While there are concerns at home, his family understands the situation. He shares, “My children are a lot like me. Even if they panic initially, once I speak to them, they calm down. In fact, they end up reassuring their mother. Gautami does worry, but she understands that this is important and that I can’t miss the time frame.”

He also points to the safety measures in place. “Dubai is very well organised and capable of ensuring safety. Even where my house is, it is one of the most protected buildings in the country, which is something I have explained to Gautami,” he concludes.