Actor Bhumi Satish Pednekkar’s clarity of thought is refreshing in a world of rehearsed answers by celebrities. In the latest episode of The Right Angle with Sonal Kalra, she talks about her journey, troll culture and urges fans to support low budget films.

Small and medium-sized films are dwindling. Friday ko collections aane shuru ho jaate hain aur ek judgement de diya jata hai ki iss film ki opening nahin lagi. Agar nahin lagi toh kya it’s not a film that’s worthy of being given a shot?... I have people around me saying ‘haan lekin iski opening nahin lagi hai na’. I’m like why do you all care? This is not for you. This is for the business and industry people. Dum Laga Ke Haisha (2015) had opened at Rs. 1 crore! Agar tab yeh systems hote toh na mera, na Ayushmann Khurrana, na Rajkummar Rao, na Taapsee Pannu, kisi ke career nahi hote. I really feel bad. These are the films that actually change the society. Har cheez number ho gayi hai ab. We need to encourage small and medium sized films and that will only happen if we stop labelling them.

Bhumi and Samiksha Pednekar are not just sisters, but each other’s best friends, confidantes and now business partners, too. This Raksha Bandhan, as they continue their personal tradition of tying rakhis to each other, the Pednekar sisters open up about how their bond has deepened over the years — especially after losing their father at a young age. The siblings talk about how they fiercely stand by each other, even while knowing their boundaries.

Bhumi: My mom has our pictures of us tying rakhis from the time when we were little kids. Over the years, the meaning of the ritual has changed for us. At its core, Raksha Bandhan for us is all about supporting your sibling, protecting them and just being there for each other.

Samiksha: Rakhi would start 10 days before the festival. We would go rakhi shopping and send rakhis via post to our cousin brothers. In fact, to this date, we do that.

Bhumi: Through the years, we met some incredible people who are now our rakhi brothers. I have so many rakhi brothers. It just happens naturally sometimes that you meet some people, and they feel like family. Nikhil Shetty, who I bonded with during my initial years as an actor, is my rakhi brother. He was Shanoo Sharma’s (casting director) rakhi brother and that’s how I met him. He’s one of the strongest people I know, and he’s supported me so much. I lost my father, and he just took on that role so beautifully in my life.

Samiksha: When dad passed away, Bhumi transformed so quickly. She took over my pain. She took over the responsibility of the house. I really felt that protection.

Bhumi: It just happened very organically. It was the correct thing for me to do for my family. We all stood up for each other. We all had our days and our moments. That’s what a family unit does. You stand up for each other when the other person is falling. To date, the only person who truly, even emotionally, protects me from the world is my sister. Nobody can say anything about me in front of Samiksha. She can go up against the world for me. Now, we are just not sisters, we are co-founders of a venture we started. Without defining boundaries, we have figured out each other’s boundaries. On a lighter note, the beauty of our relationship is that we fight every five minutes. They might look like fights to the world, but to us, it is a way of communication (laughs).

Samiksha: When she became an actor, social media was new. Somewhere in the middle of her career, it picked up, and the trolls came about. I would go on their page, report and even comment back. Bhumi always told me not to engage with the trolls, but then how do you not engage when you see something like that? I would engage without telling her.

Samiksha: Bhumi would be Jaadu (Koi… Mil Gaya) because she’s magical.

Bhumi: She’s quite fiery… I would say Damini.

Bhumi: If I became Samiksha, then I would be a lot more disciplined.

Samiksha: If I were Bhumi, then I would have better style!

Bhumi: Oh my God… this answer is my best rakhi gift (laughs).

Bhumi Pednekar, known for her strong and unconventional roles, has rarely ventured into traditional romance on screen. Speaking about her selective approachto the genre, she says, “I will only be a part of the genre when the story has more to say than just boy-meets-girl and they fall in love. Having said that, it’s a very beautiful emotion. I am not trying to undermine that. I just think love is one of the greatest things that can happen to any individual. But it is also complicated and complex. So, I like being a part of stories that show multiple shades.”

Ask Bhumi whether she calls love ‘complicated and complex’ based on her personal experiences, and she says, “I think everybody goes through complex love situations. It is not just about what I have gone through, but what I have heard from my friends, people within my family and my parents. I think growing up, you completely dehumanize your parents, but as you grow up, you realize how sensitive and complex their relationship was and how they made it work. At times, couples don’t make it work. Today, there is such pressure about relationships not working out. But at times it can also be celebrated because maybe that is the best thing that happened for individuals that were in it.”

Talking about the actor whom she would want to romance on the big screen, she says, “Shah Rukh Khan. He is indeed the King of Romance.”

Reportedly, Bhumi will be seen with Imran Khan in the latter’s comeback film, which is apparently a quirky romantic drama.

Without revealing anything, she says, “I think a romcom is a perfect comeback genre for Imran, because when he was actively working, he was known for that genre. I had a crush on him. For me, Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na was a transformational film,” says Bhumi, who was recently seen opposite Ishaan Khatter in the web show The Royals.

Bhumi Pednekar and sister Samiksha are a riot together. They resemble each other, have similar values, love glamming up and travelling together, but the sisters who share an unbreakable bond have distinct personalities. On Siblings Day, the feisty and fun Pednekar girls pose for an exclusive photoshoot with us and talk about their fights, feelings and how they can’t imagine a life without the other. Excerpts…

Bhumi: Samiksha is three-and-a-half years younger than me. I was extremely excited about welcoming a sibling, and I was always very maternal towards her. We have been inseparable since the beginning. We also had common friends in school. Our equation has evolved a lot over the years. It has gone from me being her elder sister to us being friends, and now business partners.

Samiksha: Bhumi is my best friend, older sister, mom, my grandmom... she means everything to me. As kids, we would fight over the TV remote, make-up and clothes. But make-up is also that one thing which we would bond over as we both loved glamming up from an early age.

Samiksha: It was, of course, Bhumi!

Bhumi: Mom would keep telling Samiksha, 'You are in this world because I wanted Bhumi to have a sibling'. This is my mom’s favourite line, and she thinks it is a very sweet thing to say (laughs).

Samiksha: I tell mom that she can’t keep saying that, because that can’t be the purpose of my life (laughs).

Samiksha: Bhumi made my life easy. She fought the battles, so I could follow in her footsteps.

Bhumi: While growing up, I was more idealistic, while Samiksha was a tornado. She was a troublemaker and a rebel. She is still naughty and has a lot of fire in her. She is very headstrong, while I am the softer one. We are kind of yin and yang. Samiksha has studied and practised law. She has surprised us. From being a backbencher, to a gold medallist lawyer to switching careers overnight and excelling in it - that’s something that I draw a lot of inspiration from.

Samiksha: I see her films and feel that I can never be an actor as good as her, so I rather not try it. Being an actor requires a lot of talent, resilience and hard work, and not everyone is cut out for that.

Bhumi: I did ask Samiksha to try her hand at acting because at one point people reached out to me to ask if my sister is interested in it. However, Samiksha always had a lot of clarity of thought. We want to leave behind a larger legacy of what we do individually and what we do together. We both have our individual careers – I am an actor and she does content creation. Together, we are in the process of creating something larger and impactful.

Bhumi: Our vision is to continue living together.

Samiksha: I guess we’ll have to find ghar jamais (laughs).

Bhumi: On a serious note, we keep taking about the fact that at some point there will be other people in our lives and our family will grow. But I hope, we never have any physical distance between us. I can’t imagine Samiksha moving to a different city. I would just crumble.

Samiksha: I can’t imagine a life without Bhumi.

Bhumi: Karisma Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor Khan. I see them and I feel… I know this relation. I know this energy. They are always together. They have common friends and are like a single unit, just like us.

"It was great fun. This shoot made me nostalgic,” said Bhumi Pednekar, while shooting with us exclusively for Makar Sankranti. The Badhaai Do actress flew a kite, gorged on some til laddoos and shared what she is looking forward to in the year ahead.

Bhumi wore a stunning black Paithani, paired it with a nathani and chandrakor bindi and completed the look with a fresh gajra of jasmine flowers for a special shoot with us for Makar Sankranti.

“I am dressed closest to my culture. I wore a Paithani after a long time. It’s also been a long time since I have flown a kite. When you get busy with work, you miss out on these small joys of life. I don’t remember the last time I did this (kite flying), so this shoot is making me nostalgic. When I spoke to my mom about the shoot, she said that I should wear a black Paithani,” says the actress.

For Bhumi, one of the highlights of the festival is the food. “Makar Sankranti, for me, is all about eating a lot of til laddoos. Since my mom is from Haryana, we also have gajak. That is the beauty of India. In different parts of the country, we celebrate the festival with different names, but culturally, we all do the same thing. Usually, during Makar Sankranti, I just feel like being at home. I also make a lot of puran polis. I have learnt the recipes from my mom, and I hope I can take the legacy forward,” she says.

Makar Sankranti is all about ending of one season and the beginning of another. Ask her what is the one thing she would like to end this year? She replies, “I feel like 2023 was the year of major life lessons for me – good, bad and a lot of sorts. I want to learn from it and channelize everything positively in 2024. As an individual there is always a point in one’s life where they reach a plateau, then something switches, you readjust things and the next chapter starts. 2024 is going to be that year.

Is there anything she would like to fly away this year like flies a kite? She answers, “I don’t want to fall sick this year. I had so much last year from swine flu to dengue to Covid. I want to fly away these diseases out of my life (laughs).”

1. Vikrant Massey because I loved his movie 12th Fail. I have watched that one three times already.

2. Vidhu Vinod Chopra for making that movie. And I really want to work with him.

3. Akshay (Kumar) sir as he is one of my biggest supporters in many ways

4. I want to give Shah Rukh Khan for two reasons. Firstly, because I am such a massive fan of him, I want to give him kilos of til gud. Secondly, my next release is from his production house.

"Travelling means re-educating myself. It is decompressing and relaxing,” says Bhumi Pednekar who’s back to the bay after a week-long trip in Australia. It’s a country she loves visiting and this was her third visit. What made her trip even better is that she had her sister Samiksha for company – and together, they are a cool travel jodi.

While during her earlier trips to Oz, Bhumi covered the Gold Coast and Sydney, this time around she explored Melbourne.

“If you are a foodie, then there can’t be any other better place than Melbourne. It truly has some of the best food to offer. Food is always one of the highlights when Samiksha and I travel together, and our days are usually planned around our meals, so this really completed our trip. This time, I really enjoyed binging at this pizzeria which is rated the fourth best pizzeria in the world,” she says.

Talking about what else she did in Australia, Bhumi says, “The coast and the water is just so beautiful. I am a beach baby and I love going into the water there. The wildlife is also so different from what we have around our parts of the world, like the koalas, kangaroos and even marine life. This place is a heaven for anybody who loves animals, wildlife and food!”

Another interesting addition to her itinerary was a visit to an art gallery. Bhumi says, “At the gallery, we saw some beautiful pieces by Picasso. I learned that he also made sculptures, and I loved seeing those. There was an entire area dedicated to female Australian artistes, and you could just see how female energy would transition.”

My sister Samiksha is my favourite travel buddy. We have literally seen the world together. We have travelled together ever since we were kids. From London to Paris, Canada to Dubai, we have travelled across Europe and also in India

Bhumi says, “It is fun meeting people from different cultures because when I travel, I love living the local life, eating local cuisine and going to local markets. I also love walking around. I feel when you are walking on the streets is when you learn the most about the place. I learn a lot about life when I travel.”

“The one place I do want to go to is Japan. It’s at the top of my travel list. I can’t wait to do that trip with my sister.”

They laugh, they cry, they fight but hug it out — the bond siblings share is unlike any other. Such is also the case for actor Bhumi Pednekar, 33, and her sister, lawyer Samiksha Pednekar, 30. Often seen setting #siblinggoals, it wouldn’t be wrong to say they wear their sisterhood proudly on their sleeves. Today, on Siblings Day, they get candid about their bond, being each other’s biggest cheerleader and more. Excerpts:

Samiksha: We celebrate each other every day. But, it’s good to have this one day where you can say out loud how much you love your sibling.

Bhumi: Every day is a celebration with a sibling. But yes, having one day where you can just go all out is very special.

Bhumi: We have always been extremely close. Samiksha is my soulmate in so many ways. When we were young, we would fight over the silliest of things, like the [TV] remote, a spot on the table both of us want to sit at, clothes, etc. We still fight about the same things, minus the remote! But, we make up in minutes, because we can’t stay without each other. Today, we see our careers together, as business partners. We want to leave behind a legacy as the Pednekar sisters.

Samiksha: Bhumi is a parent and a best friend. She has played such an important part in me becoming the person I am today.

Bhumi: Samiksha has always been a naughty child. She is feisty, I’m the calm one. She is someone who can put herself out there, confidently.

Samiksha: The confidence is because I have a strong support system. It gives me the courage to do all the crazy stuff I do. If I fall, I have my mum and sister to hold me. I am not naughty, they make me naughty (laughs).

Samiksha: I am more protective of Bhumi than she is of me. If I see some random [bad] comment on her Instagram post, I go to that person’s page and report them, even if they have no followers or posts.

Bhumi: As an elder sibling, the way I look out for Samiksha is a little different. She’s like my child, though our age gap isn’t a lot. She is like an organ in my body.

Samiksha: I am her heart!

Bhumi: (Laughs) Maybe one day, there will be a reality show called Keeping up with the Pednekar sisters!

Bhumi Pednekar, who has been an advocate for climate-related issues, has always loved Delhi winters. However, she says that Dilli ki sardi no longer excites her. Courtesy: the smog. “Spring is definitely the best time to be in Delhi right now. But we have to understand we can’t always go to the second-best alternative. Is it fair that kids in the next few years will have respiratory problems? Schools are going into lockdown because the air is so toxic. What kind of a world are we leaving behind? Today, our summers and winters are so extreme. The biggest misunderstanding is that people think climate change will happen far away in the future. No! It’s happening now. We have had multiple heat waves, we experienced the coldest winter days this year, there have been floods and droughts, and this is not normal!”

“We must be really delusional if we believe that we aren’t going to face the adverse effects of climate change,” says Bhumi.

Talking about shooting in the Delhi smog, the climate warrior, who was recently named The United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) first national advocate for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Delhi, adds, “There were days when we had to push the shoot as the smog was so intense and we couldn’t see anything.”

Bhumi recalls, “I remember I would come back from the shoot and have bad allergic rhinitis, thanks to the pollution. I don’t want to live wearing a mask all the time, but that’s what we are going towards, and it’s heartbreaking.”

Despite that, Delhi remains one of her favourite cities. She says, “I love Delhi. I have grown up in the city and have my friends and family here. And what I love the most about the capital is the mix of culture with development. It really gives me a high when I go around Lutyens’ Delhi and cross the areas like the Parliament and the embassies. I think what’s beautiful about Delhi is that you will randomly see a historical monument and then there’s so much development around it. I love how both worlds co-exist. I also love the food here.”

On the work front, Bhumi says she is looking forward to playing glamorous roles, but not ones that are about objectification of women. “I love glamour, and I love fashion. Most of my films don’t portray that, but in my personal life, that’s something I love. When I look at Sridevi in a chiffon saree in Chandni... uff! I want to do roles like that, but over time, we just reduced the importance of female characters tremendously. I would like to believe it’s changing now,” she shares.

The actress enjoys doing challenging roles. “Being an actor is a lot more than just looking amazing on screen and portraying different characters. It also comes with a little bit of responsibility. I got lucky because my first film was Dum Laga Ke Haisha, I tasted blood with that film and realized that doing unconventional parts is my power, and that’s how I can create a space for myself.”

She further adds, “I really enjoy challenging and pushing myself. I enjoy that my films bring about a certain amount of positive change in the world. I want to use my craft to make society a better place. I feel very proud that I have created a niche for myself, and I really hope that other women join me in that space, I will be happy to share it. There’s enough work for everyone.”

In her debut film Dum Laga Ke Haisha (DLKH, 2015), Bhumi Pednekar played a teacher based in a small town in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. The actor followed it up with films like Toilet - Ek Prem Katha, Shubh Mangal Saavdhan (both 2017) and the recently released Badhaai Do, where she was seen playing a strong-spirited small-town girl. While these acts have fetched her acclaim, she has also been stereotyped for being caught in the template.

But she has no qualms about it: “I am not scared of being stereotyped. I don’t think representing 70% [of the population] of the country should stereotype me.”

The actor, however, wants to make every small-town girl she plays starkly different from each other. She explains, “What I’m wary about is repetition, but that hasn’t happened so far. I’ve never had anyone telling me, ‘I’ve seen you do this before.’ Even if I’m playing a girl who’s from the same milieu in different films, I make sure that the ways they lead their lives are very different, and that requires a lot of unlearning about India’s heartland.”

Having been brought up in Mumbai, the journey to slipping under the skin of such characters hasn’t been easy for the actor. “In fact, it’s still very tough because I’ve not lived that life. But fortunately, I’ve had that exposure through films. And every film comes with a lot of prep,” says Pednekar.

The actor, who has spent seven years in the industry, credits her debut film for setting the tone of her career. “It’s been a few years since I have been acting, but I feel like I have started now, because it’s only now that I am getting to explore so much about myself. This is a great time for me,” ends the 32-year-old actor.

In telling the story of two queer protagonists who settle for a marriage of convenience, Badhaai Do deftly handles myriad subjects — from celebrating queer love to championing adoption for same-sex couples. But to Bhumi Pednekar, the film is about equality above all else. “I would not say Badhaai Do is about lavender marriage. That is the film’s set-up. The movie is about two queer persons trying to live in a society that is not equal,” she begins.

Harshavardhan Kulkarni’s directorial venture sees the actor as Suman, a closeted lesbian entering a lavender marriage with Rajkummar Rao’s gay cop. Through her measured performance, Pednekar shows the suppression and suffocation that members of the LGBTQiA+ community endure in a society that unfortunately makes them feel othered. “When you are going through this experience [of feeling unequal], you question a lot of things. I have a lot of friends who belong to the LGBTQiA+ community. I have seen their ups and downs, nights where they cried themselves to sleep. It’s a lonely journey. It’s not easy living a life where you have to lie in front of the people you love the most. It’s not easy living a life where you feel like you don’t fit in.”

The actor approached her character with sensitivity, imbuing her with dignity and determination to fight for her right. “We have always seen a lesbian woman in a singular light. So, for starters, the biggest challenge was not to stereotype her. Secondly, I did not want her to be bitter at all. Her life has been tough, but I didn’t want the bitterness to come into my performance. I wanted her to be somebody sweet who is yearning for a better life. All she wants is acceptance from the people she loves. So, the process of becoming Suman was internal.”

After playing an intense role, one can’t walk away from it without being affected to some degree. Pednekar agrees it shifted her perspective. “Playing a queer character changed my soul a little. I have gone from being sympathetic to having a lot more empathy.”

I am on cloud nine! The world is gradually getting back to normalcy and our film has released in cinemas. We have always believed this film was meant to come to theatres. It has a brilliant mix of humour and emotions, which makes it the perfect choice for family viewing. And when you need laughs, they also have to be big. There could not have been a better film for me to begin my year and the second innings of my theatrical run with.

To me, Badhaai Do is as special as my debut film was. There’s a reason we were so guarded about this film and we didn’t let any pictures or BTS material slip out. We were sure we would come out with a bang. This is one of those films which needs to be put out there. I have received so much love from across the board. Of course, I have seen such love pouring in for some of my other films also, and I consider myself fortunate for that. But the love for Badhaai Do is special because it’s my first film to release in a theatre after two long years. It’s a very special film. The reactions to its material only shows that people are excited to come back to some great content. It’s the kind of response we were hoping to get.

Apart from the message that the film aims to give, I was hooked on Badhaai Do right from its narration. I was laughing and tearing up at the same time. It was because I was so moved by what the characters in the film were experiencing, their turmoils, their desires, their complications and their little joys. The tears rolling down my cheeks and the laughter on my face was the result of an amalgamation of so many things I subconsciously felt about these characters. I realised that this was so entertaining and such an important communication. This is a film that talks to a large part of our demographic. It is through entertainment that you can fan discussions around some really crucial subjects. This is my kind of cinema – that entertains and forces you to think afterwards. In this story, I saw two people who wanted love, who wanted to own their choices, and who wanted acceptance for these things from their families. The story has such nuanced satellite characters, representing different voices from our society. At no point are the two central characters and their sexual preferences used as a source of cheap humour. I felt that it had been treated with sensitivity. Badhaai Do is a winner because it opens itself up for family viewing.

Badhaai Do is definitely a film that needs to be watched together with your family. It’s about celebrating love and acceptance. We have taken the route of humour to talk about something that our society is uncomfortable addressing. I watched the film for the first time with my mother next to me. She is accepting of one’s choices, yet she has never seen me romance a person from the same gender. After we watched the film, I asked her if she felt different after seeing me romance a woman. She said not at all. Through the film, because of the way it’s been treated and the sensitivity with which it’s been written, she only saw two people wanting to be together and the struggles of individuals from the community. We can only normalize this if we can watch this with our families.

Nope! I latched on to the film immediately after the narration. I am offered many films with social messaging and the scope for pushing the envelope but I hadn’t laughed so hard and felt so much for any other project. This film made me feel the kind of things that no other film did. So, I never had an iota of doubt. My vision and thoughts as an actor have always been to break boundaries and tread new territories. I was looking for something like this. I wanted to reach out to people with the right story and put things into perspective. I remember our conversation around Valentine’s Day a year ago where we spoke about self-love. It’s such a cosmic thing – I was experiencing Sumi’s life at that time. I was living her life each day, thinking to myself how strong and brave she is. And how love cannot be contained in compartments and we all have the right to choose our partners.

I can’t think of a particular day or an individual incident but there were difficulties every day. Because Sumi is a vulnerable girl, who is not allowed to follow her own path. There were days when I was so conflicted in my heart and mind because I have lived with a lot of freedom and lived on my terms. Sumi doesn’t have the room for that. That itself was tough to break into. The director and writers helped in a big way. There were small little things that were actually tougher to portray on screen. I wanted Sumi to look raw and real and so the focus on makeup and hair was minimal. I wanted her to be relatable for any girl in the country. I wanted to keep her as real and vulnerable as she is in the screenplay. Getting there was a challenge every day. As an actor, through years of working, you build certain inhibitions and I had to get over all of those to be Sumi. The world created around me by the director, the writers and the co-actors made it simpler.

Raj made it easy. The chemistry in Badhaai Do was never about being attracted to each other. There was a great friendship that spilled over from real to reel. Our friendship made our chemistry so incredible. We play two people who’ve had a similar journey, have led similar lives, and have similar fears. These two people share great comfort in being each other’s friends, roommates and having a bro-code. Their life experiences bring them close as friends. And again, our director Harshvardhan Kulkarni had a role to play here, too. Raj and I were so excited to work with each other. Both our parts are juicy and we have done so many kinds of roles that at no point did either of us think that he or I have a better or edgier character. Both parts were equally demanding. Sumi and Shardul are like Jay-Veeru and Amar-Prem. While we organically became each other’s friends, we also got a lot of guidance from our director to meander through our characters’ friendship.

With Badhaai Do, I grew as a person. The takeaway was that we all have a little judgement in us. With this film, mere andar ka jo bhi tha, thoda bahut, woh bhi chala gaya. We discriminate so much against people but I feel so light since I have managed to leave that out of my life. I genuinely feel that this film helped me evolve and it made me a better person. It contributed immensely. I felt a sense of bravery when I did this film. I have always been a supporter of the conversations around the LGBTQIA+ community but my attachment with it has grown with this film. The film is a joyride that comes with a certain amount of heartbreak for the audience, which drives a thought home.

Actor Bhumi Pednekar has four films ready for release this year, but their fate depends on the curve of Coronavirus crisis in India. And the actor says she would like the stories to come alive on the big screen, but not at the cost of safety and health.

“It is sad (the effect that the restrictions have on the entertainment industry). I was really looking forward to all my releases this year. I’d have at least one or two in the first quarter itself,” shares Pednekar, adding, “But human life is [more important]. I would really hope that my films release in the cinema hall, but it can’t happen at the cost of the virus going out of control.”

She spent most of the last year shooting for projects such as Govinda Naam Mera, Badhaai Do and Raksha Bandhan, and Pednekar, 32, promises that they will show different sides of her. She says that 2022 will also be busy for her, and for that, she is “full of gratitude”.

At the moment, there is a lot of uncertainty following the spike in Covid-19 cases and restrictions being placed in several parts of the country. Pednekar, who also contracted the virus last year, admits to being worried.

“I hope people mask up and be careful about the protocols,” says the Durgamati: The Myth actor, adding, “More than us, for the younger generation, we should take on some responsibility and make sure that they don’t go through the last two years again.”

During the second wave last year, Pednekar went out of the way to help people sending SOS calls. And she says she is walking into 2022 with many lessons.

“We can’t let a third wave, as fatal as the second wave, happen. And we need to make sure that whatever we do, we do it responsibly so that the economy can run,” the actor concludes.

From adhering to safety measures to limited hours of shoot, production units are trying hard to keep Coronavirus at bay. Actor Bhumi Pednekar, who is currently shooting for Raksha Bandhan in Mumbai, lauds the State’s decision of rolling out an eight-hour schedule.

“So far, it has been quite comfortable. I return home by evening as opposed to the pre-pandemic time when we would pack up at nine in the night. Everybody is more productive. They understand they’ve limited hours,” she shares.

For Pednekar, the joy of coming back to a film set remains unparalleled. She explains, “I started working really early and so, I’ve always had a working life. I missed acting and the joy I felt while playing a character.”

The fear of the Delta plus variant looms large but the Durgamati (2020) actor believes that it is important for everyone to push their fears aside and resume work. “Our economy needs to run. It’s easier for actors because our shop never shuts. But there are daily wage workers on a set who need support, be it in terms of mental health or monetary aid,” she states.

Pednekar hosted a virtual plasma donation drive when the country was hit by the Covid second wave. She says interacting with the families of those affected has really changed her perspective towards life. “I used to feel a sense of disconnection, but engaging in Covid-relief work reconnected me to humanity,” she concludes.

I have always believed that evolution of mankind to reach a digital world can’t be detrimental to us or our planet. How can a tool as strong as social media be negative, when it actually has the power to bring about change and growth through its reach among millions? It’s the most connected that humanity has ever been in history. And we’d be fools if we don’t use this medium to our benefit.

Even in my past initiatives – the biggest one of which so far is Climate Warrior – I used my social media platforms for advocacy on climate change and its adverse effect. And with it I’ve come to realise that my biggest resource today is ‘the connect’ that I’ve through my social media. It’s my own personal war room in our fight against Coronavirus. It has connected me to the most wonderful people, who on my single tweet jumped in to help, educated me, raised funds and assisted people in need to reach out to us from the remotest parts of the country.

It helped me create a community of over 350 volunteers – all in a few weeks – who selflessly want to serve humanity. It has been one of my most empowering and humbling experiences and has awakened my faith in humanity again.

It all started with the horror my family and I went through, when we all contracted the virus. What made it tougher was my mother’s hospitalisation. From that first call where we were told we need to admit her, to arranging plasma and all the frenzy that came with it, it wasn’t easy – even with all the help I had. I was fortunate that I had people who came out and guided me through this. But how many would be as lucky? They don’t have the soft power or privilege that I have earned through my work.

I had to give back. I realised it’s time to get out there. My social media handles became my battle ground and biggest support to provide relief to people in need. I started by going through my direct messages (DMs) and shared one plasma request – not knowing if it’d work. I didn’t have to wait long and had a message saying the patient found a donor and that’s how it started. Within minutes my DMs were full of requests, with people tagging me for potential leads.

Later, I connected with like-minded influencers doing the same work in their respective cities. The next day it went from plasma and medication to beds, oxygen cylinders, ambulances, breast milk donors and many critical SOS calls.

From my one social media platform, it progressed to creating 11 different groups on a messaging app, that now work pan India with volunteers working 24/7 to help people. When people reach out to us, we amplify the requests, while also working on the individual cases and making sure they get the help they need. Many good Samaritans join in and send us leads and extend help. It’s this synchronised energy and network of people, connected through the internet and exchanging information, which has actually made this relief effort possible.

I’ve never ever felt this connected with humanity, never felt this protected, supported and loved. I’ve never felt this empowered and courageous.

The last few months have seen a lot of citizens across the country step up as COVID Samaritans, who have reached out to those battling the Coronavirus. Several actors have turned COVID warriors, too, helping out people in various ways. Bhumi Pednekar, along with her team of volunteers, has been actively working towards providing help and support to people in these times.

“The last few weeks have been nothing short of heartbreaking for the volunteers and me. When I got into it, I didn’t realise that things could be so devastating. Speaking to families in despair and trying to calm them down when they’re crying for help is extremely difficult. I’ve felt that most people seek hospitalization either as soon as they test positive or when the condition has gone completely downhill. It’s that gap in the middle when they need to make the decision and move. We’ve also received so many SOS calls for ICU beds. There’s a dearth of oxygen supply in the North belt. As volunteers, we have all had to find ways to join the missing dots and get aid for the patient in need. There are so many small things that have to be taken care of, between getting a patient from his or her home to the hospital.”

Bhumi, who has also dealt with COVID cases within her extended family and close friend circles in Delhi and Mumbai in recent weeks, says, “The last one month has been one of the most life-changing periods of my life.”

While social media and WhatsApp groups of volunteers have been helpful in getting resources to those in need, sadly, it has also thrown up several cases where patients and even volunteers have been fleeced by those claiming to have access to medical supplies.

Bring this up, and Bhumi says, “I am a part of several volunteer groups. At a personal level, all of us have all dealt with COVID-led tragedies while helping a friend, a close family member or even someone from our extended families. At such a time, people are vulnerable; their mind tends to be clouded. It’s difficult to judge whether you’re making the right choice or not. It’s human to go through that.”

She further adds, “Oxygen cylinders and concentrators are being held up by people, and that is creating a wide gap between demand and supply; this is something I know because I have my ears to the ground. People who need it are not getting it easily. You need to report the people who are fleecing you to the cops and on social media with their phone numbers, so that others don’t fall prey to them. Another reason why I’m raising an alarm here is that all these help and support groups functioning across the country are citizen-led, and I don’t want volunteers to be exploited and fleeced when all they’re trying to do is help. It’s a scary scenario.”

The actress plans to intensify her movement, taking it to rural areas and smaller cities where social media platforms are not used as much. Bhumi elaborates, “We’re taking one day at a time. None of us had the time to sit back and think ahead. The situation exploded before we knew. I’ve had a lot of support from students in Delhi and Maharashtra in these weeks. We are now mobilising more citizen and student groups in West Bengal, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, and somehow, also penetrate the rural pockets, which need attention. Social media, so far, has been our greatest ally, our war room, so to say. The best part is that this movement of citizens across the country does not depend on any one person leading it. It’s run with kind intentions and collective strengths of people, which won’t fizzle out any time soon.”

Two days after testing negative for Coronavirus, Bhumi Pednekar took to social media to start a plasma donation drive. She has also been identifying resources for those who are struggling with hospital beds and oxygen cylinders amid the health crisis. At a time when patients and their families are in dire need of medical supplies, the actor says she wanted to make good use of her social media reach.

“My biggest resource today is the reach that I have. And that’s exactly what I’m trying to utilise. I don’t feel pressurised as a person of influence but I feel overwhelmed much like any citizen or volunteer. I hope I can motivate people to come out and help as many as possible,” she shares.

Stressing on the importance of donating plasma, the Durgamati (2020) actor says, “Those who’ve recently recovered can reach out to me via social media. I’m guiding people through the process to save somebody’s life. I don’t want anyone to be lazy right now. Now is the time to stand up for our country.”

Pednekar believes it’s important to stay detached from the patients one is trying to help. “My body is in auto mode. I’ve no idea what’s happening and that’s where I draw the power from. The only thing I’ve decided is to be detached from anything that happens in this journey, whether good or bad,” says the 31-year-old, adding, “If somebody gets help, I don’t get overly excited. There are patients that we can’t help, and even then, I try not to get overwhelmed. We’ve to move on because there’s no option.”

Bhumi says, “It could be something as simple as arranging food or adult diapers — do whatever it takes, but help. Donate plasma if you’re eligible and if nothing, at least verify phone numbers or details before sending them to others. That breaks the chain of misinformation. Also, people have to stop being insecure and hoarding resources.”

Talking about her own war with COVID-19, the actress says that she was not the only one at home with the infection. Her mother, too, had tested positive. “I had a fever, body ache and headache. I didn’t complain of a cough or any kind of heaviness. I didn’t lose my appetite or sense of smell and taste. My recovery process was straight – I followed the procedures, I kept up with all the guidelines. I am doing much better now, but this disease leaves you feeling weak, fatigued, and exhausted. I could not work out. I am someone who works out every day, but it has been difficult lately,” says Bhumi.

The virus often takes a toll on people physically and mentally, even post recovery. Elaborating on how she kept up her spirit, she says, “I kept my morale high by accepting that it will take these many days to recover, and that the fever cycle will break soon, and things will improve. I did a lot of breathing exercises, followed quarantine rules and kept myself entertained with content on TV. I also slept a lot and ate three healthy meals a day. Following instructions to the T helps.”

Speaking about her mother’s battle with COVID, the actress says that it was indeed a big cause of worry for her. “It posed a bigger challenge for me. I was nursing her back to health; I was the only one who could do that. Our rooms are connected through a balcony, so I could help her, while disconnecting ourselves from the rest of the house. I didn’t want my sister or staff to fall ill. My household has been very particular about following norms. It was unfortunate we fell sick and we don’t know how it happened. We have to be even more cautious now.

We are all trying to be safe. The thing is that we can’t completely stop work. At some point, we will all go back and we will be susceptible to infections because we can’t wear masks on camera,” she says.

Coming back to how long she plans to continue with her social media activity to help the current alarming COVID situation in the country, Bhumi shares, “My resolve is to stay as involved with this as possible and connect with the volunteers. When I managed to procure help for someone using social media for the first time, I couldn’t believe it. It was a shot in the dark, but now, I do see a ray of hope. I hope that people help one another.”

What can we do from home? You ask and Bhumi Pednekar shows by example. Barely a week after she recovered from her own battle with Coronavirus, the actor has kickstarted an online tribe of warriors to aid those affected in dire need of medical supplies. Using her clout on social media, the actor in tandem with a team of 100 volunteers, is sourcing hospital beds, medicines, plasma, and oxygen across the country. “The country is in a state of war, we have no choice,” says Pednekar, while battling the dreaded fatigue that comes with COVID.

The actor explains that the need to help came from personal experience. “I went through [the ordeal] when I was seeking plasma for my mother. Despite all the leads, it wasn’t easy. My family fell sick at a time when there was breathing space in the health sector. We were lucky.”

It initiated with sharing requests on social media, then Pednekar opened her network to effect change pan-India. “Six days ago, I connected with [influencers like] Viraj Ghelani and others, who are offering redressal across the country. The volunteers are working round the clock. Our WhatsApp group never stops working. It is heartbreaking to find resources a few hours too late and the person is no more,” says the actor, adding, “Verification of data is a big challenge we are facing currently, [especially when] there are 30 requests for one resource at a time.”

Posts by Pednekar urging people to donate plasma and, explaining that help “need not always be monetary” have been making the social media rounds. She points out that while there’s a genuine shortage, it’s imperative that citizens refrain from hoarding. “I recovered at home. Unless the oxygen saturation drops, one doesn’t need to go to the hospital or keep empty cylinders at home,” says the actor.

- Priyanka Chopra Jonas has been using her social media throughout the week to find hospital beds, plasma, ventilators and even home-cooked meals.

- Sushmita Sen sourced oxygen cylinders for the smaller hospitals in Delhi. After facing issues with delivery, the actor used her social media clout to find transportation.

- Always on the horizon to provide help, Sonu Sood got a critically ill 25-year-old patient airlifted in an ambulance from Nagpur to Hyderabad for an emergency ECMO.

- Following in Pednekar’s footsteps, Sonam K Ahuja is using her social media to educate people about Plasma donations, combating the virus and more.