Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 21, 2020)

Following consultations with doctors at Mumbai’s Lilavati Hospital, Sanjay Dutt was admitted to another city hospital, Kokilaben, on Tuesday. The actor was diagnosed with lung cancer last week after he checked into Lilavati Hospital complaining of breathlessness. While rumours flew thick and fast, wife Maanayata, in a statement, requested people to stop speculating on the stage of his illness and let the doctors continue to do their work. “We will update you all regularly with his progress,” she assured. Maanayata was stuck in Dubai with their children, Iqra and Shahraan, when the Coronavirus lockdown was suddenly announced. She flew back to the city on August 12 and is currently under 14-day quarantine, which is why the actor is accompanied everywhere by sister Priya Dutt.

The 61-year-old actor has taken the illness in his stride and remains upbeat, greeting the paps with a thumbs up and telling them to pray for him. According to a source, the family has seen Nargis Dutt and his late wife Richa Sharma fight the Big C and Sanju’s sister, Priya, has been running a cancer foundation for over two decades so they are familiar with the treatment. “Despite knowing this will be a long and tough journey, they are determined to go about their lives as normally as possible, confident that this too shall pass. Right now, the preliminary tests are being conducted. So, Sanjay is not expected to be in the hospital for a long time. Once the reports are out, he will return home but hospital visits will be frequent.”

There have been reports that Sanjay will be flying off to the USA or another country abroad for treatment. The source dismisses the speculation: “The family will discuss the future course of action depending on the test reports.”

MUMBAI MIRROR (August 17, 2020)

On Sunday, at around 12 noon, Sanjay Dutt was spotted at the Lilavati Hospital, along with sister Priya Dutt. He arrived well before his appointment and stayed in his car until the doctor arrived. The extensive consultation with Dr Jalil Parkar, senior pulmonologist, lasted till 3.15 pm, following which the doctor and Priya left the hospital. Sanjay, however, was there for another two hours and left only post 5 pm in his car. It seems that the actor was at the hospital for another round of check-ups at the hospital.

On Saturday, the brother-sister duo visited the Kokilaben Hospital in Andheri for a brief period. The actor is expected to begin chemotherapy sessions there soon.

A week ago, he had checked into the Lilavati Hospital following breathing trouble. While he didn’t test positive for Coronavirus, it is believed that he was diagnosed with lung cancer. On Tuesday, the actor, who has four films on the floors and two up for release, had posted on social media that he would be taking a short break for medical treatment and promised to be back soon.

Hitting back at those criticising producers for encouraging filming during a pandemic, chairman of IFTPC's TV wing, J D Majethia says only four amid 7,000 artistes tested positive over 21 days
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; July 16, 2020)

After spending a fair share of time exploring different content on web platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, consumers of daily soaps returned to the comfort of their television sets to indulge in fresh episodes of their favourite serials, last week. But the decision to resume work amid a pandemic left a bitter taste in people's mouth as news of actors and artistes testing positive for Coronavirus began to trickle in, soon after. J D Majethia, chairman of the Indian Film and TV Producers Council's TV and web wing, says the wrath that producers are being subjected to is unwarranted when one considered the number of artistes who have fallen prey to the virus.

"Around 80 shows are being shot across Mumbai with 7,000 people getting back to work. It has been 21 days since we resumed, and only four cases have been reported, so far. So, the way people are pulling up producers is unfair," Majethia tells mid-day, adding that a blind eye is being turned to the efforts put in by those in charge to ensure safety measures are followed.

Majethia is quick to acknowledge that despite best practices "sometimes, things happen." "People are travelling from different places, food is being ordered from out, and private vehicles are being used. So, even though there is a system in place, [the virus can spread]. But, we take utmost care of our crew," he says, making a case for himself when stating that Parth Samthaan, leading man of Ekta Kapoor's Kasautii Zindagii Kay was the only crew-member of the show to test positive for the contagious virus. The TV industry, he says, has tied up with Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital to provide aid to artistes.

Apart from Kasautii Zindagi Kay, the shoot of Mere Sai and Ek Mahanayak - Dr B R Ambedkar apparently came to a halt after cases of crew members testing positive, came to light.


J D Majethia's Bhakarwadi was among the shows that resumed shooting

The actor’s brother, Raju Kher and his family have also tested positive for COVID-19 and are quarantined at home
BOMBAY TIMES (July 13, 2020)

On Sunday, Anupam Kher took to social media to inform that his mother Dulari, brother Raju Kher, sister-in-law Reema and niece Vrinda have tested mildly positive for Coronavirus. The actor’s mother has been admitted to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, while his brother’s family are quarantined at home.

Kher, who tested negative for COVID-19, tweeted, “This is to inform all that my mother Dulari is found Covid + (Mildly). We have admitted her into Kokilaben Hospital. My brother, bhabhi & niece inspite of being careful have also tested mildly positive. I got myself tested as well & I have tested negative. @mybmc is informed (sic).” 

MUMBAI MIRROR (June 1, 2020)

On Sunday, Mirror learnt that Shibasish Sarkar, the CEO of Reliance Entertainment, has tested positive for Covid-19.

When Mirror reached out to him, Shibasish confirmed the news, saying, “Hospitalised currently in Kokilaben, but proper treatment is happening. Will get well soon.”

Shibasish is raring to go back to work with Rohit Shetty’s Sooryavanshi and Kabir Khan’s '83. The release of both films was pushed in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. They will release once normalcy returns. The producer hopes to be home soon. According to sources, his fever has abated and he is on the road to recovery.

BOMBAY TIMES (April 29, 2020)

Actor Irrfan was admitted to Mumbai’s Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital last night, according to sources. He is in the ICU.

His spokesperson confirmed, “It is true that Irrfan is admitted to the ICU at Kokilaben (hospital) in Mumbai because of a colon infection. We will keep everyone updated. He is under doctor’s observation. His strength and courage have helped him battle and fight so far and we are sure with his tremendous willpower and prayers of all his well-wishers, he will recover soon.”

The actor was diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumour in 2018. Soon after, he left for London for treatment, which kept him away from films for over a year.

Angrezi Medium marked his return, but he kept away from the movie’s promotions owing to health reasons. A source close to the actor revealed that while he has been battling health issues, he was doing okay before the lockdown. However, his condition deteriorated post his mother’s demise a few days ago.
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Hiren Kotwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 29, 2020)

Irrfan Khan has been admitted to the intensive care unit of a suburban hospital with a colon infection, his spokesperson said in a statement on Tuesday.

“Yes, it is true that Irrfan Khan is admitted to the ICU at Kokilaben in Mumbai because of a colon infection. We would keep everyone updated. He is under doctor’s observation,” the statement read as rumours about the 53-year-old actor’s health started doing the rounds. “His strength and courage have helped him battle and fight so far and we are sure that with his tremendous willpower and prayers of his well-wishers, he will recover soon,” the statement added.

Irrfan was diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumour, a rare form of cancer that targets various parts of the body, in 2018, after which the actor went abroad for treatment. Last year, he returned to shoot for Homi Adajania’s Angrezi Medium, the sequel to his 2017 hit, Hindi Medium. However, his health condition prevented him from promoting the film, which hit theatres just before a lockdown was imposed on March 25 to contain the coronavirus outbreak.

A few days ago, Irrfan lost his mother, Saeeda Begum, and was unable to attend the last rites in Jaipur due to the lockdown. 

With sister undergoing COVID-19 treatment, Zoa Morani, who is kept in isolation, discusses how they were home-quarantined after respective trips; says she showed 'all symptoms' but tested negative
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; April 7, 2020)

"I am approaching this one step at a time," says actor Zoa Morani, who is awaiting the result of her second test for COVID-19 at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital. The actor and sister Shaza were admitted to the Andheri hospital late Sunday night. After the first round of test, Shaza, who tested positive, was promptly taken to Nanavati Hospital for treatment.

While her sister had a recent history of international travel, Zoa reveals that she was shooting in Rajasthan till early March. "My sister had travelled to Sri Lanka in late February with her friends. Once we were back in Mumbai, she and I self-quarantined ourselves for 14 days. We didn't meet our parents," she says. The two decided to head for a test when Zoa showed most symptoms, including dry cough and fever. "The doctors were prompt and quickly took a swab test. Shaza showed no symptoms, and yet, she tested positive. I have all the symptoms, and my first test has come negative. So, I have been put in an isolation ward along with other suspected cases."

Keeping herself emotionally strong during these trying times, Zoa — the elder daughter of Bollywood producer Karim Morani — says it is important to get rid of the paranoia surrounding the crisis. "There's so much paranoia even about taking the test. I have grown up in a family of doctors, so I am approaching this logically. We took all the necessary precautions and followed protocol. Considering Shaza has no symptoms, I am assuming I was the carrier. If I get tested positive, I would want to be around her in Nanavati."

Contact Tracing In Juhu
Though the sisters practised self-quarantine, the lane close to the Morani house in Juhu has been sealed as per protocol. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation officials have reached out to the few who came in contact with them, including their family doctor who had visited them on March 20 and prescribed medication to Zoa for what was then diagnosed as flu. Their domestic staff has been asked to self-quarantine and monitor symptoms if any.
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Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; March 28, 2020)

Shabana Azmi recently spoke to BT about life post the near-fatal accident in January this year, how the ecosystem of casting character actors has changed, and life in times of the coronavirus pandemic. Read on…

You returned from a trip to Budapest and went in for self-imposed quarantine. How are you biding time at home while in self-isolation?
I returned on March 15 with my close friend Parna Patkar and my nurse Pravina who were with me in Budapest. Hungary was not included in the risky countries then, so I wasn’t worried. It was really on Parna’s and Zoya’s (Akhtar) insistence that I have self-isolated myself till March 30.

What arrangements have you made at home for quarantining yourself, given that your husband Javed Akhtar is also home these days?
Our office staff is working from their homes. Only a skeletal domestic staff is operating from our house. We have been counselling whoever we can to maintain a safe distance and wash their hands with soap and water frequently. With healthcare conditions in our country severely lacking, we simply do not have the wherewithal to deal with the pandemic if it hits in full force. There are not enough ventilators, ICUs and hospital beds, so we have to try and flatten the curve. Social distancing and going by the government advisories must become the norm. I participated in a board meeting (via phone) of the NGO I work with based in Ahmedabad for two hours.

I am trying to Marie Condo the house starting with my books, although it’s really hard to part with them! But I really want to declutter and get rid of stuff I haven’t used for six months, whether it’s clothes bags or shoes. I don’t see the point of having a favourite sari or a favourite outfit if I know that I won’t repeat it. I’m glad Kate Middleton has been repeating her outfits and talking about sustainable fashion. Celebrities must set an example and repeat their clothes. Javed and I have also been reading a lot, watching movies and resting. I’ve recovered well but have to still get my strength back.

Could you tell us how long it took you to recover from the accident that you met with on the weekend after Javed Saab’s birthday and what had really happened?
It was a pure accident. I was sleeping at the back of my car because we had stayed up till early morning celebrating Javed’s birthday. Javed was in another car ahead of me with his cousin Dr Sumbul Warsi and her husband Nawab. We were on our way to Sukoon, our house in Khandala when a truck rammed into my car.

Your accident had clearly shaken up the entire family. Javed Saab had barely gone home during those days…
Mercifully, I passed out and I remember nothing. When I came to my senses, I was in the ICU at Kokilaben Hospital, Mumbai. The doctors and hospital staff were exemplary. In fact, I remember very little of the entire period I was in the ICU. Every now and then I would hear snatches of a conversation where someone would say, ‘It’s a miracle she survived.’ My phone was taken away. It was much later that I saw the outpouring of concern and prayers from all quarters. It was overwhelming. I resumed shooting 40 days after the accident. It’s a miracle I didn’t break any bones or require surgery. But my nerves have taken a beating. I still have a lot of pain in my neck, arms and palms due to the accident.

Before the industry halted work, you had resumed shooting and travelling. How was the experience on the set of Halo in Budapest?
I’ve been shooting there off and on since October and it’s been great. I’m contracted not to say more than that at this stage about the project.

As an actor, you’ve always been active from the time you started off ...
Neena Gupta had recently brought up the issue of ageism a few months ago. She had even urged filmmakers through social media to get work.

Do you think women (of your generation), even today, do not have enough age-appropriate roles written for them?
It’s getting better. This is a very good time for actors because all kinds of work are coming our way. I’m doing drama, comedy, villainous roles in equal measure, and enjoying it. The advent of the casting director has changed the ecosystem, particularly for character actors. Earlier you had stock characters...Jeevan, Kanhaiyalal, Shivraj, etc. Today, the actors are being ferreted out from theatre and small towns. They bring a great degree of authenticity because acting is about reacting. This inspires the lead actors to push the envelope. Actors are no longer doing 12 films at one time, so they get the time to learn a skill, change body type, etc. Today, if you are shown playing the guitar, you can’t fake it. You have to learn the chords.

From the time you became an actor, you’ve largely led the films that you’ve worked in. Why do you think the industry has taken so long to accept women in powerful places — as directors, central characters in films, producers, cinematographers and so on?
In a patriarchal society like ours, women have to fight hard for a seat at the table. Boys are privileged over girls from birth. Equal opportunity and access for both girls and boys must become the norm.

In an earlier a discussion with BT, directors like Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, Nandita Das and Tanuja Chandra had pointed out that even today, despite a large number of women in different departments of cinema, they are expected to take the shorter end of the stick. Your views?
We need many more directors, producers and writers who have a female gaze. A woman director is not obliged to make a feminist film. She can make what she wants, a thriller, an action film, a comedy, or whatever, but hopefully, she will be informed by a gaze that is female.

You often say that Javed saab does not have the bone of romance in his body, but both of you have always stood by each other like a rock. Love and companionship of that sort are becoming rare in relationships today. What do you think has kept you both together for so many years?
Love, friendship and a similar worldview. We belong to identical backgrounds...we could have had an arranged marriage given our commonalities!


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MEDICS VISIT JAVED AKHTAR-SHABANA AZMI’S BUILDING

Yesterday morning, a team of medics was seen at Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar’s building. According to a resident from the neighbourhood, the team wore protective gear and masks on and carried their kits and other equipment to the top floor of the building, where the couple stays.

The actress, who was in Budapest for the shoot of her international film, Halo, had returned to India around March 15 and has been in a self-imposed quarantine for a fortnight. She had met with a serious car accident on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway in January. When we reached out to her, she said, “I had to take certain tests in the hospital, as a follow-up to the accident. Fortunately, we were able to do all the tests at home. I am fine.”

Umesh K Parida (THE TIMES OF INDIA; January 19, 2020)

Navi Mumbai: Veteran actor Shabana Azmi suffered head and spinal injuries as her SUV rammed into a truck at Kumbhivali village ahead of the Khalapur toll plaza on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway around 4pm on Saturday. Doctors said her injuries are not critical.

Highway safety patrol inspector Sudam Pachorkar said, “The driver lost control and dashed into the rear of a truck, leading to the mishap. The driver escaped unhurt.” They were travelling in Azmi’s Tata Safari Storme.

She was rushed to MGM hospital in Kamothe, and later shifted to Kokilaben Ambani hospital in Andheri as she was vitally stable.

Doctors at the hospital said her injuries were not critical and can be managed.
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Azmi’s driver was overspeeding, has been booked for rash driving

Umesh K Parida (THE TIMES OF INDIA; January 19, 2020)

Actor Shabana Azmi, who met with an accident on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway on Saturday, “suffered injuries to her head on the left with subdural haematoma and injuries to the right side orbit and cervical spine. No other injuries have been found,” said MGM Hospital medical superintendent Lt Gen (Retired) Dr Kuldip R Salgotra. “She is vitally stable and has been shifted to Kokilaben Ambani hospital in Andheri.”

Dr Santosh Shetty, executive director and CEO of Kokilaben Ambani hospital, said, “Veteran actor Ms Shabana Azmi has been admitted at Kokilaben Ambani hospital. She is stable and under observation.”

Azmi’s husband, writer-lyricist Javed Akhtar, and others were said to be in another car behind hers on the highway. MSRDC deployed quick response vehicle (QRV) staffers, who took her on a stretcher after pulling her out of the damaged SUV. The actor was taken in a QRV ambulance to the hospital.

Khalapur police inspector Vishvajeet Kaingade said, “The SUV was speeding on the Expressway and was trying to overtake another vehicle and in that process the driver lost control and hit a truck. Only the driver and Shabana Azmi were inside the SUV. Javed Akhtar and a few others were in a different vehicle. She was seated in the middle row.”

Khalapur police said, “The SUV’s driver Kamlesh Kamath (38), a resident of Andheri, has been booked for rash and negligent driving under IPC sections 279 and 337 besides Section 184 of the Motor Vehicles Act. He has not been arrested.” The SUV was overspeeding on the second lane. It tried to overtake wrongly by plying on the third lane, instead of the first. It hit the rear of a loaded truck on the third lane. MGM Hospital security chief Anil K Jha said, “Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar were headed to his bungalow, Sukoon, in Khandala.”

Jha said several prominent personalities called up Akhtar at MGM Hospital to inquire about the actor. Quoting Akhtar, Jha said, “Among those who called Akhtar ji were (actors) Tina Ambani, Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Hassan, Dharmendra, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Union minister Rajnath Singh, among others.” Visitors at the hospital included composer Shankar Mahadevan and former Jet Airways chairman Naresh Goyal. Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: “The news of @AzmiShabana Ji’s injury in an accident is distressing. I pray for her quick recovery.”

Koyeri’s family called Aamir when no doctor examined him for hours after an MRI confirmed a brain stroke
Lata Mishra (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 9, 2018)

An intervention by superstar Aamir Khan saved the life of award-winning sound designer Shajith Koyeri, 44, who lay waiting for a doctor for hours at Bandra’s Lilavati Hospital after suffering a stroke on Thursday morning after being admitted with high levels of creatinine.

Aamir, who worked with Koyeri for mega-hit Dangal, arrived at the hospital shortly after midnight on Friday after Koyeri’s family contacted him. Upon learning that not a single doctor had examined Koyeri after he was wheeled out of MRI room, where a scan had confirmed a stroke, he decided to move the sound designer to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Andheri.

As soon as Koyeri’s family authorised him to take decisions on its behalf, he got in touch with industrialist Anil Ambani’s family, which owns and runs the Kokilaben hospital. By 3 am, Koyeri had been moved to the Andheri hospital and on Saturday, doctors said Koyeri’s condition was stable.

Koyeri, a recipient of the National Film Awards for Omkara and two Filmfare and two IIFA Awards, was admitted to Lilavati Hospital on Tuesday. Though he repeatedly complained of extreme uneasiness, his family alleges the hospital did nothing. Koyeri, according to the family, suffered a stroke on Thursday morning and that is when he was taken for an MRI.

While Koyeri was rushed to the intensive care unit (ICU), there were no doctors around to examine him, the family alleged, and the ICU staff kept saying they were waiting for a doctor to arrive. As Koyeri’s condition worsened, the relatives decided to seek Aamir’s help.

Sudhir Manikoth, Koyeri’s brother-in-law, said while a junior doctor noticed eye paralysis on Thursday morning, the patient was wheeled in for an MRI only at 5.30 pm. “Is this how you treat a patient who has suffered a stroke?” he asked. Manikoth also alleged that a cardiologist checked Koyeri six hours after the MRI scan.

Lilavati doctors, however, denied there was any negligence on their part. Dr Hemant Mehta, consultant nephrologist, said when Koyeri was admitted to the hospital he was on the verge of kidney failure. “He was diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome. He also suffered from piles, and had to be given blood transfusion to make up for the blood loss,” Dr Mehta said. It was on Thursday morning, Dr Mehta said, that his assistant noticed right eye paralysis and rushed Koyeri for an MRI. “Soon after Koyeri was shifted to the ICU, he also suffered a heart attack,” he said, and added that treatment for heart attack and brain stroke both were started immediately.

Intensivists, he said, were in touch with cardiologist Dr Snehal Kothari, who was out at a social function.

Dr Ajaykumar Pande, vice-president of Lilavati Hospital, said if relatives want to shift a patient to another hospital, it is their right. “But all allegations of delay in treatment are false. Our doctors are available round-the-clock,” he said.

Asked why Koyeri was not administered a clot dissolving injection, which must be given within five hours of a stroke, Dr Mehta said this was not done as the patient’s kidneys were badly damaged and because he suffered from piles. “The family was not willing to wait till the next morning when we had arranged for a neurologist to see the patient,” he said.

Neesha, Koyeri’s sister, expressed her gratitude to Aamir. “Had he not been there, who knows how bad it could have got?” she said.