The Bombay High Court quashed the government’s decision to exclude cast and crew members above 65 from shooting. Those concerned welcome the judgement
Kunal Guha (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 8, 2020)

In a relief for senior actors and technicians from film, TV and digital, the Bombay High Court on Friday quashed the Maharashtra Government’s GR that prohibited those over 65 years from shooting in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. This is following actor Pramod Pandey’s petition in the Bombay High Court challenging the GR.

The 69-year-old actor had been rejected from a TV show on the grounds of his age recently. “When the shoots began post lockdown, and only those above 65 were denied work, I naturally felt angry and wanted to do something about it,” says Pandey, who reached out to friends from his hometown Agra for help, but to cover the legal fees and other expenses, he had to part with a family heirloom: his late father’s gold ring. “This judgement has come as a sanjeevanibooti for many actors, lightsmen, junior artists and spot boys who fell in this age group and were compelled to sit at home.”

Amit Behl, senior joint secretary and chairperson - Outreach Committee, CINTAA, welcomed the judgement but regretted the predicament of those who were dropped from projects in the interim period. “Our senior members can now heave a sigh of relief and work peacefully. But those who have lost their jobs or have been replaced in the time it took for this order to come through, is an unfortunate collateral damage,” says Behl.

Actor Kanwaljit Singh, who was dropped from a forthcoming web series on account of his age, is hopeful and excited by the judgement. “Obviously, we are very happy to hear this news. It’s a pity that some of us lost out on some roles but that’s alright, and we’re looking forward to doing some good work now,” says Singh, who is to resume shooting for a Nikkhil Advani film on August 23, where he has two days of shoot pending. “We are delighted that it’s come in our favour,” adds the 69-year-old who was replaced by a younger actor in a web series recently. “They waited for me for too long, hoping the age rule would get amended but finally, I just told them to carry on with someone younger.”

Prithvi Zutshi is another actor who had been informed by the makers of the TV show Pyaar Ki Luka Chuppi that his character’s track is going to be terminated as they had to resume shooting and couldn’t wait for a GR amendment to come through. “I was also replaced from a web series that was to commence in March, but began only when shoots started,” says Zutshi, adding, “But this judgement is great news, and I am looking forward to returning to the sets.”

Actress Farida Dadi, 67, who was to commence shooting for the third season of a web series, but hadn’t heard from the production, is relieved too. “The government has finally realised that you can’t force anyone to retire,” says Dadi. “We have loans and this ban was taking a toll on my mind. Thankfully, the industry has always respected elders and I am sure actors and studios will take all possible precautions going forward.”

Virendra Saxena, who has a few days of shoot remaining for the Salman Khan-starrer Radhe and a series among his forthcoming projects welcomes the judgement. “Every film needs senior actors, and by forcing us to stay at home, we were being made to feel old.” says Saxena, who is to resume shooting for a web series and a movie.

Apart from the threat of losing out on assignments, some actors were put out of commission since their productions were indefinitely stalled by the Coronavirus lockdown. “I am thrilled because this means that one can now work but finding work is another thing,” says Suhasini Mulay, who refused a project recently and the two web shows that she was slated to shoot have been postponed to November and January. “It’s stupendous that Pramod Pandey has fought for the senior artists community instead of just sitting and moaning like some,” adds Mulay.

Even T P Aggarwal, president, IMPPA, is ecstatic by the judgement. “So many actors, producers and technicians were grounded. Now thousands from the industry will be gainfully employed again.”

The GR that caps the age of actors on sets under 65 has rendered many out of commission; those affected by the move question the new norms of shooting
Kunal Guha (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 10, 2020)

When Kanwaljit Singh was informed that he was being replaced in a forthcoming show, he was disheartened. The decision was taken following the Government Resolution (GR) that prohibits actors above the age of 65 from shooting for films, TV shows and commercials as the industry returns to work after the Coronavirus-triggered lockdown. The 69-year-old actor who had been rehearsing along with co-star Supriya Pilgaonkar, says, “On humanitarian grounds, I won’t hold them up. How can I force them to shoot with me? That’s not the right thing to do.” Singh is among several senior actors who are being excluded from projects on account of the norms suggested by the government to curb the spread of Covid-19.

The workers’ bodies, including the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) and Cine and TV Artistes’ Association (CINTAA), have been striving to seek relief from the suggested guideline, which potentially affects hundreds of actors. Manoj Joshi, actor and CINTAA senior vice president, met Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari last week to discuss the matter, while actress Hema Malini has written to the home ministry, seeking an amendment. “The GR needs to change as many livelihoods are at stake. We are getting calls daily from actors who are being replaced or their tracks slashed from shows. They are sending us their blood pressure reports saying they’re fit but we’re helpless as there has been no movement to reverse this ruling,” says Amit Behl, chief secretary, CINTAA.

Veteran TV actor Prithvi Zutshi (left) was recently informed by the makers of TV show Pyar Ki Luka Chupi that his character’s track is going to be terminated, as the makers plan to resume shooting and can’t wait for an amendment to come through. “My first reaction was, why was this ruling being implemented only on artistes? There are shopkeepers who interact daily with customers, politicians who conduct rallies and visit hospitals. Many of them fall in this age group, but are allowed to get on with their lives,” argues Zutshi, who has featured in over 80 films and 100 TV shows in a career spanning 27 years.

Farida Dadi, 67, who is to commence shooting for the third season of the series Dil Hi Toh Hai, is concerned about the ruling even though her show’s shoot dates are yet to be confirmed. “They called and told me that three-four days shoot is pending but this rule has been implemented. So, I told them that they can do what they deem best,” says Dadi, who started her career in 1959 as a child actor and has since featured in a dozen films (including 3 Idiots) and TV shows such as Uttaran and Haq Se.

While many makers are admittedly replacing talent on account of the guidelines, such discrimination wouldn’t always be as transparent. “No one will tell us and do it, it will happen in the background,” points out veteran actor Virendra Saxena, who has a few days of shoot remaining for the Salman Khan-starrer Radhe and a series among his forthcoming projects. “Those who have partially shot can’t be replaced as reshoots would incur huge costs. And how can you decide that someone is incapable of functioning after a certain age or is medically unfit without examining them?” asks the NSD alumnus whose fitness regimen includes daily fourkm walks and yoga.

Ironically, Zutshi recently received an offer from the makers of a daily soap keen on casting him as a replacement for another senior actor. told them, ‘if you’re taking me on as a replacement on the grounds of age, then even I don’t qualify’,” says the actor, who believes several artistes will be affected in the coming months if the suggested norms aren’t amended or reversed.

Creative fixes
Replacing a character or ending their journey in an ongoing series could be creatively and financially cumbersome. “If a maasi, bua or chachi has been established on a show, suddenly replacing or knocking her off would mean derailing the creative process,” reasons Behl. And even if makers manage to find a suitable replacement or a logical fix in the storyline, it may go against the grain. “In films and TV, actors get chosen based on their capabilities, charisma and the image they carry. If I can’t cast Amitabh Bachchan because he’s over 65, should I cast Abhishek Bachchan instead just because he resembles him and has a similar name?” asks the 69-year-old actress Suhasini Mulay who was filming for a series when the lockdown was announced and hasn’t been intimated yet about when her shoot would resume.

Actor Raza Murad, 69, argues that getting younger actors to replace the older ones would be unconvincing and counter-productive. “You can’t get Master Raju or Jugal Hansraj to play dadaji. You cannot plant wrinkles on a young actor and expect him to pass off as someone older.” But Gufi Paintal, who was part of two ongoing TV shows and a film prelockdown, avers that producers are like puppets and will make do with whatever is available. “Nowadays, they make a 25-year-old play a grandfather and hope that the audience takes it with a pinch of salt. In Mahabharat, not a single actor seems out of place because we paid a lot of attention to casting,” says the actor, who was the production designer, associate director and casting director for the iconic TV show in which he essayed the part of the wily Shakuni Mama.

Losing livelihoods
For senior actors, particularly in TV where post-dated payment contracts ensure most get paid months after a job is completed, savings could run out sooner than later. “We are character actors and are not paid as handsomely as A-listers. If we’re forced to stop working, it may soon be difficult to make ends meet,” says Murad, who was last seen in a thriller series which has been approved for a second season.

Saxena who moved to Mumbai from Delhi in 1985 and is credited for over a 100 films and TV shows, points out that he doesn’t have children he can depend on. He offers a workaround that could protect the interests of all parties concerned. “There could be an amendment that ensures those above 65 are assigned eight-hour shifts instead of 12 and be required to provide medical certificates,” he says.

Singh adds that senior actors also need to keep working because they love what they do. “This is all we’ve learnt. I can’t even think of hanging up my boots,” says the actor, who completed a series and a film prior to the lockdown.