Showing posts with label Sheeba Chadha. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sheeba Chadha. Show all posts
If films show a toxic male gaze and retribution is not offered in them, it only fortifies it-Sheeba Chadha
10:26 AM
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; September 21, 2026)
With a three-decade career in films behind her, Sheeba Chadha has seen Hindi cinema evolve in many ways. If there’s one evolution that particularly makes her happy, it’s the longevity of female actors’ careers.
“We have reached a place where we are writing characters for actresses after a certain age. I am in my mid-50s and happy to be getting the work that I get,” smiled Chadha, who, at 54, has many projects in her hand, including the ambitious Ramayana: Part 1.]
While there have been positive changes in Hindi films, the actor believes there is scope for improvement, especially when it comes to the portrayal of women. For instance, she is tired of the “suffering mother” archetype.
“We can do away with the long-suffering mother because we don’t want our moms to be doing that. My character, Vasudha, in Mirzapur The Movie is a flawed mother. It’s not something I’d condone, but it’s interesting. I would like to see more of that.”
Chadha also hopes the industry does away with the toxic male gaze. “We have a lot of that in our society. If films also start showing a toxic male gaze and retribution is not offered in them, it only fortifies that standpoint instead of destroying it.”
Sheeba Chadha says Mirzapur’s success may set trend of series-to-film adaptation
9:18 AM
The actor in ‘Mirzapur: The Movie’; (right) ‘Ramayana: Part 1’
Confident that ‘Mirzapur The Movie’ success will change the game in Hindi films, Sheeba Chadha now eyes her next biggie ‘Ramayana: Part 1’
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; September 16, 2026)
Look at Sheeba Chadha’s line-up and you’re bound to be impressed. While Mirzapur: The Movie is unstoppable at the box office, the second season of Bakaiti will drop online next week, followed by the year’s biggest film, Ramayana: Part 1, in November. How does she react to this string of projects?
“It’s not something I get up in the morning and think of. It’s great if it has consequences in the work going forward. But there’s no way of knowing that,” Chadha told mid-day over a Zoom call.
While this detachment helps the actor not pressure herself about a project, she doesn’t apply this approach to Mirzapur. As someone who has been a regular since the series premièred in 2018, seeing it becoming a big-screen success feels special.
She shared, “All of us have an emotional connect with Mirzapur. You think the audience is so used to seeing you in a series. So, the only thought in my head was whether it would sit well with them as a movie. I have so much gratitude for their love because wherever I travel to, the only thing I get asked about is Mirzapur. I’m sure it will set a trend in the industry of series being adapted into films.”
Even as she is moving from the film to another biggie in Ramayana: Part 1, Chadha’s focus remains on her character’s evolution. The actor, who plays Manthara in director Nitesh Tiwari’s epic, said, “People’s expectations aren’t unnerving for me. I’ve done my job as an actor.”
That said, what the film stands for in the landscape of Indian movies isn’t lost on her. “[I came on board] due to the enormity of the project. Nitesh sir is very nice to actors and clear about what he wants.”
Who was Manthara?
Manthara was Queen Kaikeyi’s lady-in-waiting. She seeded the idea of demanding Ram’s exile, in Kaikeyi’s mind
The minute something does well, it will become a template-Sheeba Chadha
8:46 AM
The Trial 2 actor Sheeba Chadha opens up about female rivalry on set while questioning OTT’s growing obsession with templates
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; September 9, 2025)
The Trial’s second season has brought several reunions for Sheeba Chadha, including with former collaborator Umesh Bist, who took over the directing duties for this instalment of the JioHotstar show. The two had previously worked together on the Sanya Malhotra-starrer Pagglait (2021), a world drastically different from that of the legal drama. But what remained constant, Chadha says, was Bist’s sensitive approach.
“I had a very good working experience with him in Pagglait. What is amazing is that the zone of The Trial is diametrically opposite from that of Pagglait. But he brings sensitivity and gentleness to the show. I think there’s enough fire and spice in the script. But the landing of it with a gentle hand, an eye that sees a little bit more than what’s on the page, and then to encourage the actors to look at it and to bring that into play, that’s what Umesh always brings to anything he does. It’s his eye for emotional detail. He will always make the script flower more,” the actor shares.
Chadha also enjoyed returning to the set alongside the show’s other talented women, including Kajol and Kubbra Sait. While the sexist notion that women don’t get along is often attached to projects featuring several female actors, Chadha believes this idea is outdated.
“That’s a very old school [of thought] that if there are two or three women together [it’s difficult]. Nobody wants to indulge that. Of course, this kind of feeling [of insecurity] any actor can have towards any actor. But it’s outdated to pander to that narrative. Sisterhood is just wonderful, there’s no doubt about it. You just have to allow it. It’s really solid and brings you so much.”
The Trial will mark her fifth release in 2025 alone — three shows and two films, both on OTT and the big screen. The streaming space has given her rich opportunities to showcase her versatility, through projects like Bandish Bandits, Mirzapur, and Taj Mahal 1989. But there are murmurs in the industry that stories on OTT are beginning to follow a template, with unconventional ideas struggling to take off. Chadha admits she has been hearing about “recession in the industry”.
“Right now, I’m hearing this, ‘Oh! the industry is going through a recession.’ And, ‘People want to see everyday stories, relatable stories.’ So what seems to be working right now are the smaller town stories. Now that’s a template, right? Panchayat [Prime Video series] is a template. Gullak [SonyLIV series] is a template. I’ve just done a show called Bakaiti, which probably falls in the same template. Can there be more expansive content? I think that goes without saying, always, because the minute something does well, it will become a template. It takes a lot to break that [mould] and come up with stuff that is not driven by commerce. Having said that, I am hugely grateful for the vast canvas of stuff that I’ve gotten to perform on OTT — Bandish Bandits is very different from The Trial, which in turn is very different from other stuff that I have done.”
Everybody everywhere is asking me about Ramayana-Sheeba Chadha
8:11 AM
Sheeba Chadha, who essays the role of Manthara in Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana, says she didn’t anticipate so much buzz around the film when she shot for it
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; September 3, 2025)
Intrigue is the first word that admittedly comes to Sheeba Chadha’s mind when we mention Ramayana. The actor, who plays Manthara to Lara Dutta’s Kaikeyi in filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari’s ambitious drama, finds the intrigue around the Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, and Yash-starrer surreal.
She admits that at the time of shooting her portions, she didn’t expect such heightened anticipation around the movie. “Everybody everywhere is asking me about Ramayana. When I was shooting it, I did not know that the project is so ambitious! The intrigue or curiosity around it [is off the roof],” she exclaims, before adding, “I have a small role, but it was fun working on the movie. My work was largely with Lara Dutta.”
For now though, the actor is focusing on The Trial’s second season, led by Kajol. Chadha reveals that this edition will explore the vulnerable side to her “daunting” character. “Malini is a strong character and stands her ground. But you see other shades to her this time.”
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The actor talks about working in filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari’s epic, finding delayed success in the industry and her love for comedy
Akash Bhatnagar (HINDUSTAN TIMES; August 26, 2025)
Sheeba Chadha has been juggling between films and OTT and exploring different genres. While she loves doing intense roles, the actor admits that comedy, like she did in her recent web seres Bakaiti, makes her feel happier. “I have a clown inside of me. I wish I get more work where that clown comes alive,” she laughs.
Her show is an addition to the genre of small-town family stories on web. Ask her about the appeal of such stories to artistes, and she says, “It’s a lot of fun. When I used to do skits about mother-children relationships, I wouldn’t get to know when the work would start and end. There is so much ease in the writing, and it even lands easily. They are slice-of-life, quite literally as they show the bhasad of life.”
For Sheeba, her next project can become one of the biggest films in Bollywood, filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana. It is reported that she will play Manthara in it. When mentioned the scale of the project, she shares, “I never thought about it. Actually, my dates weren’t working out initially for the film. I almost didn’t [do it].” She adds, “It’s great to be a part of something that has such big names attached to it, as it is good for your work profile, but as an actor, you just go and do your work. My role is quite a small one, but I just feel fortunate to have got the chance to play that.”
Many character actors from Bollywood have found delayed success in the industry, especially due to OTT. Sheeba is one of those actors. While she acknowledges it, she has no regrets. “Fame was never my goal. Today, fame and everything, it just explodes, but when we started, it wasn’t certainly a thing. I would think that it is reserved for other big people and I don’t really associate it with myself. But I would be lying if I don’t say that there were certain roles that I feel would have been fun if I would have got the chance to play them,” she shares.
Sheeba adds that good roles can come in films as well as OTT. “It’s just that in OTT, you have more time to show complexity. But it all boils down to how well the character is written,” she ends.
Kritika Kamra bags Peepli Live director Anusha Rizvi's next
8:18 AM
Gyaarah Gyaarah actor Kritika Kamra roped in for director Anusha Rizvi’s next, centred on 10 women in a Delhi-based family
Mohar basu (MID-DAY; April 16, 2025)
In February, mid-day had reported that Anusha Rizvi, who had helmed the acclaimed Peepli Live (2010), is ready to call action on her second directorial venture after 15 years (Capturing the cash crisis and the chaos, Feb 4). Now, we’ve learnt that Kritika Kamra has been signed on for the yet-untitled venture. She is the latest addition to the cast that includes Sheeba Chadha and Shreya Dhanwanthary.
The film, backed by Jio Studios, tells the story of one day from the lens of 10 women in a Delhi-based family. With a true event serving as its starting point, the situational comedy chronicles how the incident changes the dynamics among the women. The cast has already begun workshops in the capital.
A source from the production house reveals, “The narrative is both powerful and timely. Anusha, who displayed her knack for satire with Peepli Live, will bring her biting humour to the story. The unit will begin filming this week in Delhi.”
Rizvi’s movie comes as a notable addition to Kamra’s filmography, which includes Bheed (2023) and Gyaarah Gyaarah (2024). She also has the Netflix series, Saare Jahan Se Accha, on the anvil.
Shooting in Delhi winter is very tough, say film crew members
8:25 AM
Delays, foggy shots & extra budget for heating
Niharika Lal (BOMBAY TIMES; January 16, 2023)
Among those impacted by the ongoing cold wave in Delhi were crews shooting for films, shows and web series in the capital. While the temperature dropping to 1-2 degree Celsius in recent days may not have shut down filming, line producers say that it takes a lot of changes in shoot schedules to keep them going.
WINTER SHOOTING HACKS: DELAYED CALL TIME, WARM TENTS AND LONGER SCHEDULES
Sharing a photo from her film Afghaani Snow’s shoot recently, Sheeba Chadha wrote on social media, “First day. Dilli. Cold. Knackered. Also happy tomorrow, a little late call time. Ah! the small joys.”
In fact, delayed call time is what production teams bank upon while shooting in Delhi winter. Sumit Tyagi, a line producer who is currently filming a web series in Delhi, says, “If a shoot is usually scheduled from 5 am onwards on regular days, these days it is pushed back to around 9 am. We also have to wrap up by 5 pm because of the sunset. More indoor shoots and closed, warm tents are what we go for while filming in January. The reason for this is not just chilly weather, but fog and pollution too. We also request production houses to keep four-five days extra as backup because the delay in call time means delay in shoots.”
‘GOT PERMISSION TO SHOOT NEAR RED FORT, BUT IT DISAPPEARED IN THE FOG’
Some days ago during the shoot of a film in Chandni Chowk, the crew realized that the Red Fort disappeared behind the fog and they couldn’t get the shot they wanted even after trying for hours.
Javed, a line producer, says, “Getting permission for filming closer to the Red Fort is itself a difficult feat, and then for this to happen once you do get the permission! We decided to shoot the sequence with whatever was visible at the time and the Red Fort could be included during the editing process. That’s the reason why most shoots that happen in January in the city are indoors. ”
‘WE NEEDED THIS SKY AND TEMPERATURE, SO THE WEATHER WORKED IN OUR FAVOUR’
Extreme hot or cold temperatures affect production, but then there are some who use the chilly conditions to their advantage. Ravi Sarin, a line producer, says, “We are currently shooting a film in Delhi and luckily our scenes need this sky and the cold temperature. Though our shoots are delayed, this weather is working in our favour.”
Mohsin Babur Baghwala, whose haveli in old Delhi is booked for multiple such winter shoots, says, “There were some ad projects and web series which were shot in old Delhi and the weather assisted them in a way, because they needed fog shots. Otherwise they would have had to create such conditions.”
Seema Biswas and Sheeba Chadha are the kind of actors who are able to turn any story around-Kookie Gulati
8:19 AM
Visfot director Kookie Gulati discusses roping in Chadha and Biswas to play Dongri-based women in the Fardeen-Riteish starrer
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; March 19, 2022)
Visfot may be centred on leading men Fardeen Khan and Riteish Deshmukh, but director Kookie Gulati knew that the women characters were key to driving the narrative. As soon as writers Hussain and Abbas Dalal developed the story set in the bustling streets of Dongri, the director was certain about casting Seema Biswas and Sheeba Chadha in the supporting roles.
Gulati believed only the senior actors could bring the fierceness that the parts required. “Sheeba ji and Seema ji are the kind of actors who are able to turn any story around. I love them as performers. So when we were casting, I had them in mind for specific characters. They play quintessential women from Dongri, so they have a menacing gait. Their presence conveys more than the dialogues. We needed actors who can bring that aura on screen,” he explains.
The thriller, backed by Sanjay Gupta and Bhushan Kumar, also features Krystle D’Souza and Priya Bapat. Gulati, who helmed The Big Bull last year, says it was a conscious decision to rope in strong women actors in the ensemble cast. “The men might be doing the action in the film, but these ladies pack a punch every time they are on screen.”
I was told Rajkummar Rao and I are so good in Badhaai Do that we should do another romantic film together-Gulshan Devaiah
8:30 AM
Divya Kaushik (BOMBAY TIMES; February 17, 2022)
Gulshan Devaiah — the surprise package of Badhaai Do — says he has received a phenomenal response to his character ever since the film released in theatres on February 11.
The actor, who plays Guru Narayan, a lawyer and Rajkummar Rao’s love interest in the film, adds, “The kind of love and appreciation that the film — and the character I play in it — have been receiving is wonderful. ”
He says that his part in the film was deliberately kept a secret. “Even my friends were surprised when they saw the film and me in it! No one had an idea that I was doing this film, while I also kept it under wraps, and I think that is working in our favour. A lot of people are pleasantly surprised that I suddenly appear in the story. They had some great things to say like ‘we wish there was more of you in the film’.”
In a chat with us, Gulshan talks about his chemistry with Rajkummar, working with director Harshavardhan Kulkarni again after Hunterrr (2015) and playing a character that leaves an impact on the audience despite his brief screen presence.
‘I THINK EVERYONE IS LOVING GURU BECAUSE HE IS HAPPY BEING WHO HE IS’
When Gulshan read about Guru Narayan in the script, he says what struck him was how comfortable the character was with himself. “He doesn’t have issues accepting who he is. He is a person who is happy with himself. Most of the time, we have issues because we don’t accept many things about ourselves and that makes us insecure, Guru doesn’t have any of those insecurities. Guru is secure, happy and content. He doesn’t feel that he needs to hide from society for who he is,” says Gulshan.
Gulshan adds that Guru’s character might appear for a brief period of time, but he’s a significant part of the film. “He is important to the plot of the film because it does affect Shardul (Rajkummar’s character in the movie) and changes him,” he says, adding, “The audience’s response to the character, and the chemistry between him and Raj’s character, is amazing. They are accepting the fact that there is wonderful chemistry between two men. Love is love and people are enjoying the performance for what it is without getting too judgmental about it — even if they can’t relate to it. For example, I am a straight man, but when I see a beautiful moment created between a same-sex couple, I enjoy that moment for its beauty. I am hoping that we have managed to create that kind of a beautiful relationship on screen and that’s why people are enjoying it so much. It is effective as it is able to make people forget the sexual orientation of the two people and find beauty in the relationship that they share.”
‘I WAS TOLD THAT RAJKUMMAR AND I ARE SO GOOD IN BADHAAI DO THAT WE SHOULD DO ANOTHER ROMANTIC FILM TOGETHER’
One of the best compliments that Gulshan’s received so far about his chemistry with Rajkummar in the film is that “you two are so good that you should do a romantic film together.”
The actor says that their chemistry was effortless. He explains, “When you work with good actors who are extremely professional and secure then you don’t have to try to create anything, the chemistry just shows on screen. Raj is a fine actor, trained and extremely professional, he is very secure in the place where he is, so we could create something together and it was fun. I love Raj as an actor and he is also a person who is leading by example. He is a trendsetter and source of inspiration for many, including me, so working with him was very delightful.”
Gulshan says that he got to shoot for just about two-three days with the cast and had the best experience. “I have known Sheeba Chadha (who plays Rajkummar’s mother in the film) for over 10 years, but this is the first time I worked with her. I just shot one scene with her, but I enjoyed it. I like Bhumi, I find her very cool. For me, the most fun part was shooting the pride parade scene where Bhumi and I are on a truck and I got to play some music of my choice to make Bhumi dance,” shares Gulshan.
‘I JUST TRIED TO BE AS TRUTHFUL AS POSSIBLE TO THE SCRIPT AND HARSHAVARDHAN’S VISION OF THE CHARACTER’
After Hunterrr, this is the second time Gulshan worked with director Harshavardhan Kulkarni and he says that the creative process of working on the character is slightly easier when you understand the director’s vision. “Harsh and I had made one whole film together, so I understand his sensibilities, how he directs and what he expects. The point was to stay true to the writing of the film. Even if I was making a special appearance, my job was to give my best. So I just tried to be as truthful as possible to the script and Harshavardhan’s vision,” says Gulshan.
Junglee Pictures’ Badhaai Do is directed by Harshavardhan Kulkarni, and written by Akshat Ghildial and Suman Adhikary. The film is now playing in theatres.
Real, relatable, flawed: Badhaai Do explores the middle-class family dynamics through the lens of humour
8:11 AM
Niharika Lal (BOMBAY TIMES; February 10, 2022)
From the taiji who has the last say in all decisions, to the oversharing buaji and that chacha/mama whose life experiences are so vast that you need not even ask for advice, they’ll just give it to you… Badhaai Do captures the idiosyncrasies, intrusiveness and everyday lives of the middle-class family, through the lens of humour. The Rajkummar Rao and Bhumi Pednekar-starrer will welcome the audience back to cinemas this Friday, and much like its prequel Badhaai Ho, the film promises to bring alive the quirks and the charm of the India family.
‘IN BADHAAI DO , WE WANTED TO RECREATE THAT WORLD OF HRISHIKESH MUKHERJEE’S CHUPKE CHUPKE AND GOLMAAL’
The light-hearted, middle-class family dynamics – penned down by the story writers Suman Adhikary, Akshat Ghildial and screenplay writer Harshavardhan Kulkarni (who is also the director) – lie at the core of the film. Harshavardhan says that they were not trying to create a humourous situation, but only keeping it real, which is where the humour comes from.
He says, “Akshat has created this humour, which is so delicate and organic. These family dialogues and situations are all from real life experiences. Watching these characters, you feel that you know them from your own life (laughs).”
Akshat says, “We wanted to create that world of Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Chupke Chupke and Golmaal. The idea was to keep reactions realistic, while tickling viewers with relatable nuggets. We are not depicting these family members as aspirational people, but as real people with all their prejudices.”
‘IN OUR SOCIETY’S MIDDLE-CLASS SETUP, YOUR EXTENDED FAMILY LAYS OUT YOUR WHOLE LIFE PLAN FOR YOU’
Akshat and Harshavardhan find the whole advice-offering system quite funny. Akshat shares, “It is also very endearing. Woh apne aap se hi bolte hain. They think – ‘That worked for me, so it will work for you too’. I find a lot of humour in this intrusiveness because there is a lot of colour. Also, I have stayed in UP, where, everyone talks in punchlines.”
Akshat says, “We have even used some lines from our own families. I remember my taiji once told my sister, ‘Agli baar milo toh bachcha godh mein hona chahiye…’ I used that same line in the film. That family pressure you observe – pehle bolte hain settle ho jao, jab shaadi ho jaati hai phir bolenge family kar lo. They are like – ‘Haan toh? Ab aur kya karoge? Aap kitne saal ke hoge, toh aap ka hone wala bachcha kitne saal ka hoga?’ – they just lay out the plan in front of you. They think giving advice is the right, duty and job of a family member. All this seems so intrusive (to the poor chap who’s at the receiving end!), but it comes from a place of concern.”
WHY DON’T MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES HAVE BOUNDARIES? ‘JAGAH KAHAN HAIN!’
Referring to a scene from the trailer – where the family is seen discussing the size of the married couple’s bed – Loveleen Mishra, who plays the character of Bhumi’s mother, says, “These character references have been drawn from real-life situations. You will feel you know them. In fact, my friend once told me about a mother-in-law who was so possessive about her son that she used to sleep between her son and daughter-in-law.”
Sheeba Chadha, who plays Rajkummar’s mother, adds, “Woh (family) ek dusre ke khushi aur gham mein – ek intrusive aur ek obtrusive way mein – sab tarah se present hote hain. That’s the beauty and sometimes the undoing of our family system.”
Seema Pahwa adds that not just family members, even neighbours are intrusive. “Dilli mein aap ke padosi ko bhi aap ke ghar ke baare mein sab pata hota hai – kaun aaya, kaun gaya. Pados ke liye toh zindagi jee jaati hai (laughs). Taiji (her character in the film) ka toh phir bhi haq banta hai.”
Akshat says that one reason middle-class families are so intrusive and in each other’s business is also because the houses are so small. He explains, “We have a scene where they are deciding where to sleep, and they say – ‘Arre ismein kya hai? Ghar mein jahan saare gents sote hain, wahan so jayenge. I don’t need a separate room’. This is very regular in families. The idea of privacy and space doesn’t exist and the moment you are in each other’s physical space, you are bound to be in each other’s personal space.”
‘BE IT THE BADHAAI HO’S GRANDMOM OR BADHAAI DO’S TAIJI – SOFT POWER IN THE FAMILY LIES WITH WOMEN’
Akshat says, “Even though it’s a patriarchal setup, a lot of soft power is with the women. In Badhaai Ho (also written by Akshat), the mother had more authority than the father, and the grandmother also had a lot of authority in the family. Women are the core of the family structure.” He adds, “What you see in Shardul’s case (Rajkummar Rao’s character) is that he is the only male child among all these sisters in a joint family, and all these women decide for him.”
‘YOU’LL GET TO MEET YOUR OWN KHANDAAN IN BADHAAI DO’S PARIVAAR’
Spoiler alert: The film will remind you of your bua, chacha, tauji, taiji – and all of those other family members who are much more concerned about your life than you are… and it will make you laugh. As the cast puts it – “It will be fun for viewers to see those pressure cooker situations and hear lots and lots of gyaan – but minus all the complications, because it’s not they, but the protagonists who are the family’s target this time.”
Akshat adds that for those who have moved away from their families to different cities, such films evoke a feeling of nostalgia – “and that’s why it clicks with the audience. They grew up with these characters and every time they see them on the big screen, they identify with that chacha, tai or bua. They enjoy it because it is like going back to their roots.”
Junglee Pictures’ Badhaai Do is directed by Harshavardhan Kulkarni, and is a sequel to the multiple National Award-winning film Badhaai Ho. The film releases on February 11 in theatres.
I began playing mothers since my late twenties or early thirties. It was crazy-Sheeba Chadha
8:03 AM
Titas Chowdhury (HINDUSTAN TIMES; September 7, 2021)
After her performances in films such as Badhaai Ho (2018), Gully Boy (2019) and Pagglait, Sheeba Chadha has become one of the most sought-after actors to play a mother on screen. Admitting how challenging it is for female actors to find age-appropriate roles, she says, “I began playing mothers since my late twenties or early thirties. It was crazy!”
The 49-year-old actor, who played Shah Rukh Khan’s mother in Zero (2018) despite being seven years younger to him, says ageism is rampant in showbiz: “Back in the day, films used to be a map with four peg points – hero, heroine, villain and comedian. We also had a crying mother. We’re a victim of the ageist nature of the industry.”
Chadha will be again seen playing a mum in Badhaai Do and Doctor G but is happy with the “dramatic shift” Bollywood is going through. “The character of a mother is more nuanced now. The industry has become more fertile for storytelling; I see ample possibilities,” she says. Going forward, she wants writers to write “more dangerously”. “That way, we’ll see more exciting characters,” she ends.
Everyone is fatigued with the situation now-Sheeba Chadha
8:02 AM
The actor rues the new lockdown and worries about film crews losing their jobs again this year
Titas Chowdhury (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 21, 2021)
After staying indoors for a good few months during the Coronavirus lockdown last year, Sheeba Chadha was thrilled when she went back to a film set. She had been working on Sharmaji Namkeen in Mumbai before the imposition of Section 144 in the state and was all set to kick-start the first schedule of Doctor G early this month in Madhya Pradesh. But now with the second lockdown in effect, she is rather disheartened as a slew of her upcoming projects are in a limbo.
“I never stepped out of the house during the first phase of the lockdown. I had refused all work. I was so happy when I began shooting for Badhaai Do after the lockdown last year. It was lovely to resume work,” she shares, adding with a sigh, “But we are back to a lockdown again and it’s so sad. So many people’s dreams and livelihoods are attached to this. Everyone is fatigued with the situation now!”
Chadha’s first brush with acting happened when she joined a theatre group back in her school days in Delhi. Ever since, she has been a part of popular plays such as Waiting For Godot, The Chairs and The Balcony, among others.
Ask the theatre connoisseur about the latest trend of virtual plays and she says, “For me, theatre is a community affair. Virtual theatre can never replace actual theatre and I hope that the latter never goes away.”
But the actor, who was recently seen in Pagglait, is happy to watch a play if is explored through a different medium. “There’s excellent work with regard to theatre that’s happening outside our country. Even in our country, theatre artistes like Atul Kumar and Amitesh Grover are exploring the virtual medium in a rather interesting way. Virtual theatre is a new beast and whatever little I’ve watched, I really liked it,” she signs off.
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