After the state government imposed restrictions on April 15 owing to a surge in Coronavirus cases, shoots of TV shows, films and web series came to a halt. Many TV shows relocated to different places outside Maharashtra. While most of them relocated to Gujarat (Vapi, Umbergaon, Ahmedabad, Surat and Rajkot), a few relocated to Hyderabad, Jaipur, Bengaluru, Silvassa, Delhi and Daman. Around 12 shows had relocated to Goa, but after a lockdown was announced there on May 6, TV shows had to shift base again.

Working in a new location and churning out fresh content is a huge challenge faced by the TV industry in the current scenario. Here’s a look at how production houses are managing to keep the show going amid the pandemic.

Moving an entire unit to a new place and setting base there incurs a lot of cost. Production houses have been shooting at resorts, bungalows and studios, due to which expenses have escalated. That apart, makers have to shell out money to maintain their existing sets in Mumbai. Producer Nitin Vaidya says, “Two of my shows, Punyashlok Ahilya Bai and Mere Sai — Shraddha Aur Saburi, have moved to Umbergaon. I have to maintain two sets and pay for the upkeep. Nobody wants to air re-reruns like last year, so we moved to a new location.”

Producer Nitin Vaidya adds, “We understand that cases are rising and restrictions are important, but there has to be a solution to this.”

Producer Pawan Kumar’s shows, including Saath Nibhaana Saathiya 2, Santoshi Maa Sunayein Vrat Kathayein, Shakti – Astitva Ke Ehsaas Ki, Ranju Ki Betiyaan and Sasural Simar Ka 2 that are on air, are being shot at different locations. He says, “It’s not a joke to move so many shows out of Maharashtra. We are churning out fresh content every day, but following safety protocols, sanitising the sets and operating from different locations is adding to the challenges.”

With COVID-19 cases rising across the country, producers are constantly worried about restrictions being imposed, due to which they would have to move to another location. This is exactly what happened in Goa, where units had to stop shooting after a lockdown was announced on May 6.

Says a source from the TV fraternity, “Production houses are managing to air new episodes, but it is getting tough because there’s no certainty that shoots can continue uninterrupted given the rise in the cases across the country. Everyone’s hoping that things get better in Maharashtra and shoots are allowed to resume in Mumbai at some point.”

From a creative point of view, too, shows are struggling. Pearl Grey, creative producer of Mann Ki Awaaz Pratigya 2, says, “Storylines have to be tweaked and our senior actors, too, haven’t been able to join us. So, of course, relocation hasn’t been easy. Creativity is suffering.”

Makers say that the bio-bubble kind of a format, which they are following, has worked for them so far. Asit Kumarr Modi, producer of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, says, “We are shooting in Vapi, and the bio-bubble format is working for us in the current scenario.”

Nitin Vaidya adds, “In the case of IPL, there were COVID cases because they moved from one place to another, but in the case of a TV show, we are not doing that. We are stationed at one place and are regularly testing people. The actors and the entire crew stay in a bubble.”

The problem arises when actors or judges (in the case of reality shows) need to return to Mumbai to be with their family for a few days. Ranjeet Thakur, producer of Super Dancer, shares, “We test them every time they come back and before they enter the sets. We don’t let anyone shoot before we get their test results.”

The shoots of Adipurush and Shabaash Mithu are in limbo

The past four weeks haven’t been easy on film and television producers. After the Maharashtra government imposed a junta curfew on April 15, some producers called off their shoots while several others promptly moved base to Goa, Hyderabad and Silvassa to continue filming their projects. Now, with a lockdown announced in the beach state and Telangana, it’s a déjà vu moment of the worst kind for the makers.

The unit of Taapsee Pannu-starrer Shabaash Mithu was Hyderabad-bound in April. “A few days into the shoot, the production found it too risky to work amid the rising cases, even though they were in a bio-bubble. One of their gravest concerns was the fragile healthcare infrastructure in the city, so they returned to Mumbai by April-end,” says a unit hand.

The makers of Adipurush are at their wits’ end. The team, including Prabhas, Saif Ali Khan and Kriti Sanon, were expected to leave for the south Indian city in the second-half of May. A source from the project reveals, “Director Om Raut had drawn up a plan where not more than 20 people would be required on set at any given time as he would shoot, using CGI, at Ramoji Film City. But with the lockdown brought into effect in Telangana, the makers will take a call after two weeks.” 

Goa that was reeling under the pressure of television shoots, including Apna Time Bhi Aayega and Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin, is finally breathing easy. “There were 13 serials, three web shows and three films being shot,” says Sandeep Natwarlal Kotecha, a line producer in the state. He rues that illegal shoots had become rampant in the past few weeks. “Around 25 units were filming without procuring the necessary permission. The work was halted after they were caught.” 

No sooner were the restrictions imposed in the beach state last week than the crew of the Star TV show, Ghum Hai..., flew down to Hyderabad. “The Andhra Pradesh government has yet to issue a lockdown. So, the unit is continuing the shoot of their own accord in a bio-bubble,” says a source. 

Even as the team of Mehndi Hai Rachne Waali, currently stationed in Hyderabad, figures out the way forward, creator Sandiip Sikcand says he is unfazed about the hiccup as they have a bank of episodes. “We’re looking at options in Gujarat and Chandigarh.” Meanwhile, industry sources indicate that Daman will become the next shooting hub.

Last year, even after shoots were allowed to resume, the government guidelines had barred senior actors above 65 years from shooting due to Coronavirus. Later, when things got better, the dadidadas and nana-nanis joined the shows. However, now with the surge in cases and the recent stalling of shoots in Maharashtra, after which TV shows have shifted base to other cities, senior actors will again go missing from daily soaps.

Production houses feel it’s safer not to have them travel to different locations in the current scenario. Hence, storylines are being tweaked to justify their absence for now. The actors are naturally unhappy, but they understand that it is in their interest.

Senior Wagles, Aanjjan Srivastav and Bharti Achrekar from Wagle Ki Duniya - Nayi Peedhi Naye Kissey, are not travelling to Silvassa, where the shooting is currently taking place. Srivastava says, “I am eager to get back on the sets, but what can we do? Many crew members had tested positive earlier, and though they have tested negative now, I feel it is better to wait till the situation improves.” Ghanshyam Nayak, aka Natukaka of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, says, “I miss being on the show, and I hope that they start my track as soon as things improve. But the situation is scary, and I can understand why they are delaying my entry.”

Some actors themselves have chosen to stay away. Like theatre and TV actor Arvind Vaidya, who’s a part of Anupamaa, has informed the production house that he will not shoot for the show till the COVID situation improves and the production house has also supported his decision. He says, “Many people from the team tested positive a few weeks ago. Since I had tested negative, I continued shooting for a while. I have to look after my health, so I informed the production house that I won’t be able to shoot. Sometime later, after the state government imposed restrictions, the shoot was shifted to Silvassa. I am a senior actor and if I want to continue living a healthy life, it is important that I don’t travel to another location or shoot in the current situation. I am happy that the production supported my decision.”

Anupam Shyam, who plays an important role in Mann Ki Awaaz — Pratigya 2, has also refrained from travelling to Silvassa. He says, “I have health issues and everyone is aware of it. I have to undergo dialysis and so it’s not possible for me to relocate to another city. I will resume when they come back here.”

Himani Shivpuri, who is currently seen in Happu Ki Ultan Paltan, feels that it’s best to be patient in the current situation. Shivpuri, who had tested positive a few months ago, says, “It is scary to step out and relocate to a different city right now. Last year, I got COVID-19 because I continued shooting and did not want to hamper work, but this year, I will have to wait and see how things go.” Some of the senior actors, who took their first dose of vaccination, are now waiting to take the second.

Swati Chitnis, who plays Kartik’s grandmother in Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, says, “I am waiting for my second jab and if I travel outside, how will I take it? I don’t want to delay the vaccination process. I am happy that the production has supported me in this decision. I tested positive last year and I want to follow all safety protocols because of my age.”

Moving to a new place can be very inconvenient for the senior actors, makers say. Producer J D Majethia says, “I don’t think it is safe for them to travel outside Mumbai during the pandemic. Also, it may not be very comfortable there like it is on the set, where we shoot with an airconditioner. So, during summer, it is avoidable. Secondly, if the shoot is at a resort, it requires a lot of walking around. The food, too, may not be right for senior citizens. We will wait to see how things pan out after a week or two.”

Phone Bhoot, starring Katrina Kaif, Ishaan Khatter and Siddhant Chaturvedi

The daily-wage workers, who had returned to Mumbai after the entertainment industry resumed work last October, have taken a beating again as the state government suspended filming till May 1. As they face economic strain while the Coronavirus cloud looms large, leading cine bodies have sprung into action to alleviate their troubles. The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) is ensuring that the concerned production house bears the treatment expense for every daily-wager who has contracted the virus during the shoot of its project. 

Sharing the details, Birendra Nath Tiwari, president, FWICE, says, “A death cover of Rs 25 lakh due to COVID-19 and hospitalisation cover of Rs 2 lakh have been provided. Recently, one of our members [who was working on a television show] met with an accident on his way back home, post 18 hours of the shoot, and lost his life. We ensured his family was given the Rs 25 lakh compensation, even though he didn’t die on the sets or due to the virus. He was an assistant art designer; we have offered the same position to his wife if she wishes to take it up. As far as the members who are not working are concerned, they can contact us if they [come down with the infection]. We’ll do everything we can, in our personal capacity.”

Manish Goswami, vice-president, Producers’ Guild, believes things will take a turn for the worse if the junta curfew is extended. “In my personal capacity, I am doing whatever I can for the daily wagers. I have distributed groceries among them,” he says.

Pappu Lekhraj, who provides junior artistes to Bollywood, says the Junior Artistes’ Association was happy to see the safety measures adopted by the production houses. “Yash Raj Films was shooting two major projects [Pathan and Tiger 3] in a bio-bubble; they were testing weekly and had put up all artistes at a Goregaon hotel. Excel Entertainment had mandatory bi-weekly RT-PCR tests on the sets [of Phone Bhoot and Dongri To Dubai], and it took care of anyone who came down with the infection. The chance of contracting the virus in such set-ups was negligible,” he recounts, adding that some television shows, unfortunately, cut corners. “They rely solely on antigen tests, which is not the right yardstick. Now, most serials have shifted base to Goa, Silvassa and Rajasthan. I appraise the safety norms [employed on sets] before assigning my artistes to them.” 

With film shoots stalled in the state, Ketan Rawal — who is among the biggest vanity-van suppliers in Bollywood — has deployed about 10 vans to Marol, Malad, Dahisar and Ghatkopar, where they are being used by frontline workers. Cops on COVID-19 duty have been utilising them to change, have meals and use the restrooms during their long shifts. Each vehicle is demarcated into three distinct areas that can host up to 10 people. Rawal has about 30 more vans that can be assigned to frontline warriors, should the suspension of shoots continue.