It’s been an eventful year for Tamannaah Bhatia. She shot for four films and two web series, tested positive for Coronavirus, recovered and went back to sets. The severity of the second wave of the virus has shocked her and like everyone else, Tamannaah is now holed up in her apartment in Mumbai, waiting for the world to go back to norma. “It’s been overwhelming. Reading about stories of pain, suffering and loss as people combat this virus have been hard,” says the actress, as she joins us for a video call. “I feel grateful and blessed that my family and I are at home, safe and healthy,” she adds. In a freewheeling chat, Tamannaah opens up about shooting in the new normal, exploring the OTT platform and how she has coped mentally with the second wave of COVID-19. Excerpts:

It was extremely difficult not just for me, but for everyone to be back on sets. Despite the level of precautions we took, there was a sense of alarm and no one was in their normal element. Utmost care was taken on all the sets I worked on, but we kept hearing about people getting infected. I believe the on-set experience will never be the same and this will be the new normal till things change across the world. It’s not an ideal way to shoot, but I felt a sense of responsibility towards my work, so I rejoined sets soon after recovering from COVID.

None of us were prepared for another lockdown. The spike in COVID cases was unprecedented and alarming, and the lack of resources hit everybody. I feel maybe we were better contained last year, which is probably why the number of people infected were lower compared to the second wave. I must admit, there was zero preparation for the second wave and that was a lapse on our part. The daily-wage workers are the worst hit in every industry, yet again.

I think it’s important to remember that it’s okay to not be able to figure it all out. There’s such uncertainty that we’re all in the same boat. We must be easy on ourselves. If someone is unable to be productive, it’s okay. My heart goes out to everyone, who has lost a loved one to the virus. But I hope everyone finds the strength to deal with this. The only way we get out of this situation is by being collectively responsible and doing our bit.

Even before the pandemic when theatres were running, I wanted to explore the web space, because it’s a natural progression. I want to pave a way for others who want to do it. It’s a great time to be an actor and there’s a massive change in the kind of stories being explored apart from the medium they’re told on.

The way people now look at female actors has definitely changed. That said, I am neither a director nor a writer. In my capacity as an actor, my job is to do justice to whatever I take up, so I’ve given my best to all my roles till date. It’s not always about getting roles that show off your potential; sometimes it’s just about giving it your all is what I’ve learnt. I’m not worried about not getting my due as an actor.

I’m not insecure about that, because sometimes a Baahubali will come along to change your life. But that’s not the case with every film. There is no optimum opportunity; you just have to give it your all no matter what you do.

Yes, the kind of work I have now is a mixed bag. There’s no formula, because I’m consciously trying to break the mould at this point in my career. I want to do everything for different kinds of audience. The sets of F3 were a blast to be on and there’s such camaraderie among the cast and crew. When it comes to Maestro, the remake of Andhadhun, I’m a huge fan of Tabu’s versatility so I have some big shoes to fill. Gurthunda Seethakalam, the remake of Love Mocktail, will see me in an unexpected role. Seetimaarr is a sports drama that shows how difficult it is to pursue sports in our country, especially if you’re a woman. I’m being careful, sensitive and choosy about the roles I pick because I want my work to be relatable. I just hope the COVID situation is under control again, so the audience can see me in all these exciting new characters. 

Like many other actors in showbiz, Tamannaah Bhatia, too, contracted Coronavirus after she had resumed work. The actress got back into the groove with ad shoots within the confines of her home in Mumbai, post which, she flew to Hyderabad to shoot a web series. However, soon after, she started feeling unwell and tested positive for the virus. After being treated for Coronavirus at a hospital in Hyderabad for five days and being in home quarantine for 14 days there, she is now back in Mumbai.

“During the lockdown, I had spent so much time with my family that I was dying to go back to work. Everything was going good until I fell ill and tested positive,” says Tamannaah, who has been a part of many Hindi and South Indian films. She is now resting it out — along with her parents — at her Mumbai home.

Talking about her experience, the Baahubali actress recollects, “On one of the days of the shoot in Hyderabad, I was running a high fever. As a precautionary measure, I got myself tested and it ended up being positive. The symptoms were persistent, so I decided that getting hospitalised was the best way to deal with it. During the last few days of quarantine, I experienced all the symptoms that are associated with Coronavirus, which included oxygen levels dropping, headache, body ache, fever, chills and feeling disoriented.”

Tamannaah’s parents had also tested positive for COVID-19, but their experience wasn’t as tough as hers. She shares, “Unlike me, my parents were fairly alright when they were tested positive. So, I didn’t expect that it would be so bad. I realised that the virus affects different people differently. My battle with COVID-19 was really tough despite my good fitness level.”

However, now that she has recovered, she is eager to get back to work. “The thing with our profession is that we are exposed to a lot of people on the set. We can wear a mask and safety gear, but in front of the camera, we have to take it off, and that makes us vulnerable. I am feeling better now, and in a week I should be able to resume work in Hyderabad. While at home, I am trying to eat healthy and take rest. I am working on my fitness level by doing yoga, as the illness has taken a toll on my stamina. Our job requires us to be physically strong, and I am working on that. Also, this time around, I will be extra cautious on the sets,” she signs off.

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As told to Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 15, 2020)

I always wanted to be an actress, but I had no clue how to go about it as no one in my family was even remotely related to the film industry. All I had was lots of confidence and that’s what got me noticed when I was a 15-year-old schoolgirl, performing at our annual day function. Producer Salim Aftab, whose child was in the same school, was in the audience and noticed me. He was scouting for a leading lady for his film, Chand Sa Roshan Chehra, and offered me the role. I was surprised since I was just a kid, but I reckoned that I looked older than my years; which is probably why he approached me. It was hard convincing my parents as I was in the middle of my schooling, but once they agreed, they were very supportive. Had they insisted I complete my education first, I wouldn’t have been able to achieve what I have achieved.

For my first shot, I had to play a violin. Obviously, I didn’t know how, but I behaved like a pro, making funny sounds to look more convincing. The shot was okayed in the first take, but I was aware they were just being nice to me.

After this film, I did a commercial that was hugely popular and brought a lot of offers from down South. I loved the camera and so was willing to learn any language. I started with Tamil, then Telugu. So, by the time Himmatwala happened, I had done several films in South.

A day before my birthday, I had a photoshoot scheduled with Ajay (Devgn) sir. I was really excited for it, but when he was there before me, I was intimidated. Those eyes were intense; he was so serious. But when we started talking, he was really sweet. In our first shot together, in the good old ’80s tradition, I had to tie a cloth around his hand which he had cut trying to save me. It was my first proper Hindi film and I was really nervous. But in the little time we spent together, Ajay sir turned out to be a chilled-out co-star with a mischievous sense of humour. It took almost a month to break the ice, but after that it was smooth sailing.

Suganth M (BOMBAY TIMES; July 8, 2020)

From learning to cook traditional dishes to hearing a great number of scripts, Tamannaah Bhatia has managed to keep herself busy during the Coronavirus lockdown. But the actress also found herself in the middle of controversies during this time, one of which was due to her social media post, which was trolled for being insensitive towards the #BlackLivesMatter campaign. In a chat with us, Tamannaah talks about her intentions behind her post and why she doesn’t consider the colour of skin to be a determinant of one’s beauty. Excerpts...

You had recently put up an #AllLivesMatter post on social media and people had criticised you that it was not what the #BlackLivesMatter campaign is all about. Was there a miscommunication?
I feel people haven’t read my caption completely. Whatever was happening around me led me to put up a post and I artistically put it out the way I thought was appropriate. It was not just what was happening (in one place). I feel that my opinion was taken into some other zone. Which is fine, that didn’t deter me from giving my opinion anyway. I made the point I wanted to make, I can’t clarify it to everyone who has an opinion on my opinion.

People are speaking out against fairness being considered a beauty criterion. What do you have to say about this?
Of course, it is definitely not a criterion for beauty. I started my career with a commercial for a fairness cream. I was a 15-year-old kid and a model. Those pictures were dug out after my post and put out all over internet, and they were kind of trying to show that I am not sensitive about this topic. Beauty has nothing to do with colour. Skin colour is not the barometer for anything.

Tamannaah Bhatia has found solace in religion during the lockdown and adopted a minimalistic lifestyle
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 3, 2020)

When the Coronavirus-triggered lockdown brought shoots to a halt, Tamannaah Bhatia suddenly felt the pressure to do something productive, and social media added to it. “But I have been working for the most part of my life and wanted to just chill,” she reasons, saying that she has found solace in the Bhagvad Gita and Durga scriptures. “My mother helped me understand them and realise that we need to go back to our roots. I have changed the pace of my life, adopted a minimalistic lifestyle, even changed the way I eat my food. I chew it slowly now. I have also become calmer, don’t feel the need to watch digital content all night and ruin my sleep cycle.”

Originally from Mumbai, Tamannaah has more South films in her repertoire than Hindi. The actress insists language is not a barrier and that she uses the medium to express her creativity. “The offers I got after my initial Hindi films were nothing to write home about, so I didn’t accept any. Thankfully, Baahubali happened and was loved everywhere. It made me realise that we all represent Indian cinema and don’t need to differentiate between regions. Unification will only make us stronger,” she avers.

Speaking of Bahubali, did director S S Rajamouli offer her a part in his next, RRR? “What I love the most about Rajamouli sir is that he doesn’t cast an actor for who he or she is or the bond they share but only if he thinks you fit the role. Even before Baahubali, I was being considered for some of his other films, but he didn’t choose me then. So, whenever he calls, you know that part is made for you,” she points out.

Tamannaah’s next Hindi film is with Nawazuddin Siddiqui and she admits that she’s always wanted to work with him. “He has done a lot of intense work, but ours is a humorous love story set against a rural backdrop. You don’t see him in such films; it was interesting to see him transform,” she applauds.

Meanwhile, two of her other projects, a sports-based Telugu film with Gopichand and a Tamil show, have been grounded. With Hyderabad studios opening up, when does she see herself getting back to work? “Given the kind of films I do, it will take some time to get back to the set. I don’t see anything happening for at least a couple of months. The lockdown is lifted, but Coronavirus hasn’t disappeared yet,” she signs off.

Nishad Neelambaran (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 2, 2020)

For actor Tamannaah Bhatia, the Coronavirus lockdown has been her first “chance in the last 15 years to be at home for long”. And though it was all good in the first month, she soon started missing going to work.

In the last two weeks, some of the filmmakers have opened their offices with 10% staff, as per government guidelines. So, is she looking forward to begin shooting? “I think it will take another couple months to get back to regular shooting. Especially in the bigger films, where you need a lot of people in the background. I don’t see anything starting off immediately,” says Bhatia.

Talking about her lockdown routine, the actor, 30, shares, “I have been mostly doing a lot of household work, which I am really glad to have got a chance to do. I used to live like a paying guest in my house, as I used to come home for like two days and then pack and leave for another shoot. Now, I have had the time to declutter. Besides, I tried my hands at cooking and discovered that I enjoy it.”

Bhatia, who’s always vocal about her opinion, shares her stance on nepotism. She says, “Nepotism is there in the industry and there’s no two ways about it. But it is there in every profession. This cannot be the reason for not doing well in life. I didn’t know anything about the south Indian film industry when I started. For me, what stood out was just merit and talent. The recent crop of actors like Ayushmann Khurrana and Kartik Aaryan have also had their own journey... If their work is good, people will like them.”

Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; May 17, 2020)

Tamannaah Bhatia, who shuttled between Chennai, Hyderabad and Mumbai for work before the lockdown, was pretty much used to living out of a suitcase. She admits that staying put in one place for such a long period of time feels a little strange. “In fact, I have never spent so much time in Mumbai at a stretch,” she reveals. During the Coronavirus lockdown, she is trying to learn a few things from her mother, Rajani Bhatia. “I have also been working in the South Indian film industry for a while now and can speak Tamil and Telugu fluently, but not my mother tongue, Sindhi. So, these days I make it a point to talk to my mother in Sindhi. I am also learning to make some traditional dishes,” says the Baahubali actress.

She adds, “I have realised that there is so much that we can learn from our parents, and can eventually pass on to the next generation. My mother is very spiritual and religious. These days, I often sit with her and try to learn and understand the scriptures. I can’t read as fast as she does, so I do it at my own pace while understanding the meaning of it all.”

Though Tamannaah has her parents to keep her company, she says that she misses her brother, Anand, who stays in New York. Recently, she posted a throwback picture on social media, giving a glimpse of the bond that they share. She says, “While growing up, isn’t it everyone’s goal to irritate their sibling? My brother would watch wrestling matches on TV and try those moves on me. And my mom would freak out (laughs!).” Talking about her other family members, who live in the US, she adds, “Apart from Anand, we also have other family members living there, who are medical professionals and are at the frontline. They see stuff that you and I can’t even imagine of. It’s very scary.”