The show must go on, they say, and TV producers ensured that this year, they would continue to shoot and entertain the audiences on the tube. So, when the Maharashtra government imposed restrictions, it meant no shoots from April 15. Many TV serials opted to continue shooting out of Maharashtra and relocated to Goa, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Bengaluru, Silvassa, Delhi and Gujarat.

But due to the rise in Coronavirus cases, senior actors have not been able to join the units of their TV shows and are missing work. Aanjjan Srivastav, 73, who stars in Wagle Ki Duniya - Nayi Peedhi Naye Kissey (WKD), says, “I have acted all my life and now if I can’t, then what will I do? We want to act till we live. If we don’t act, we will die even without Covid. Some actors act for the money while others perform for the craft and enjoy the process. I can’t wait to go back to the sets.”

A number of actors are missing from their ongoing TV shows including Anupam Shyam from Mann Ki Awaaz Pratigya 2, Bharti Achrekar from WKD, Swati Chitnis from Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai. Though, Rajendra Chawla, 52, is not shooting for his show Tera Yaar Hoon Main, he has found a way to be seen in the episodes.

He shares, “The team has revised the script in a way to show my character via video calls on the show. I shoot short videos and send them. It is not the same as shooting, but I am happy to be doing something. I miss my unit and talk to them daily. Earlier I wouldn’t watch the show regularly, but now I watch every episode.”

Most seniors have got both doses of the vaccine and feel more confident of venturing out to shoot. Arvind Vaidya, 81, is all geared up to join his show Anupamaa, in Silvassa. He says, “I was feeling really bad that I was unable to go to shoot. I understand the issue at hand and I didn’t want to take any risk. I spoke to producer Rajan Shahi who allowed me to take a break and now that I have got both doses of the vaccine, I hope to join them soon.”

Srivastav remarks that during the Mumbai shoots, the producers took all precautions and kept the unit in a bio-bubble and will continue to do so once they return. He adds they are no different from so many younger actors who have diabetes or blood pressure.

Chitnis, 62, who contracted Covid-19 last year, says its after-effects last for a long time. She says, “It was not safe to travel and doctors told me that I am at risk due to age. I feel young at heart but I can’t ignore the fact that I am 62. I hope shoots open in Mumbai soon.”

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I have acted for 56 years of my life. For me, acting is not my bread and butter but my saans.

I hope that soon we get some clarity about the restrictions and the makers can then decide to return to Mumbai accordingly.

The moment the government allows us or the lockdown ends, I want to work. Whoever wants to work should be allowed to do so.

I am feeling very bad about not being able to shoot. This is the longest break I have taken from my work schedule.

Lakshmi V (BOMBAY TIMES; May 17, 2019)

Reports of Amitabh Bachchan opting out of Uyarntha Manithan, which would mark the actor’s Kollywood debut, have been doing the rounds for the last couple of days. While it was being speculated that Big B was not happy with the way the script and screenplay have panned out, S J Suryah, who co-stars in the T Tamilvanan directorial, has clarified that there was a problem between the Bollywood star and the producers and that shoot will proceed after that gets sorted out.

S J Suryah, in a press note, said, “There is a small issue between production company and big B Saab .... will sort it out and take it forward.... after monster release I will go to Mumbai to sort out those issues and take it forward.... Myself and dir Tamilvanan have already sorted so many issues to take it to this stage .... where we got the great tweet on the 3rd day of the shoot from big B Saab out of love and respect for our work .... ignore negativity.. (sic).”

Giving us further details, an insider tells us, “Reports of Amitabh Bachchan not liking the way the film’s shaped up aren’t true because he was actively posting photos from the set and tweeting about the film. The problem is the introduction of a new production house. As per his contract, Amitabh ji had to be informed if a new person or organisation had to be brought on board. But when the makers roped in a big Bollywood production house, he wasn’t aware, and that has caused problems. Also, while starting the film, he had allotted about 20 days to finish his portions, and had said that if the team isn’t able to complete shooting his portions by then, it will have to wait for at least two months before he can allocate dates to them again. The team has wrapped up the first schedule now, and is hoping to sort the issue out before they go on floors for the next schedule.”

The film, which also stars Ramya Krishnan, is simultaneously being made in Hindi as Tera Yaar Hoon Main. 

Their Hindi-Tamil bilingual also featuring Ramya Krishnan revolves around a cosmic connection between two strangers
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 8, 2019)

After his acclaimed turn in Sujoy Ghosh’s revenge-drama, Badla, Amitabh Bachchan has started shooting for his first Hindi-Tamil bilingual in Film City. Keeping him company are South actors S J Suryah and Ramya Krishnan, the latter is popularly known as Sivagami after the Bahubali series. Revolving largely around the two male leads, the film’s title, Tera Yaar Hoon Main, is inspired by the eponymous song from Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, which was filmed on Kartik Aaryan and Sunny Singh.

“When the title was suggested to us, we all agreed that it was apt for our film that revolves around a cosmic connection that brings two strangers together and their resultant equation,” informs director T Tamilvanan.

He goes on to add that when he approached Suryah, he had told him he was hoping to rope in Big B as well. “Amit ji is a superstar, it’s difficult to get a nod from him, but I was confident about my script. I narrated it to him, he loved it and immediately agreed to be a part of the film,” smiles Tamilvanan.

The film is produced by Bhushan Kumar, Om Prakash Bhatt, Sujay Shankarwar and Ami Trivedi and Big B will be delivering some of his lines in Tamil. “For the long shots he speaks in Hindi, but for the close-up, he insists on Tamil. He’s been working hard on the language. His energy is infectious; even between breaks he refuses to retire to his vanity van but hangs out on the set with the team,” adds the director.

Abhishek Bachchan paid a visit to his father on Saturday and it was documented with them sitting on a stack of four chairs. “When he not just starts wearing your shoes, but also uses the same number of chairs to sit on, he does not just be a son, but the dearest friend,” Bachchan Sr wrote with a picture.