“Bollywood’s response to the coronavirus pandemic has been very mature and timely”, says filmmaker Siddharth P Malhotra

Exclusive! “Bollywood’s response to the coronavirus pandemic has been very mature and timely”, says filmmaker Siddharth P Malhotra

Filmmaker Siddharth P Malhotra has impressed one and all with his films like, ‘We Are Family’, ‘Hichki’ and others. The director, who is otherwise neck-deep in work, is currently homebound due to coronavirus lockdown. In an exclusive interview with ETimes, Siddharth opened up about how the pandemic has affected his work life, Bollywood’s response to it and more. Excerpts…
How has life changed post the Coronavirus Pandemic?My day is normal chockablock full with back to back meetings, narrations, meeting talent and being on the sets. You will rarely find me just lazing or sitting around. And now that is exactly what is happening. While I do spend a lot of time writing, it almost seems as though somebody has hit the pause button. Maybe nature and the universe is trying to tell all of us something.

What sort of precautions are you taking? How are you taking care of your family and loved ones at this time?I'm definitely not taking any of the guidelines being suggested lightly. I sincerely believe that taking proper precautions and social distancing is key to stopping this virus and the threat emanating from it. I'm also ensuring that everyone in the family is following the washing of hands every hour routine, as well as wearing masks when going out, if at all.
How has it affected your work? Have any Shoots been cancelled?It has definitely impacted a lot of my work. There were some shots that were being planned which have been kept on hold for now. Also a large number of meetings which stand cancelled. In my line of work, most days are spent meeting talent and working on ideas - that process has taken a big hit. Also with the level of uncertainty that surrounds us, it is difficult to plan anything as of now.

How do you think Bollywood's response to this Pandemic has been?I am extremely happy with the response from Bollywood and the entertainment industry at large. The minute we realised that the virus showed no signs of stopping, decisions were taken to work from home, cancel shoots and stall releases. I think the response has been mature and timely.

How do you keep yourself busy since everything is in lockdown, anything that you are doing in this free time?I am catching up on all the shows that I haven't had time to watch. Also, writing, writing, writing - that's my passion and devoting time to develop story ideas.

What message would you like to give to everyone during this time?Please don't take the warnings lightly. Follow all precautions and practice social distancing.