Snapshots from Pragya Jaiswal’s Dandeli workation

Unlike most of her peers in the film industry, Pragya Jaiswal didn’t get the chance to #Unlock. Just around the time when shootings were resuming after a four-month lockdown, the actress tested positive for COVID-19, and she was forced to stay cooped up indoors for another month.

“Just as I was beginning to get ready for shoot in October last year, I got infected with coronavirus, which meant another two weeks quarantine. Once I recovered, I began shooting again. But it was mostly on the sets in Hyderabad and I missed the travel that comes with shoot life,” she recalls.

So when Pragya headed to the jungles of Dandeli, Karnataka, along with the cast and crew of the upcoming Balakrishna-starrer, for an

outdoor schedule

, she finally had her chance to travel. “So, I decided to turn it into a workation. After wrapping up shoot, I managed to explore the surroundings and indulged in fun activities. It was so much fun,” she says.

“I never expected that work will bring me to such a beautiful place, especially during the pandemic. Having been cooped up inside my house or on set for so many months, it was refreshing to be out in the open again, among trees and water,” says Pragya, adding, “We shot at a forest reserve in Dandeli. Every time I got a couple of hours off in between shooting, I would find a way to squeeze in some fun activities.

River rafting, ziplining, trekking, giant swing, sky cycling and

jungle safari

— I did it all!”
Incidentally, this was also the first time the actress had experienced river rafting. “The film’s team was really worried about me trying out all these adventure sports, but I still found a way to do it,” she says cheekily, adding, “I was so unwilling to try out river rafting as there were huge rapids. But my team egged me on to join them, and I gave in. It was the most incredible experience ever.”

Pragya and her team also set out to the wildlife sanctuary in hope of spotting a

panther

or leopard. “We even joked around about what a hard-working bunch we were, because we were waking up earlier than usual to fit in everything in our schedule. Setting out early morning in the hope of spotting a black panther or leopard made me feel nostalgic. I grew up near the

Kanha Tiger Reserve

in

Madhya Pradesh

, so Dandeli reminded me of home a lot,” she says.

Having returned to Hyderabad now, Pragya says she has nothing but fond memories of the trip. “It was the most relaxed schedule I’ve ever had despite me juggling it with work. I do miss doing yoga in natural surroundings or going trekking right next to the river. But shooting for this film in Dandeli is an experience I’ll cherish forever,” she says.