Dalljiet Kaur on parenting Jaydon and financial crisis during lockdown
During this lockdown phase, Bigg Boss 13 fame Dalljiet Kaur has her son Jaydon by her side. The mother-son duo are making the most of this period and indulging in various healthy activities. Accompanying them are Dalljiet's best friends, who are also staying at the actress' place. In an exclusive interview with ETimes TV, the single mother spoke about the challenges faced by daily wage labourers, actors working on per day basis for barely a few days in the month, an end to the cycle of this novel coronavirus. Dalljiet also spoke how her ex husband Shalin Bhanot calls up to check on them during this difficult time. Read on...(By: Gayatri Nirmal)
How have the lockdown days been treating you yet?
They've been quite peaceful. I haven't spend this kind of time with Jaydon ever since he was born. Without any motivation to go out, without any stress, I got some really nice time with Jaydon. (Photo: Instagram)
How are you all keeping up with the household chores?
I have discovered the fact that I really like cooking. I never cooked because I did not get the time and I've been a working mother and a working person since I was in the 11th standard. I barely had the time to cook a meal. So, now I have realised that I could end up cooking decent food. I've been working out at home more regular than I ever did. I used to work, come back home and feel so exhausted and there would be no time to even be with my son. So, I never had the motivation to go to the gym. Now, I'm working out much more than I ever did. Creativity is flowing and so far we are not exhausted. (Photo: Instagram)
How is Jaydon keeping up with the lockdown period. Does he understand the situation we are in?
He totally understands. Whenever we are watching the news, he will come and ask, ''What's this?' If I've called some ration from outside, he will not touch it, he understands the meaning of being sanitised much more than we did, I think. I am trying to keep him physically fit, that is one thing that I am really trying to do. When we work out, he also keeps running around. I am not giving him TV and mobile. He's now pushed to see the toys that have been lying in his room for years, which he did not even bother to look at. Now, he's discovering everything and runs to me to show his toys. Physically, he is more active at home than he usually. Only at night, he gets to watch TV or play games on the phone for an hour. (Photo: Instagram)
As a parent, what do you do to keep him (Jaydon) occupied because a child gets bored very easily.
I haven't reached that phase yet. There are these science experiments on YouTube he watches and does at home. Making bubbles out of washing powder, soak methi seeds in the soil. He is full of ideas and I don't think he can get exhausted because God is very kind and we are quite self-sufficient at home. He's happy discovering things and has also got a bunker bed with a slide, which looks like a little playground by itself. Thankfully, it is coming handy now. So, right now, I haven't hit that phase where I have to get worried. (Photo: Instagram)
The real worry is post the lockdown period
My real worry is when the Prime Minister's speech will come that 'don't worry, you all can go out.' Will I still be sure and be able to send Jaydon to school. I don't know when is it going to be the time when I as a mother will be sure . Are we going to send them with masks. There are still a lot of people abroad. Are they never going to travel back? So, we know that India is now safe but are foreigners travelling here. How is it going to be? How does the future look like before vaccine. Vaccination is the definite end, and we all know that. Will I take a chance with my son, who is 6 years old. I will be sh*t scared to step out and take a chance. For 2 years, are we getting the assurity that nobody travels back, there are provisions made for people to stay abroad. This is the only thing that worries me. (Photo: Instagram)
The lockdown period is also being compared to Bigg Boss and there are many memes. Since you've stayed in the house, what do you have to say about it?
I completely agree. When I came out of the first house, I was the first person to get evicted. People said that you were inside just for 15 days, what's the big deal. People when...psychologically are told not to step outside, it's a reverse psychologically. Imagine, now everybody is stuck at home and can't step out. Here, they are at least lucky, they have TV, mobile, they have their own people. There (Bigg Boss house) we are stuck with people who we don't like, There's no entertainment. We don't even have mobiles to put our minds through. It is a very difficult and people are living there in a very sadistic way. (Photo: Instagram)
There are still people who aren't obeying orders and are walking on the streets.
Yes, it's sad to see that because this cycle is not going to break and this lockdown will keep increasing. They are not understanding that the more impatient they are going to be now, the longer this period is going to last. The longer we will be without income, without salary. I am already worried, I have to pay the EMI of my car, I have to pay my rent. How am I going to pay when I'm not getting money, and it's worse for the lower class people. The daily wage earners need to rely on the Prime Minister fund for whatever funds or food they are giving. This will be a never-ending process if everytime we keep stepping outside. People really have to stop panicking and maintain social distancing. (Photo: Instagram)
Has Shalin Bhanot called up to check on you and Jaydon?
Yeah, he does once in a while and calls me up. Even I call him up from my side because he is alone. At least, I am here with my friends and Jaydon. So, I also call him to ask him and I think he's doing well and he tells me that he's very happy. This is the time that he hasn't had for a long time. So, he's saying that he's very happy, which is good. He's not stepping out, which is great. (Photo: Instagram)
As you mentioned it is difficult for daily wage labourers, there are also actors, who get work just for a few days in the month. What do you have to say about them? How do they survive?
It's very difficult. I was shooting a while back and I wanted to ask them to give me my cheque but this lockdown happened. So, my last cheque hasn't come. We are doing well as actors but still everything for an actor is very multifaceted below what we earn. It is actually a task and I am quite worried for those people also who get work for just a few days in the month. They are all urging that the owners of the rented apartment excuse a month's rent or give them extra time to pay the rent. My owner knows me since past 4 years and he might say that give my rent after three months. If I had a house and I had people living it on rent then I will call them from my side and say 'Don't give rent, it's okay' because that is eventually our responsibility at an individual level to contribute. It is not only about what the Prime Minister has to say, it's also about how we are contributing. I called my maid and boy, and gave them leaves by paying for a month's time because those people literally need it. Same goes for us also. Somebody above us should call. Like my producer should actually call me and say 'Don't worry, worse comes to worst, we will transfer little money.' That understanding has to be there or otherwise, it's going to be a sense of panic. Individual responsibility needs to strike without any law being made or any regulation being made. It is a self responsibility of holding each other's hands right now. (Photo: Instagram)