JD Majethia: We should care for our unit the way we care for our family

With temperatures soaring and television units spending long hours on outdoor shoots, ensuring the well-being of cast and crew has become more important than ever. Producer and actor Jamnadas Majethia, who understands the daily grind of shoots from both sides, recently introduced custom-made umbrellas on the sets of Pushpa Impossible to help the unit cope with the heat. Interestingly, the idea came from a personal family ritual. He says, ““We had a bhajan at our place a few days ago, and as part of our tradition, we give pehramani (return gifts) to everyone who attends. It is usually something useful, like utensils, towels, or handbags. This time, we chose umbrellas, which my wife Nipa got made through one of our Vaishnavs. That sparked the idea of doing something similar for the unit during the heatwave days.” The initiative has found appreciation across the Pushpa Impossible set. He says, “We have already distributed around 200 umbrellas and are making 100 more. They have turned out well in terms of design, size and durability, and will be useful during the monsoon too. One group of technicians told me, ‘Sir, yeh sirf chhata nahi hai, Pushpa Impossible ka memento hai aur hum isse lifetime sambhal kar rakhenge.’ More people have been asking for them, so we plan to make additional pieces.” For JD, looking after the unit is an integral part of production and goes beyond the work itself. He says, “Along with Aatish (Kapadia), I have always believed that the unit should feel cared for the same way we care for family. We stay closely connected by visiting shoots regularly, checking on their well-being, celebrating birthdays and doing small things that make people feel valued.” He adds, “During extreme heat and difficult outdoor schedules, producers have to find ways to support the unit, whether through extra refreshments like nimbu paani and buttermilk, food, shade, umbrellas, sanitation facilities or other essentials. These gestures make people feel respected and give them a sense of belonging. They should feel this is their own show and not just a place where they come to work every day. That becomes especially important in the demanding schedules of daily soaps.”