Can Telugu TV industry afford another lockdown? Here's what Rashmi Gautam, Meghna Raami and others think about working amid surge in COVID-19 cases

Telugu TV industry continues to stay functional amid surge in COVID-19 cases. In the wake of growing speculations of yet another lockdown in the state of Telangana, ETimes TV got a few noted TV celebs and technicians talking about the working conditions amidst the rise in Coronavirus cases. Excerpts...

We are definitely ready financially or mentally. One more lockdown, trust me, we'll be on the roads. According to me, our daily soap actors are also daily wage workers and we can't survive another lockdown. I'm only preparing to be extra cautious on the sets and outside, too. I got my parents and myself vaccinated, focused on having healthy food and being responsible when I'm heading out on work. I blame the sheer negligence and stupidity of people for the surge in the cases. Honestly, we were serious and cautious for only a few days after the lockdown. We were given COVID-19 insurances, sanitizers, masks and what not! But throwing the masks all around, neglecting sanitizers and other safety protocols, being overconfident and then blaming the government will not help.

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I see no difference in the state of affairs from the previous lockdown. People have grown more negligent and egoistic. So, what is the point of another lockdown until the mindset and the outlook of the public towards the pandemic doesn't change? Curfews and punishments for negligence don't help much until the way we look at dealing with the pandemic changes. The virus is not going anywhere and we must act responsibly, the governments can't be blamed here. People who can afford another lockdown, sit at home yet survive are not willing to stay back indoors, how can we actors and TV technicians who don't make money until we work, afford it? Not everyone has a second source of income and can have one.

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We are definitely not prepared for another lockdown. And frankly, everybody behaved as if COVID-19 never existed and everything returned to normalcy for nearly 5-6 weeks. It's just from the past two weeks that we are reminded that Coronavirus is still around and we started following taking safety precautions. Firstly, except a few well paid technicians, not everyone earns enough to make savings. Even if they had any, there were enough to clear the debts during the lockdown. Technicians in the TV industry are mostly freelancers and are from lower middle class and BPL families. They will have just 10-15 days of work in a month and need to survive on that earnings. Only a few technicians in the camera department could shift to wedding or event photography after the last lockdown. Rest of them know nothing else to do. So, they came back to work when shootings resumed. Even setting up a business in one's own hometown also needs money and not everyone can afford that, too. So, how can these poor technicians survive another lockdown?

My parents refused to send me to work during June, last year. But I dared to work seeing the efforts and stringent measures taken by the channels and production houses. But that seriousness and fear is slowly diminishing on the sets. I'm a neat and hygienic person and I'm a tad particular about it. I often demand people to wear masks and sanitize. That irresponsible behaviour is just intolerable.

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There is social distancing and other safety protocols are being followed on our Karthika Deepam sets. But I'm really scared. Moreover, I keep shuttling between Bangalore and Hyderabad frequently and I mostly drive alone. I insist my staff and everyone whom I notice around to wear masks and use sanitizers. It's annoying and scary how some people are irresponsible even after seeing a surge in the cases. My family is worried about how I'd manage. I've personally stopped ordering food on Swiggy and other food delivery apps and cut down on fast foods, too. Personal hygiene and taking healthy food really helps.

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We've shot the recent episodes of Drama Juniors 5 with a bare minimum crew and it will further decrease in the next shoot schedule. I've made it clear that I will walk out from the sets if I see anyone without a mask. The set is being sanitised every half an hour. Everyone was permitted onto the sets only after their COVID-19 reports were submitted 24hrs prior to the shoot. Parents will be seen with face shields even on the cameras. It is a huge set and social distancing is being strictly followed. It is scary but this is the only way out. Everyone is looking forward to this new year but until we respect nature and follow the precautionary measures, we can't have a better scenario.

(Photo: Instagram)