#LifeInTheLockdown: Joju George says the pandemic helped him reflect on his lifestyle

While social distancing is the buzzword in the fight against Covid-19, actor Joju George says people should actually practise physical distancing and continue to be social, and reach out, communicate with and help each other virtually.

The Joseph actor was at an ayurveda treatment centre for a

weight loss

programme, when the

lockdown

was declared on March 24. But Joju is unfazed and has been staying in touch with fans through social media from the quiet location in

Wayanad

. He is also lending support for a community kitchen run out of producer Maha Subair’s home in Kochi by film industry honchos, including directors Aashiq Abu and Shyju Khalid.

In his social media posts, the National Award-winning actor also spoke frankly about how he has not been drinking and smoking for nearly three weeks, and asked people to support friends who were finding it difficult in the lockdown period. Speaking to us, Joju says, “I was here on a personal project to lose weight. I was feeling uncomfortable because I was about 125 kg. I would have left by now if the lockdown had not been declared. But now, I won’t leave this place till the lockdown period is over. I cannot preach something to people and practise something else.”

He explains that the ayurveda centre has a rigorous programme of limited food, and no smoking and drinking policy. “In a way the pandemic has made me reflect on my lifestyle and helped me follow this programme. I am not someone who can usually sit still for five minutes, but I feel aware that we have to stay in isolation during this period. I speak to my family every day. My sincere hope is that we overcome this and people are happy again. This is something that we have to fight together; this is a crisis that affects not just one person, but all of us,” he says, adding that the work of the State government, authorities and the police calls for special praise.