Amid the pandemic, TV stars take care of strays on sets

Stringent safety rules, changes in the way projects are being shot and limited interaction are just some things that have changed for TV actors amid the new normal. But what hasn’t changed for a few of them is how they take care of stray animals on the sets of their shows.

The first thing Aladdin Naam Toh Suna Hoga actor Siddharth Nigam did on the day they resumed shooting was to check on all the dogs that used to be around the sets.He saw that they had all lost weight, so he immediately started feeding them and got them back to being healthy. “The pandemic has been rough on everyone, especially the strays, and I feel we should do our part to care for them. Recently, one of the dogs was limping and we called a vet to check on him too,” he shares. ‘Akbar Ka Bal Birbal’ actress Aditi Sajwan too shares similar thoughts and adds, “I have two stray cats on the sets and everyone loves them and takes care of them”

Aye Mere Hamsafar actress Rishina Kandhari shares, “When we entered the lockdown phase, I provided the studio in-charge with food for the cats, birds and other animals around the sets. Once shoots resumed, I started feeding them again.” Rishina also had to convince some people on the sets and make them understand that the animals don’t transmit the coronavirus. “I made sure everyone around me was comfortable with having animals on the sets,” she says.

The team of Anupamaa is taking care of a pregnant stray dog named Rimjhim. Actress Rupali Ganguly brings chicken, rice, dal and veggies for Rimjhim and the other dogs on the sets from her home. “During the lockdown too, I would come to Film City to feed the animals as they must’ve been helpless and with no source of food. Producer Rajan Shahi has been proactive in helping with feeding and treating the animals,” shares Rupali, adding that they have an adoption plan for Rimjhim’s kids too. Aye Mere Hamsafar actor Namish Taneja, who feeds strays too, shares, “I get milk, bread and food packets for them. I am a vegetarian, but sometimes I ask my friends to get meat for the dogs too,” says Namish.
While some miss their old friends too
Anushka Sen from 'Apna Time Bhi Aayega' shares, "Since the shoots were suspended during the lockdown, all the strays have left the sets for searching food and stay. The one or two that are there now, we make sure to feed and take care of" Om the other hand 'Kundali Bhagya' actor Sanjay Gagnani too misses his furry friends. "I had gotten attached to two strays on the sets of our show. But I haven’t seen them after the shoots resumed. Wherever they are, I hope they are well fine and well fed"