My 8-yr-old son isn’t ready to send me out: Karthika Deepam actress Archana Ananth on TV shootings resuming post-lockdown

Lockdown 4.0 came with many relaxations and TV/film shootings in states like Karnataka, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh are permitted with a few guidelines. While actors and all the technicians involved finally get a chance to resume work, the prevailing uncertainty in the post-lockdown working setup poses the real challenge. At this critical juncture, actor Archana Ananth, who is currently seen in the Telugu daily soap Karthika Deepam and its Kannada version Muddu Lakshmi, and in fact many other actors are caught between a hard and rock place. In an exclusive chat with ETimes TV, the actress expresses her concerns and how she and her family are prepared for the post-lockdown era.

Shoots are permitted from May 25 and I’m ready for shoot from even today. But a lot of things regarding TV production are yet to be discussed and sorted out.

Though indoor shoots are permitted with limited cast and crew, we all come from different places of the state and not sure how each of our areas is affected by COVID-19 outbreak. Moreover, wearing masks on the sets, sanitizing frequently and social distancing between actors is not easy as said.

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Hygiene at the workplace has been my concern right from day one. I’ve always insisted on maintaining hygiene at the workplace. We shoot at various locations and toilets at these places are not always hygienic. We spend maximum time at the workplace and it is like our second home. Now such poor conditions make it difficult for everyone, especially women on the sets. Now after the lockdown, they have to be maintained really well.

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We actors are provided with everything or we can ask for them but not every technician is privileged enough. They have to slog on the sets, carry the equipment, at times sit down and get dirty, too. Now, they say the virus can survive on the metal, too. I’m more bothered about them.

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Nothing is going to be the same between the actors, too. We can share a warm hug or do Tik Tok videos in between the shots like before. It feels strange but we have to adapt to this new norm. In a way, we are again getting back to our roots like saying ‘Namaste’ and all.

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I’ve been in touch with my personal staff during this lockdown. Everyone has taken a check-up and fortunately, everyone is healthy. But I review the situation before allowing them to resume work.

It is not only about shooting after a long while. Some are saying that we have to live with this virus. But with an 8-year-old kid and parents above the age of 60, it is not as easy it is said. I’m the only middle-aged woman in the house. So, I’ve to be extra careful while working.

My son is very happy that I’m home spending time with him and my parents, too. He is not quite used to seeing me at home but from the past two months I’m at home. In these two months, he has shown me how much he troubles my parents when I’m not around. He has been learning about Corona and how it spreads. So he doesn’t want me to step out only.

After nearly two and a half years, I’m at home for more than two days. Now that I’ve to resume work, my parents want me to spend most of the time with them. They are worried about the scenario outside but they also know that it is my livelihood.