With the shoots of television shows slowly resuming in the past month, it has been a bitter-sweet experience for the cast and crew. While everyone was excited to resume work after the three month lockdown owing to COVID-19, they were aware of the risks of going out and working on the sets. The recent news of a few TV actors like Parth Samthaan and other crew members testing positive has turned eyes on the producers of the show, who are being blamed for not keeping up to the necessary safety standards.
Speaking to Mid-Day, the chairman of the Indian Film and TV Producers Council’s TV and web wing — J.D Majethia — says that this wrath that the producers are facing is “unfair”. He feels that people are not acknowledging the efforts they are taking to ensure safety.
He adds:
Around 80 shows are being shot across Mumbai with 7,000 people getting back to work. It has been 21 days since we resumed, and only four cases have been reported, so far. So, the way people are pulling up producers is unfair.
The Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai producer says that sometimes, however careful we are, some things happen, and are not in our hands.
Explaining, he told the publication:
People are travelling from different places, food is being ordered from out, and private vehicles are being used. So, even though there is a system in place, [the virus can spread]. But, we take utmost care of our crew.
He informs that the TV industry as a whole has tied up with Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital to provide for the cast and crew’s medical aid.