The Covid-19 pandemic was that time of our lives when everything changed. All of us who lived through the lockdown have an experience of our own and recreating some hard-hitting stories from those times, Madhur Bhandarkar is bringing to us a film called India Lockdown. This is the first film on the pandemic which is so close to reality. Starring Shweta Basu Prasad, Aahana Kumra, Prateik Babbar, Sai Tamhankar, and Prakash Belawadi in lead roles, the film brings to us four stories of people from different walks of life who dealt with this unprecedented crisis. I must say, watching the trailer brought back so many moments I could relate to when we all were confined to the walls of our homes.
Watch India Lockdown’s trailer here:
Talking about the film, Shweta Basu Prasad says…
We all experienced the lockdown of uncertainty, including sex workers. When people ask me that how did I prepare to play the part of a sex worker, I researched a lot, in fact Madhur sir and the team took me to Kamathipura in Mumbai where I met fee sex workers and picked on their lingo, body language and mannerisms. I also realised that human emotions is a universal experience. Whether it’s the reader of this article or a commercial sex worker. Everyone’s stories of the lockdown should be told.
Sharing her experience Aahana says…
Loneliness became a very important conversation during the pandemic, just like anxiety and depression. My story in India Lockdown highlights exactly that. I play a pivotal role of a pilot, a fiercely independent woman who hustles her way, has a luxurious, thriving career and everything comes to a standstill when the pandemic hits. My story talks about how she overcomes loneliness and how she tries to find companionship during lockdown. It’s a very interesting part and I loved working with Madhur sir. He’s a feminist and loves portraying women in stories and I’m glad that I got to collaborate with him. It’s a dream come true, and I sincerely hope that this film is loved by the audience and people relate with all the characters in the film.
Prateik Babbar also shared,
We all read about the state of migrant workers due to the lockdown imposed in 2020 but I didn’t expect to represent them 2 years later in a Madhur Bhandarkar film. My role as a migrant worker in India Lockdown gave me an opportunity to come closer to them and feel what they felt – the uncertainties and the struggles unlike ever before – during the 2 most difficult years of their life. I hope that this film strikes a chord with people across the world and that we treat each other with more compassion.
Adding to this, Sai Tamhankar says…
This film is raw, realistic, and full of emotions. I am grateful to be a part of this film, it gave me an opportunity to work with the genius, Madhur Bhandarkar who understands the pulse of the audience and knows what they like and will relate to. He has the ability to bring out the rawness in actors and push them to be unfiltered and candid.
Well, I am sure that all those who watch this film on Zee5 on 2nd December will surely revisit those interesting two years of the pandemic. India Lockdown is produced by Dr. Jayantilal Gada of PEN Studios, Madhur Bhandarkar’s Bhandarkar Entertainment, and Pranav Jain’s P J Motions Pictures.