Play it safe, play it smart

Ganapath’s makers provide conveyance to minimise risk of exposure

On Thursday, the Maharashtra government announced that all pandemic-related restrictions, including the mandatory wearing of masks, were being lifted from April 2 that marks Gudi Padwa. This comes after over two years of stringent adherence with safety norms as the world underwent several waves of the pandemic. However, with Shanghai witnessing its largest virus outbreak since March 2020, the need to have our guard up cannot be emphasised enough - a school of thought that most Bollywood productions are aligning with. Despite the lifting of curbs, many movie sets are retaining the COVID-19 protocols that were put in place after the second lockdown.

Yudhra is being shot in Mira Road

The team of Kiran Rao's upcoming comedy-drama, backed by Aamir Khan, recently completed a 10-day schedule in Madh Island. Sources from the team inform that no-mask-no-entry will be a non-negotiable rule going forward as well. A unit hand reveals, "Working with masks has become a norm, and we have been told that masking up will be necessary while on the set. Temperature monitoring too will continue to ensure everyone's safety." The team at the production house is apparently contemplating whether they should do away with rapid antigen testing in light of the dwindling cases in the city.

Streaming giants, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ Hotstar, have taken a tough stand on that front. Rapid antigen testing will be compulsory on the sets of their productions. A prime example is a Netflix non-fiction show that is currently being filmed in north India.

Masks are compulsory on set of Rao's film, backed by Khan

Most Bollywood productions had done away with bio-bubble shoots since late last year. Studios, however, remain steadfast in their efforts to minimise the risk of exposure. The team of Tiger Shroff and Kriti Sanon's Ganapath, for instance, has prohibited the use of public transport. A source from the unit reveals, "The unit's safety is the producer's top priority. As the team of 80 will shoot in and around Mumbai over the next few weeks, the makers are ensuring that everyone has access to production vehicles."

Measures such as hair and make-up teams using gloves, and staggered lunch breaks to avoid crowding will remain firmly in place, as seen on the Mira Road set of Siddhant Chaturvedi's Yudhra. Most producers are also retaining COVID insurances in case of hospitalisation, depending on each case and severity.