Weekend roundup: Dev, Nusrat and other Bengali celebs who made headlines this week

The coronavirus pandemic has swept away Tollywood just like other film industries worldwide and India. Be it the shoots of different films getting stalled or a number of releases postponed, if you have missed the exciting news, gossips or latest developments that have rocked Bengali cinema this week, here is a weekly roundup for you. Take a look:

In this tensed time of self-quarantine due to the coronavirus pandemic, we are surely getting restless. Everybody wants to break free and step outside. People are complaining about the tiring, boring situation at home. But how many of us have thought about the housewives or stay-at-home mothers whom we look down upon for years? Many have asked them what they do staying at home all day. Now, it’s time for the reality check! How about the mammoth amount of work at home?

Actress Swastika Mukherjee who is known to call a spade a spade has raised an important thing about housewives. While many people are cribbing that home quarantine has left them with loads of time, Swastika believes otherwise. “Seems like there’s nothing to do but there’s so much to do. Having lunch at 5pm everyday,” she tweeted. And then came another important point. “And all this while society was tuned into thinking that house-wives are jobless useless beings who doesn’t deserve a say in anything. #wakeupindia,” tweeted the ‘Kia and Cosmos’ actress. Well, it’s been the general perception to see housewives as jobless and we can only hope, this quarantine period will bring a change for the good.

Actor, producer TMC MP Dev Adhikari has donated Rs1 crore for the safety of his constituency Ghatal in the wake of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. 15 confirmed cases and one death from coronavirus have been recorded in West Bengal till now. The announcement Dev’s donation came from the Facebook page of AITC Ghatal. The fund will be used to makeshift the hospitals in Ghatal constituency into quarantine or isolation centres and to the necessary personal protection equipment for health-care workers fighting the disease. Dev himself is staying at home, not just due to the coronavirus lockdown, but also because of a foot injury that he sustained while shooting for Dhrubo Banerjee’s ‘Golondaaj’ earlier this year.

Amid the nationwide 21-day lockdown due to deadly Coronavirus outbreak, actor-politician Nusrat Jahan was recently seen buying essential commodities near the Chetla Market area. While shopping for essential commodities she was also interacting with the locals and spreading awareness on the importance of maintaining social distancing. She also urged the people to follow the guidelines prescribed by the West Bengal government.

Nusrat, in a mask and gloves, repeatedly urged buyers to remain within the circles drawn by the administration while standing outside the shops maintaining social distancing. She also requested the sellers not to hike prices of commodities amid the crisis and enquired about the supply of goods. The ‘Asur’ actress then distributed masks among the vegetable sellers and labourers.

Bangladeshi actress Jaya Ahsan who is now in Dhaka has kept herself busy feeding stray dogs for the last five days. Her brother, Adeet Maswood, recently posted a series of pictures where you can see the versatile actor wearing masks and gloves on the streets and feeding the dogs. "This virus outbreak has taken a lot of us by surprise," the post read. "We have learnt that amid fear, there is also community, support and hope. For these stray dogs the only hope is little act of kindness in uncertain times! My sister Jaya Ahsan has been feeding 25 to 30 dogs for the past 5 days. Chicken and rice with water to drink is all they need to survive. So proud of Jaya apu! I’m sure many will follow and come forward to offer their help," wrote her brother.

Rituparna, who is currently with her family - husband Sanjay Chakraborty, son Ankan and daughter Risona Niya - in Singapore, believes it’s the time to stay together and everybody has to stay spirited. “I know we are all in home quarantine, and feel trapped inside the four walls, but at this point of time, our home is the safest place on earth. So, we should all remain at home, keep ourselves clean and wash our hands frequently,” urges the celebrated actress.

Rituparna and Sanjay have also pledged to donate to the PM-CARES Fund, West Bengal chief minister emergency relief fund, Kolkata Endeavour Society and IHA Foundation and several other trusts. Announcing the news on social media, the Bengali diva wrote, “During this time of crisis we must come together and help each other to fight COVID-19. We have both taken small steps to pledge and support the needful people and donate to the PM-CARES Fund, CM’s Relief Fund, Kolkata Endeavour Society, IHA Foundation and many other organisations as well. Let’s create a beautiful world again. We shall overcome this together. Rituparna & Sanjay.”

While the entire nation is in lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus, the release of Soukarya Ghoshal’s upcoming film ‘Rawkto Rawhoshyo’ has been indefinitely postponed. Previously, the film was scheduled to release on April 10. The production house has made a social media announcement that stated that given the current situation all over the world, the release is postponed and the next release date will be declared soon. The film, produced by Surinder Films, stars Koel Mallick, Rwitobroto Mukherjee, Chandan Roy Sanyal and Lily Chakraborty among others in pivotal roles.