Safety precautions, new challenges, funny incidents; Tolly stars share their shooting experience in new normal

Resuming shoot following the new safety guidelines has led to unique experiences for Bengali actors. While many can’t recognise people on set due to their masks, some others have embraced hilarious ideas to maintain the social distancing norms. Tolly celebs shared their experiences exclusively with ETimes. Here are the excerpts:

It was a mixed feeling when I went to the sets nearly after five months. When I got down from my car, I stood there for a few seconds to get a feel of that place, as I prepared myself to face the camera once again. After I got my thermal checking done. I saw people around me were in masks. I couldn’t hug the technicians who I met after so long. I had to spray hand sanitizer before opening the door. It felt a bit weird.

Ever since shoots resumed in June, there have been endless funny incidents on the sets. Recently, while shooting for Prothoma Kadambini, my on-screen husband was supposed to yell at me. As he was about to shout, I inadvertently covered my face with a ghunghat to avoid his respiratory droplets. I couldn’t stop laughing over it later.

The first day of Abhijaan’s shoot after unlock was weird. I couldn’t even hug my friends, Parambrata (Chatterjee) and Rudranil (Ghosh), because of social distancing. The funniest part is that now after each shot, I have to look deep into Param's eyes, like a besotted lover, to understand his reaction.

I anyway don’t speak much and now with the mask on, people tend to feel that I am ignoring them, not answering their questions or refusing to recognise them. Most people complain that I am inaudible when I speak through the mask. Recently, on the sets of SOS Kolkata, I failed to recognise Nikhil (Jain, Nusrat's husband) since he was in a mask. Nusrat later told me that Nikhil felt bad as I didn't greet him when he said hello to me.

Shooting for the last 10-12 days, I am super excited not just as an actor but also as a producer. My entire unit is being very supportive in this time of the pandemic when individual safety is of prime importance. People are managing the shoot with masks and gloves on in this heat and ensuring not just their own safety but also of other’s.

I had butterflies fluttering in my tummy as I prepped up for my first shot. After months of no shooting, I finally entered the movie town studio this morning and it seems it is the beginning of a new era. All the familiar faces are clad in mask. I’m getting jitters. But I’m happy we are all back to the new normal. So many technicians have been out of work for so many days. I hope everything eventually turns out alright.

We are almost nearing the end of our shooting days. But each and every day there was ample precautions on set so that social distancing and proper hygiene were maintained. Pray that we are able to complete the shoot properly and gift you all a good movie this Puja.