Solanki Diwakar
, a Delhi-based actor who has worked in films like '
Dream Girl
', 'Halka', and 'Sonchiriya', has been supporting his family with his 'side-business' of selling fruits from Okhla to Malviya Nagar.
The 38-year-old actor, who's from Agra, lives in Sriniwaspuri in Delhi, and when he is not auditioning for films or acting in them, he's back on the streets with his fruit cart.
But it's not like filmmakers didn't try to help him. Solanki says,"When directors got to know that I’m selling fruits during the
coronavirus pandemic, they got in touch with me to help, but I have been selling fruits as a part-time job for almost 10 years, and now when shootings have completely stopped, this work is keeping me afloat. My directors Nila Madhab Panda, who gave me role in 'Kadvi Hawa' and 'Halka', Raaj Shaandilyaa who gave me role in 'Dream Girl', got in touch with me, but I am doing well. Everyone is in distress during the pandemic, and it's not just me."
Solanki in Malviya Nagar, Delhi
Solanki in Malviya Nagar, DelhiIn Mumbai, cine associations are supporting actors and crew members, didn't he get in touch with them for support?
He says, "While I am supporting myself by selling fruits, several other artistes and crew members want to do only film industry-related work, hence they need more help to sustain themselves during this pandemic. All shoots have dried up now. Maybe, in a couple of months, we'll start
shooting
again."
Solanki adds, "I have done small roles in over 30 films. I went to Mumbai in 2005, but I didn’t get the opportunities that I wanted, so I came back to Delhi." He says that as the income from films is not sufficient, hence, he can't stop pursuing the side-business of selling fruits.
But with interested customers, Solanki loves to share his experiences from the movie world. He says, "Yes, people often ask me, 'Aisa lagta hai aap ko kahin dekha hai.' I smile and tell them that they must have seen me in movies."
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