MUMBAI: With new SOPs and massive vaccination drives for all members of the film fraternity, shoots in Mumbai resumed on June 7 at Film City, Goregaon. Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Gangubai Kathiawadi, which stopped shooting after the lockdown in the city was announced back in April, will be the first film to resume work on June 15.
While it had been a tough time for everyone in the entertainment industry, the daily-wage workers and junior artists, especially the background dancers, have suffered the most and don't see much hope for themselves in the future either. The new SOPs, much like the previous ones, totally prohibits the shooting of dance or crowd sequences as well, and therefore these artists stand to suffer more.
Several background dancers have been rendered almost jobless since March 2020. After the first lockdown, only 35 per cent of people got work. The second lockdown has made matters worse.
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President of Cine Dancers Association Zahid Sheikh says, “Shoots resuming once again is very good news. But this is only the case for actors, directors, cameramen, make-up and production team. Not for dancers and junior artists, as using us is against the social-distancing norms that have to be followed. Though the good part is that the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) and Yash Chopra Foundation are getting more than 100 dancers vaccinated in different phases so that whenever the opportunity comes, we are ready. But, the question is when will that time come? The situation is still bad for us. What is the point of getting vaccinated and still there is no work."
This association has around 800 members but with no work, they are forced to work with catering services, as security guards, vegetable sellers, telemarketing agents and courier service agents.
Though many Bollywood stars and media organisations like Akshay Kumar, Hrithik Roshan, Sonu Sood, among others, have helped the daily-wage workers with essentials and a month worth of daily ration, it’s tough for them to make ends meet.
General Secretary of Cine Dancers Association Ravi Kanwar, when contacted, informed that the Chairman of the association Nilesh Paradkar, and the committee members reached out to Rishabh Chopra of the Yash Chopra Foundation to appraise him about the condition of the CDA members. He said, “Rishabh Chopra heard the financial distress in which our members are and offered to help us by transferring funds and sending ration packets to their homes. We are highly obliged."
Many members of CDA received Rs 5000 in their bank account and Yash Chopra Foundation also made sure the ration kits were dropped at their doorsteps, as far as Thane, Kalyan and Dombivali.
SOURCE – INDIA TODAY
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