No intimate scenes in serials post lockdown: Producer JD Majethia

MUMBAI: The entertainment industry is currently under lockdown and shooting for the mediums are currently on halt due to the coronavirus outbreak. Recently, producers of IFTPC met Maharashtra's CM Uddhav Thackeray.  Producer JD Majethia told ETimes TV that currently no date has been decided and TV industry and scripts are going to see many changes.

'There has been no date as such decided. First to begin with all the TV sets will be checked. This will be a long process, we can't just say that we will start shooting from tomorrow. The Government has not allowed to start the shooting yet. It is a very encouraging news that Akshay Kumar has started shooting. We have spoken to Government and first the sets will be visited by them and they will check if they are away from the civilisation. So, what locations to be allowed in Maharashtra in Mumbai will be checked. It is going to take time, everything will be checked, then if necessary people will be quarantined, it is a long a process. Based on our meeting hopefully we should see some action happening by mid-June or June ending,' said JD.

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When asked about the guidelines that have been formed for the TV industry, the Khichdi producer said, 'All kinds of guidelines are being worked upon currently. During the meeting we were asked to submit the list of studios where the shoots happen. The maximum number of TV producers are with IFTPC (Indian Film and Television Producers Council) and we have come together to make a SOP (Standard Operating Practices) because we know the ground reality and how the shootings happen.'

JD, who had produced some of the hits shows like Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, Baa Bahu Aur Baby, Khichdi also shared that in the coming days scripts will be reworked and there will be no wedding, festival celebration and intimate scenes, 'If you remember when we stopped shooting from in March before that three days we shot keeping SOP in mind. Then March 18th we stopped shooting. We shot keeping all the necessary things in mind. Like doctors being available on the sets, actors shooting with masks on, sanitizers on sets, check-up of temperature. So, if you go to see we had kind of done one rehearsal and that time we had some around 100 people on the sets. Now we know that it is not advisable to shoot with so many people. We will have to figure out a best possible to shoot in best circumstances. First we wrote scripts and arranged things, but now scripts will be written keeping the situation in mind. There will be no wedding, festival, crowd sequences, large action sequences. We can't shoot these situations. We can't shoot hug, kiss, intimate scenes. Our life is not going to be that easy. We have asked for SOP (Standard Operating Practices) from everyone and it will be followed by everyone. From producers to junior artist, everyone has to file it. We have filed broadcasters and (IFTPC ) to the Government authorities.'

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Credits: TOI