Shooting amid the COVID-19 pandemic is not going to be easy and everyone will have to follow the new guidelines for it that have several precautionary measures including cutting on crew size. Not only this but another amendment that has been passed for the new shooting rules is that no person above the age of 65 years can be allowed on the set. This has made a few veteran actors furious. Hema Malini, Shabana Azmi and Paresh Rawal had earlier sought an amendment to the SOPs for film shooting and urged the government to reconsider the rules as work resumed in showbiz.

Now National Award-winning actress Surekha Sikri has voiced against the Maharashtra government’s decision. While talking to a leading daily, she shared that though she got a few offers, they were all for ad films. “But nothing has been finalised yet. Again, these won’t be sufficient. I need to do more work to take care of my medical bills and other expenses. I think producers aren’t ready to take the risk,” she says.

While she needs to work now to manage her expenses, Sikri, 75, is quite upset with recent reports doing the rounds that she has asked her friends for loans. “I don’t want any wrong impression to be created among people that I am going around begging people for money. I don’t want charity. Yes many have reached out to me, which is very kind of them. I really feel grateful.But I’ve not taken anything from anyone. Give me work and I want to earn respectfully," she added. 

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The veteran actress feels the pandemic has made things worse. “If politicians and bureaucrats over 65 are still working, why can’t the actors and technicians also go out? Many of us are going through a difficult time, we need money to survive. Such restrictions are making things difficult for us,” asserted the actor.

“I’ll take all necessary precautions. I can’t sit at home like this any longer and be a burden on my family. Everyone is going through a tough time and these medical bills are adding to my concern,” she added.

“Yes, I’ve asked my manager to draft this letter. I feel the Maharashtra government should understand our plight. How could they come up with such a rule without thinking about the implications? Did they think about how seniors actors would be affected?” concluded the actor.

(Source: Hindustan Times)