“There’s much to be grateful for, even in times of uncertainty. It’s definitely a luxury to practice social distancing safely and comfortably. I’m a naturally positive person, and I’m aware of the things that bring me down and I try to stay away from them. This time is truly invaluable, and I’m sure everyone will come out of this much stronger, with a heightened sense of awareness, too, about themselves. I write in a diary every single day, which has really helped me. I also constantly try to limit my social media usage because sometimes all that info can be very draining and can cause anxiety,” said the actor.
When we asked her how the lockdown has affected her, positively and negatively, she said, “I’ve had a busy few months, so I’ve hardly been at home. At first, this transition of being super busy to having too much free time felt weird. But I think very soon, it became very busy with house chores, and there’s no time to be bored. I feel like this time is truly important and I needed this time off.”
Image Credit: Shriya Pilgaonkar
“It has helped me declutter not just my home, but my mind as well. I’m trying to explore my mind and my curiosities, to truly get to know myself better. But knowing that there are people out there who are struggling to make ends meet and are walking to get to their homes is saddening. And while I have done what I could in my power by contributing to the causes, there are always anxieties simmering when you know that you’re more comfortable than a lot of other people, because there’s a feeling of anger and helplessness,” she added.
She said she’s been spending her time with her family during lockdown and working on herself. She’s been taking courses online and collaborating with artists to stay creative. She said, “I’ve been doing the most simple, basic things that I wouldn’t have done on a regular basis. There’s also been a sense of taking responsibility for my own space, decluttering my life, and helping out at home and having our meals together. They bring joy to my day to day life.”
“I’ve also been taking online courses, and I’ve been performing a play online which we created during this quarantine time. These little, creative collaborations have actually been fun. When you realise there’s so much happening in the world and you have all these luxuries, you realise sometimes all you need is just good health and it puts everything in perspective.”
On being asked about the first thing she would like to do once the lockdown is lifted, she responded by saying, “To be honest, life isn’t going to change dramatically, even after the lockdown ends. We’ll all still have to practice social distancing. But it would be so nice to go out for a short drive, perhaps meet a friend. And just get out, and get some air even if it’s for a little bit.”
The one thing that she’d love to do right now, but isn’t able to, is something we didn’t quite expect, but completely understood. “I’d like to cook much more than I am allowed to at home because I’m not allowed to experiment in the kitchen at home, at all,” she said. And she’s not the only one who is subjected to trust issues by her family when it comes to cooking and baking.
Image Credit: Shriya Pilgaonkar
The one thing that she’s learned from this situation is that we all need to give ourselves time to just be – without the constant pressure of doing things and being productive. “The idea of success that we’ve been ingrained with is a constant state of hustling and being a go-getter and while, to a certain extent it’s true, I feel that it’s so important to also just be and allow yourself some time and it’s perfectly okay to do nothing. Every day does not have to be a competition of making something, doing something. It’s absolutely okay to not feel productive all the time because sometimes you need time to just do nothing, to allow your mind, body, and all your senses to breathe,” said the actor.
“I love to be constantly busy, but now I’ve realised the importance of taking out time to disconnect. I’ve even discovered my talent of taking endless naps,” she added jokingly.
To make self-isolation a positive space for people, she believes, requires us to kiss goodbye to our judgement. “Firstly, we all need to just let people be. Everyone will have a different way of dealing with their life at this point, and there should be no judgement about that. If someone wants to put a workout video, or cook, or whatever people want to do to express themselves, it’s important to not pressurise or judge anybody. People have become kinder, they’re helping each other. It’s times like these when the world comes together that you see a positive side of humanity. And we all need to keep supporting and encouraging each other.”
Image Credit: Shriya Pilgaonkar
We asked her about the one thing she’d like everyone who reads this to know and remember, and she said, “I’d like everybody to know that we’re all in this together. The uncertainty can cause anxiety, but we need to find joy in the little things, have gratitude for the time we have to get to know ourselves better. Sometimes it takes a pandemic for the human race to realise that we can’t keep living in an entitled manner.”
Stories From Lockdown belong to everyone — the heroic healthcare workers on the frontlines, the content creators making isolation a little less insipid for all of us, the celebrities giving us a glimpse into their lives, the neighbourhood do-gooder who makes sure the less privileged are taken care of — and we’re here to tell those stories. Each one of these narratives deserves your attention and, while you’re at it, we encourage you to come forward and tell your own story. For this is the time to come together (albeit, virtually) and give each other a little more than just hope to cling on to.
Lead and Social Image Credits: Shriya Pilgaonkar
