Mumbai curfew: Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain producer Binaiferr Kohli on challenges of creating episode banks

With the spike in COVID 19 cases, the Maharashtra government announced a strict curfew in several cities including Mumbai. Among other things, shootings for films, TV shows, and advertisements have been stalled temporarily. Before that, the weekend lockdown was imposed in the city which restricted shootings to continue during the weekend. Amid this, in the last 15 days, it was observed that many lead actors of the show tested COVID 19 positive. From Manav Gohil to Rupali Ganguly, Neil Bhatt, and more, many others were in self-quarantine. For producers, creating episodes bank had become a challenge.

Edit II’s Binaiferr Kohli, who along with her husband Sanjay Kohli is producing shows like Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain!, Happu Ki Ultan Paltan, and Jijaji Chhat Parr Koii Hai, said that TV shooting can continue with social distancing on the sets. “Distancing is possible if you plan your shooting well, you take it in cuts. It can be done. The way forward is to write a story in a manner where there are lesser people in the scenes. There is a distance maintained.”

About having episode banks, she added, “Episodes bank were being made because there was a Saturday and Sunday curfew, so two days were cut from a week of shooting. It is effectively about 9-10 days that are cut from a month for shooting and then once someone falls ill you have to shut everything for three days, episode banks have become very essential.” Binaiferr shared, “But as I say the show is a part of our life, it is not our life and everybody has to look after their lives and for me, the safety and security of every single person coming on-set is the most important thing.”

 

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However, now shootings have been completely stopped. JD Majethia of ITFPC had mentioned that they will go to the government and request them if the entertainment industry can be treated as essentials as well.

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