Satish Kaushik on turning 65 & minding kids during COVID-19

Actor-filmmaker Satish Kaushik who turned 65 on 13 April is not unhappy about celebrating his birthday during times of Coronavirus, "This is my second consecutive lockdown birthday. Last year being at home I celebrated virtually with friends Anil Kapoor and Anupam Kher. It was fun to celebrate in a unique manner which was an invention in the grim period of Corona."

And this year? "This year again it will be virtual but this time it has brought a lot of happiness and relief because me and my daughter Vanshika were infected with COVID and after going through a lot of agony we both are home and recovered just before my birthday to be Corona Warriors. So on my birthday, I thank my friends like Shabana Azmi, Anupam Kher, Anil Kapoor, Javed Akhtar, Rumi Jaffery who stood by me in this period like a rock and I dedicate my 65th birthday to them and doctors, nurses and staff at Kokilaben Hospital who brought Happy Birthday for me and Vanshika."

Satish and his 7-year old daughter who were both down with COVID-19 have recovered and are on the way to regaining complete normalcy in their lives.

However, Satish is worried about the well being of children during this time of the pandemic.

Says Satish, “My daughter Vanshika and I have recovered and tested negative for COVID, though she is on some oral medication till the 14th of April. This new wave of COVID-19 is affecting children a lot, so we have to be very careful about the movement of our children. We must not take them to crowded places and events at all. Please don’t take children to the Kumbh Mela. And please don’t allow them to play in groups with other children in your building premises. Also, kids must be trained in wearing masks and sanitizing hands.”

Satish is also concerned about the medical facilities available for kids in hospitals. “All families in all the Indian states should request the local authorities to increase the COVID hospitals, beds, pediatric doctors, and nurses for children. Children need special care. They can’t isolate themselves like we grownups can. To see children suffering in isolation is heartbreaking. For children up to the age of 12 to not be near their parents in this Corona situation is a major worry that needs to be addressed by the administration.”