Actress Tannishtha Chatterjee on life during lockdown

Acclaimed abroad for her performance in Sarah Gavron's Brick Lane and at home for Mangesh Hadawale’s Dekh Indian Circus and Ananth Mahadevan’s Dr Rakhmabai, among others, Tannishtha Chatterjee has been staying indoors at her residence in Yari Road in Mumbai, which has been declared a hotspot after the emergence of COVID-19 cases.

As she experiences a ‘new kind of life after the lockdown’, Tannishtha admits that “in the beginning, it was very tough.” She adds, “Gradually, I have realised how spoilt and privileged I am. After the area was declared a hotspot, fresh supplies have been hard to get. What is available online and can be ordered is not fresh. Besides, very few choices are on offer, and what one needs is tough to find often."

When she speaks to her domestic help, however, Tannishtha realises that ‘she is leading a luxurious life.” “That is the time I consider myself fortunate,” she adds.

The actress has a four-year-old daughter and she is showering her attention on her. “I spend most of my time with her. We read stories together. We do music together. I am glad I can give her so much time right now,” she says.

What else is she doing to keep herself occupied? “To be honest with you, I am figuring out how to cook. That’s something I have never done in my life,” she laughs. A music lover, she has been spending a lot of time listening to music. And besides, that she has been catching up on reading. “These are times when one can do what one likes while staying indoors. So, I am listening to a lot of music and also reading all kinds of books.”

The current lockdown during the COVID-19 crisis is a worry for everybody. “That said, I think there should be a lockdown of some kind for two weeks every year. If that happens, nature will use its power to heal. Animals will be happier. There will be less pollution and busy people will get time to recuperate,” she says. Now, that is food for thought.