MUMBAI: Producer Rajan Shahi’s show Anupamaa has made a special place in everyone’s heart. The cast of the show gives a complete family entertainer. Actors Rupali Ganguly, Sundhandhu Pandey, Aashish Mehrotra, and others make for a convincing family in the show. This comes from their off-screen bonding as well. 

The cast ensures that they always eat together to bond better. However, because of COVID 19, the restrictions and social distancing has affected many shows and their usual routine. However, the team of Anupamaa have found a way hygienic around it and even changed people for good. 

Actor Aashish Mehrotra, who plays the character of Paritosh in the show reveals, “I remember before the lockdown, all of us used to sit together and eat. A very good initiative taken by Rupali ma’am. She believed and now we also believe that when we sit together and eat, we can share our thoughts and bond better. Since it’s a family show, it really helps everyone. After the lockdown, we have taken high precaution. We eat the food which we get from our homes. We sanitize our hands. Before eating, we share our food. Whoever wants to eat, we share it in a way that they can take it. Once we start eating, then we don’t share. But we don’t compromise on our bonding time. We also sit with considerable distance between us. That is the best time because these 40 minutes, we talk, we chill, and bond a lot.”

Actor Sudhanshu Pandey, who plays the lead character of Vanraj Shah in the show, reveals how COVID 19 brought him a lot closer to his team. “I am one of those actors who likes their privacy. Even on the sets, I have been one of those who wouldn’t get out of the van if not required. I always ate my food alone and that has how it has always been like. That was my time to reflect back on many things and just be with myself. But after this COVID and having stayed locked up for 3.5 months things changed a little for me. I always saw Rupali and everyone to sit together and eat. So, once or twice I sat with them and it felt too nice, warm doing that. Having a chat with the rest of the cast and laughing together and sharing inputs felt an amazing change. It is so satiating and it brings a feeling of gratitude. We also have a couple of dogs on the sets who were born and brought up there, so we feed them as well. So, yes, it has been a fantastic experience. It has become such a habit that I can’t sit and eat alone anymore. I have to be around them because it feels so amazing and complete,” shares the actor. He also goes on to say that because of the new restrictions, he along with everyone on the sets has adapted to the new lifestyle. “Social distancing has changed a lot of things for us. We are not shooting the same way as before. We are sanitizing our bodies, our clothes, and we don’t shake hands or hug. The technicians are wearing masks 24*7 and the actors only take it off when they are giving a shot. It has become normal now and it’s not like it’s making a difference to my life,” says Sudhanshu.