Centre Stage

NABILA

What have you been doing in quarantine?

I think I'm just doing what everyone else is doing; nothing special. I'm doing household chores. Mostly, I'm just waiting and praying for all of this to be over so that we can go back to our previous way of life.

Have you acquired a new skill?

Since my childhood, I have known that I can recreate the human face on paper. When my husband found out about this, he persuaded me to practise it. So, I've spent some time drawing his face. This isn't honestly a new skill; it's an old skill that I've began working on again. I've also been trying out new recipes which I haven't been able to do before. For example, I had made a cake for the first time for my husband's birthday.

What aspect of life before are you missing the most?

I'm basically missing everything. I miss going to work on shoots. I terribly miss acting. I haven't been able to spend time with my friends, so I'm really missing that. I love travelling. Now I don't even know when I can go abroad or even outside of Dhaka. What is the first thing that you'll do when quarantine ends? The first thing I want to do is go on a shoot, so I'll look for a good project. I also want to travel somewhere, no matter how near or far, so that I can feel that everything is back to normal and we've overcome a deadly pandemic.

Do you have any message for the readers?

I would request all the readers to be safe and cautious. We all know what to do to keep ourselves and others safe, so we should maintain them strictly. I know that many people are tired of this. I want them to know that they're not alone. Even I become depressed sometimes. I would like to ask you to be patient. We have waited before, and we have to wait some more. Only then can we overcome this. If you are feeling depressed, you should definitely talk to family and friends and share any problem you have. This pandemic has shown us that people are there for each other, so we should all be open about whatever we're going through.

JAYA AHSAN

Have you been working on any short film or project during this lock-down?

A few artists have been working from home, but I have not done anything of that sort. There are a few reasons behind that. Firstly, everyone has been under a lot of mental stress due to the current state of the world, which is why it is not possible to take on any such project. Secondly, shooting is not a one- man job. Every single person, from light technicians to hairdressers, play a crucial part on set. Without them, no one can make it as a star.

Did you undertake any activity, such as donating to charities, during these difficult times?

I don't want to discuss this in detail as this crisis has affected the entire world. So, I believe that any contribution I have made are insignificant. However, I have been trying to reach out and provide some support to street dwellers, especially children. I have also made an effort to help stray dogs during these times.

Have you participated in any awareness campaign?

I have appeared in a few awareness videos in both Bangladesh and India. For instance, I took part in an event during Eid which was aiming to collect funds for artists. There will be an event in Kolkata called Concert for Bengal, which I am a part of as well.

How have you been taking care of you physical and mental health?

Initially, I didn't have a routine. However, I felt distressed and  realised that working-out helped me. I try to do it regularly now as it helps both my physical and mental state. Like I mentioned earlier, I am under a lot stress, which has been making it difficult for me to focus on reading books. So, to pass my time, I have been watching a lot of movies.

Do you have any message for the readers?

Fear of death has currently occupied all our minds. While it is difficult, I would want everyone to focus on the good aspects of life. The crisis has also created a setback for the goals we may have set to achieve within this year. However, it is important to remember that staying safe is our biggest priority and surviving this global pandemic is an accomplishment in itself.