Sharad Kelkar, the actor with the golden baritone voice and the towering personality seen most recently as Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Tanhaji, is confined to his home with his wife television actress Keerti and their young daughter.
Now, restraining his restlessness after a month in lockdown, Sharad says, “It’s been quite a while now, so we are getting used to it, spending time with the family. I am working out at home, watching a lot of digital content. So till date, the lockdown has not affected me psychologically. But yes, it’s a tough time for all of us.”
Recalling the announcement of the lockout Sharad says, “ When it all started, it was a shocker for a workaholic like me. It took 2-3 days for the lockdown to sink in. But now we are together, the family, trying to make the best of our time together. The Government has allowed us to grocery and everything at home. So we are not short of supplies.”
The lockdown has given Sharad a chance to mull over his career and life. “Yes, I am doing a lot of introspection. Whatever I’ve done in my life and career . I’m getting an unexpected chance to think over. All of that I’m doing. But my biggest timepass in the lockdown is movies. I’m catching up on all the movies I missed out on in recent times as I was shooting non-stop.”
“Being a physical trainer I was a gym instructor when I started out 20 years back—I know how to train at home. I’ve some make-shift equipment at home, so I am working out at home, though not vigorously because I’ve to maintain the body-time I have right now for the sake of the continuity in the films that I’m doing .”
Initially, Sharad enjoyed the opportunity to get more sleep. “I enjoyed catching up on my lost sleep for the first ten days of lockout. But now it’s getting too much, so I am hating it. I am a workaholic. I love to be out working all the time. I am missing my script narrations, my shootings. But sleeping is there. That, and watching films has increased. And that’s good for my mental state. But not eating. No no, I don’t eat much anyway, so I am not doing too much of that now.I’d rather sleep or watch a film than eat.”
Sharad’s advice to his fans? “This is a critical situation and we have to bear with it. We have to fight it together. We will beat it together. My advice is to stay at home. Don’t go out unless urgent but wear a mask if you have to go out. And don’t touch anything except what you are buying when you go out. Watch a lot of digital content, on paid and free OTT platforms. Spend time with family and your children. You may not get such an opportunity. Talk to your friends whom you haven’t been in touch with. Re-connect with people you have lost touch with, including yourself.”
