Vardhan Puri, who made his acting debut in Yeh Saali Aashiqui, is trying to be as productive as he can during the national lockdown.
"Luckily for me, I am also a writer apart from being an actor. I wasn't getting enough time to write because I was so busy acting. Now, I am getting time to write and work on scripts," he tells Patcy N/Rediff.com.
How are you spending your time at home?
I'm trying to be productive and creative and trying not to get bored.
As soon as our honourable prime minister declared a lockdown, we made a list of what we could possibly do to keep ourselves occupied.
Luckily for me, I am also a writer apart from being an actor.
I wasn't getting enough time to write because I was so busy acting. Now, I am getting time to write and work on scripts.
I have been catching up on a lot of films which I had missed in the last couple of months.
I am reading a lot.
I'm doing my own workshops, based on characters that I have tested for and which I have been in talks with regards to films I am going to sign up and have already signed up.
I love singing, especially Kishore Kumar songs. My father is a huge fan too, so we sing together.
I help my mother in cooking.
I help keep the house clean because we are not heavily staffed at the moment.
I am focusing on my fitness. I have asked my trainer to make a routine and send it that I can keep fit.
I spend a lot of time with my pet bird, Laila.
My sister, who's married and does not live with us anymore, is with us luckily. So we spend time together.
We are also doing some skin care routine. We have discovered the fun of tik tok videos.
We play games. Today, we played carom. We will play card games at night.
We are discussing work and how to strategise in my father's business.
What shows are you watching?
I think You is fascinating. It has blown my mind. The characterisations, direction and performances are too good.
I started watching Peaky Blinders and I loved that show because it's not preachy. It's so to the point and the music is brilliant.
I'm enjoying Black Mirror. I love that it's an anthology and every story deals with a particular theme. It is brilliantly written.
My all-time favourite will always be Breaking Bad. I have watched it five times, start to finish, and it never fails to surprise me.
I am extremely envious of Bryan Cranston who plays Walter White. I'm so jealous of that man because he is so damn good!
I would cut a finger or donate an arm to play that character!
I have gone back to watching Friends because it makes me happy.
I watched Guilty, and thought everyone was really good. Hats off to Dharma and (director) Ruchi Narain for bringing it together.
I watched the documentary Pandemic and would recommend it to everybody. It's scary. It's fascinating. It's educative.
It's like a warning that we should behave otherwise or we will be in deep trouble.
I saw Contagion too.
I have watched my film Yeh Saali Aashiqui. I'm not being pompous, but I really loved it.
If you watch it, you will be entertained. It will engage you, entertain you and educate you.
What are the five things you really miss?
I miss my family, we are very close.
We usually meet every weekend and eat yummy food and laugh.
I miss my friends. We are connected, but it would be nice to hug and hang out with them.
I miss working out with equipment.
I miss shooting, the joy of going on set, doing hair and make-up and acting... prepping for the next day and then finding just enough time to sleep so that I look okay the next day...and yet, but not being able to sleep because I am so excited. I miss that feeling.
I miss my grandparents (he is the late legend Amrish Puri's grandson) the most. Though they are no more, I wish they were here. Quarantine would have been heaven.
What will you do when the lockdown is over?
A dear friend of mine told me last night that she was craving waffles. I will first go and eat waffles; it will be my cheat meal.
I will work out in a gym.
I will finish all those meetings that have been put on hold.
I will invite my family over.
I have this habit of going to the temple every Tuesday and Saturday. I miss that.
I will go and pray to God to save our planet.
