'I wouldn't want anyone to go through COVID'

'It's not only painful annoying and bothersome, the worst thing is its unpredictability.'

It's a mixed phase for Manoj Bajpayee.

While the actor won the National Award for Bhonsle last week, on the other hand, he has tested positive for COVID-19.

"You never know what kind of pain awaits you next while you are infected," he tells Subhash K Jha.

Are you recovering well?

Yes, my wife and I are recovering well, thank you.

The first few days were very painful and worrisome because the symptoms were quite pronounced.

Those out there would like to know what it feels like.

It is something I wouldn't want anyone to go through.

It's not only painful annoying and bothersome, the worst thing is its unpredictability.

You never know what kind of pain awaits you next while you are infected.

It's better to be cautious and protected than to go through what I am going through.

Follow the protocol and restrictions as much as possible.

What are your plans after recovery?

I am packing my luggage for my next schedule in Uttarakhand.

I've to go back and complete the schedule that we had to stop when COVID hit us last March.

I am leaving in the next 10 days and I will be in Uttarakhand for the next two months.

And when that's over?

Once I am back, I will finish the shooting that was halted when I contracted COVID.

Your thoughts as you rest at home?

It is frustrating to sit at home and do nothing, just when we thought things were getting back to normal.

But that's the way it is.

We are mere mortals.

We have no idea of the plans the Almighty has for us.

We keep unnecessarily making plans down here when the one above has other plans.

***

"I'm Feeling Much Better"

R Madhavan also tested positive for COVID-19.

But he's not depressed about it. In fact, he's quite upbeat.

"Haanji bin bulaye mehmaan aa gaya (the unwelcome guest is here)," Madhavan says.

"The only problem is that I have to be confined to my home for 15 days. Otherwise, there is no problem at all. Thanks so very much for your concern. I am feeling much better and am being well taken care of.

"I am enjoying this enforced resting period. It's God's will. I normally won't dream of being without work but this time, I have welcomed the time off. "

Madhavan was in the midst of the post-production work for his biopic on scientist Dr S Nambi Narayanan when COVID struck.

"We are determined to do justice to the extraordinary life of Nambi Naryanan. He is one of the many unsung heroes of our country who deserves to be anointed with a worthy film," Maddy says.

In 1994, Dr Narayanan, a scientist at the Indian Space Research Organisation, was falsely accused of espionage.

"We are going into every aspect of Narayanan's life without apology. There's no point in doing a bio-pic unless the complete truth is told," Madhavan says.

The Nambi Narayanan biopic is being made simultaneously in Hindi, Tamil and English.