Director-Editor Apurva Asrani: “Use social media judiciously”

Writer-Director-Editor Apurva Asrani who is peacefully ensconced with his live-in partner music curator Siddhant Pillai  in  Goa,speaks to Subhash K Jha  on the lockdown

How  are you  coping with the   lockdown?

The 1st week we had been dealing with uncertainty of essentials & supplies here in Goa. Also sweeping, swabbing the house, figuring out  a cooking discipline. Things finally look like they are being streamlined.

How are  you spending your time?

Hunting for basic supplies, keeping the house clean, learning new recipes and being creative with the few groceries we have. We have kittens that need attention and  care. I’m practicing the guitar. Exercising. And reading old writing drafts and doing passes on them.

Lots  of time to  introspect?

There is certainly a lot of introspection. In the past, our ‘productivity machinery’ had never been allowed to stop. We have been creating to stringent deadlines, delivering and moving on to the next creation. But creativity needs to incubate. Life needs to happen in between. We need to hear stories, take stock of what’s happening in the world,  we need to think about things. I am revisiting projects I have already been working on. our thought patterns are changing as we realize what’s truly important to us. The world will never be the same after this has passed.

Movie watching?

There isn’t much movie binging. The true stories of the world is far more exciting and pressing than fiction right now.

Working  from home and  working out?

Yes, working from home. And working out as well. My complex has enough space to exercise in isolation, and I’m jogging, doing press ups, stretches. All the anxious energy one collects from depressing news stories must be expended. I refuse to go to bed with it.

Are  you eating and sleeping more than usual?

I don’t think people who cook for themselves over-eat. I sleep 7 hours and wake early to go to the shops to get supplies before people crowd them. Groceries have been in short supply, so we haven’t been able to stock up.

Your advice on how  to deal with the  prolonged  isolation?

Talk to your loved ones and friends. Have long conversations that you couldn’t have when you were busy fulfilling your material ambitions. Connect again. Read. Use social media judiciously, else you will end up feeling confused. Work out, meditate. Construct the new you that you always wanted to, but didn’t have the time to start.