Bhopal: “Theatres won’t die in the country despite a large number of films releasing on over-the-top (OTT) platforms due to Covid-19 pandemic,” says actor, scriptwriter and music director Piyush Mishra. He made the statement during an interaction with mediapersons at the MP School of Drama (MPSD), Bhopal, on Sunday.
Mishra said films were being released on OTT because of a compulsion and, once a vaccine for Covid-19 was developed, people would again start flocking to cinemas and auditoriums to watch films and plays. He said that watching films on TV and mobile screens could never be a substitute for viewing them on big screens. He praised the MP School of Drama foe resuming normal activities, including staging plays and holding classes for students.
On drug controversy
On the drug controversy in the film industry, Mishra said the problem was everywhere in the country, including at educational institutes, but only the film industry was being targeted. “The film industry isn’t only for glamour, but it has also contributed a lot to the country. There are many people from the industry — Salman Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Sonu Sood and I — who have helped people a lot during the lockdown,” the actor said. “Corona has taught me a lot. I did all household chores, except cooking, during the lockdown,” he added.
On Hindi theatre
About Hindi theatre, Mishra said writing a play was quite a different art. “It wasn’t cultivated after the 7th Century in the country. That’s why, we’re dependent upon the Western countries for this,” he said.
On Nepotism
‘It’s there in every field. Most parents wish their children would make a career in the same field as theirs. So, why not in Bollywood? It’s natural and there’s nothing wrong with it. I told my children that, if they want to make a career in this field, they’ll have to work hard. I won’t launch them,’ Piyush Mishra said.
