Exclusive : Maintaining mental health is also important along with the physical fitness during lockdown: Tula Pahate Re actress Gayatri Datar

Marathi TV actress Gayatri Datar, who shot to fame with the popular TV show Tula Pahate Re, is grabbing eyeballs not only with her onscreen performances but for her charity during the lockdown phase. From distributing food to homeless people to emphasizing on mental health, Gayatri is ticking all the right boxes. In an exclusive chat with ETimes TV, the actress spoke about the response for Tula Pahate Re's re-telecast, maintaining mental health, and much more. (PC -Instagram) - Interview by Vaishnavi Gavankar

Besides staying indoors as a responsible citizen and fighting the pandemic with positivity, I’m working as a volunteer with an NGO that works in association with the Municipal Corporation of Pune in feeding the needy and homeless. When I go with them to distribute food, I feel sad for them. We are so privileged to stay at home but we should understand that there is not the same case with everyone. I feel lucky when I look at them. (PC -Instagram)

There are people in the world today who are not even staying at their homes during this pandemic. We are not even shooting for TV shows of late. So, I felt the time and energy should be rather invested in helping others. There is this friend of mine who told me that they need volunteers for distribution of food. So, I didn't even think twice. I only thought why can’t I be doing this? There is nothing shameful. From packing the food to distributing to the needy, I am really proud of this volunteering work I’m doing. I’m getting a lot of positivity amid a negative situation around me. (PC -Instagram)

I am posting those pictures from the happy photoshoot on social media for a reason. Actually, I did the photoshoot much before even the pandemic but forgot to share it on my social media handle. So, I thought by sharing these happy pictures now, I’ll at least spread the smile and positivity. (PC -Instagram)

Of course, Covid-19 is not the only enemy now. I am really worried about the future because we are going to face a financial crisis soon. We don’t even know what is going to happen in the next six months, some of my upcoming projects are also pending. I feel the post pandemic world is going to be different and the worst part is that we can’t do anything about it. (PC -Instagram)

I am really overwhelmed that even today the re-telecast of Tula Pahate Re is receiving a great response from the audience. I am grateful for everything. I played the character of Isha in Tula Pahate Re. While playing Isha, I have learned a lot from her. Obviously, I worked opposite the veteran actor Subodh Bhave and that was challenging for me. Isha and Gayatri are opposite from each other. I am not that person who will listen to everything and will not react. One thing that changed in me after playing the character is that I have started listening to others (Laughs). (PC -Instagram)

Yuva Dancing Queen is completely a different ball game for me because I have no connection with dance. After my elimination, I hosted the show for a few episodes with Adwait Dadarkar and Ganga. I have learned a lot from both of them. It was a different experience for me. (PC -Instagram)

We are talking about physical fitness but mental fitness is also important nowadays. Mental health is necessary today and for that, we should not pressurize ourselves saying ‘I am not following the diet, what I am going to do after lockdown?’ Whatever will happen, let it be. We should just stay happy. If you want to watch a movie, want to adapt to your hobbies, go for it. If you ask me, I am eating everything without thinking twice about a diet regime. We can think about it later but maintaining your mental health is also important during this lockdown. (PC -Instagram) - Interview by Vaishnavi Gavankar