COVID insurance for films? Atul Kasbekar is optimistic

While actors are bravely stepping out to shoot with a limited crew, it cannot be denied that film shoots can no longer be what they were in the pre-COVID world. In a first, Bollywood producers Atul Kasbekar and Tanujj Garg of Ellipsis Entertainment are in talks with a legal expert to get COVID insurance for not just their future projects hit for the industry at large. Amongst the first of their line-up to be covered is Taapsee Pannu and Tahir Raj Bhasin starrer ‘Loop Lapeta’, which is the Indian adaptation of the German cult film ‘Run Lola Run’.

In a chat, Atul said, “We are still in talks with a legal expert – Anand Desai of DSK LEGAL. What COVID insurance will essentially entail is the same as what an accident insurance covers. Insuring a film so far entailed guarding the film against unforeseen incidents like illness of an actor or occurrence of natural calamities leading to delays in the film schedule. Because COVID is relatively new, we are still working upon the details but essentially works in a similar fashion. For instance, a crew member tests positive, the entire movie crew might have to be possibly quarantined. In that case, the producers will be covered from the money they are spending on days lost.”

Kasbekar also says that the insurance will protect their crew members just as much. In case any of the key members of the crew test positive, they won’t be replaced unduly. “There are a lot of permutations and combinations to be worked upon. But one of the key things to keep in mind is that a fair number of people will potentially be exposed to a film set and filmmakers trust a certain set of people on the job. So, in case, the DOP of a film were to test positive mid-film, it is likely to stall the shoot of the movie till he recovers or till a suitable replacement is found in double quick time to retain the visual language of the motion picture. So there are these points being discussed. Tanujj and I are working on a draft of the insurance and hoping that it materialises soon.”

Loop Lapeta was to be shot through April and May in Mumbai and Goa. The film that will 70% be shot outdoors has had to rework its dates completely in the face of the lockdown, owing to the pandemic. Atul admits that the shooting schedule of the film stands tentative at the moment. “Given the fact that it’s largely an outdoorsy film, we cannot risk a shoot in the rains. Though Goa has opened up for tourists, the risk of shooting with a large unit is far too many. We can logically resume shooting the film post-monsoon. So if all goes well, sometimes post-Diwali is what we are eyeing.”