Put film production on hold after Sonali's illness, says husband Goldie Behl

Filmmaker Goldie Behl says he put on hold all his big-screen ventures after actor-wife Sonali Bendre was diagnosed with cancer in 2018, and now wants to focus telling stories on the digital platforms. Behl, who made his digital debut with ZEE5's "RejctX" last year, said going to New York for Sonali's treatment for six months, was life-altering for the family.

"The film slate has not been affected by COVID-19, I have put it on hold for the moment. I am focusing more of my energies, ever since 2018, after I went to New York with Sonali, it was a life altering situation for all of us. I have decided to focus more on the digital platform. So the film slate is on pause right now, but because of my own decision and not COVID-19," Behl told PTI.

While several film and TV shoots came to a grinding halt due to coronavirus, Behl finished the second season of his ZEE5 show "RejctX" just in time. The director was shooting in Thailand "right in the middle of the pandemic" but is glad everything wrapped up before the threat of Coronavirus took over.

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"Season two was quite challenging because we were trying to amplify thrill, plot and pace. There were a lot of physical challenges as we were shooting. The pandemic grew as we were shooting and a lot of precautions were taken on set. Fortunately we were in a country that had dealt with SARS so they were very well equipped to handle even this right at the beginning, when we did start shooting," he added. 

With the world coming to a standstill and the rising market of digital streaming platforms, there's a growing concern if the coronavirus pandemic stands to alter the audience's habit of viewing a movie in a cinema hall. Behl said theatrical cinema has battled against several formats and has still emerged stronger.