As more and more celebs are contracting the virus, the entertainment industry is in doldrums once again, reminding us of the harrowing times in 2021

Mona

just as things were looking better, lockdowns were lifted, and life seemed normal once again, along came the Omicron variant.

The sudden spike in Covid cases during the past few days has hit the entertainment industry yet again. Sad but true, the third wave of Covid is here and showing its impact. The only sign of relief is that most of the reported cases have mild symptoms.

Celebrities turning Covid positive

Several celebs, including Arjun Kapoor, Rhea Kapoor, Nora Fatehi, Mrunal Thakur, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Amrita Arora, Seema Khan, Maheep Kapoor, Shanaya Kapoor have tested positive for Covid. John Abraham and his wife Priya and Ekta Kapoor are the latest celebrities to have fallen prey to the virus.

Taking to his Instagram Stories on Monday (January 3), John Abraham wrote, “I came in contact three days ago with someone who I later learnt had Covid. Priya and I have tested positive for Covid. We have been quarantined at home, so haven’t been in contact with anyone else. We are both vaccinated and experienced mild symptoms.”

TV actor Nakuul Mehta, his wife Jankee and their 11-month-old son Sufi, have now contracted the deadly virus. Jankee took to her Instagram account and wrote, “We rushed him in the middle of the night to the hospital when his fever crossed 104.2 & what followed were very hard days in the Covid ICU with my baby boy…” Producer Ekta Kapoor is also Covid positive as she shared a note on Instagram on Monday that read, “Despite taking all precautions I have tested Covid positive. I am fine and I request everyone who has come in contact with me to please test themselves.”

Veteran filmmaker Rahul Rawail, known for directing movies like Betaab and Arjun, has also tested positive and is in home quarantine. There were reports that the 70-year-old director contracted the virus last week. On the global level, actor Hugh Jackman, footballer Lionel Messi, BTS members RM and Jin, are currently in home quarantine after testing Covid 19 positive. Meanwhile, BTS member Suga has announced his recovery from Covid.

Life stops for a while

Reports suggest that the crew members of Gehraiyaan have tested Covid positive due to which the team is likely to postpone a promotional campaign. Another award function which was scheduled in Mumbai for January 10 has been cancelled. Meanwhile, two other music events have taken the virtual route.

Jersey, RRR pushed

Shahid Kapoor and Mrunal Thakur’s Jersey is one of the first films, after second wave of Covid to have pushed its release. Even director S.S. Rajamouli’s eagerly awaited epic RRR starring Jr. NTR, Ram Charan, Ajay Devgn and Alia Bhatt, which was scheduled to release on January 7 has been put on hold. Reportedly close to Rs 18 crore was spent on pre-release promotions of RRR, which now seems to be a waste.

Global slowdown

The producers of Mrs. Doubtfire will pause performances of the musical until March 14 as the show struggles to find a way to survive during the Covid-19 re-surgency that has imperilled Broadway’s tentative recovery.

The show’s producers didn’t mince words when they described the financial stakes that lie at the heart of their dramatic decision to take a nine-week hiatus.

“The first few months of a brand-new Broadway show are an extraordinarily delicate and important period of time.

With the pervasiveness of the Omicron variant of Covid-19, Mrs. Doubtfire would have to close permanently if the production didn’t take drastic, pro-active measures,” Kevin McCollum, a producer on the show, said in a statement. IANS

In the lighter vein

R&B singer Omarion has responded to the Covid jokes that have been circulating online, the B2K member playfully reminded his fans that he’s “an artiste, not a variant.”

Making use of TikTok, he shared a video of him wishing his followers a Happy New Year. “Hi everybody, this is Omarion. I am an artiste, not a variant,” he first quipped.—IANS