Conjunctivitis conquers JHALAK!
If you see people lurking around the sets of Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa sporting black shades, fear not. It's no sleuthing squad put in place to protect the precious stars in there, but merely people trying to shield themselves from becoming victims of conjunctivitis that has been spreading like wildfire on the sets since the last few days!
Tapur Chatterjee, one of the first casualties of the infection, remarks, "I think I got it from my mom and initially didn't realise till my eye got bloodshot one day. I was rehearsing then. Thankfully, I do not like to use much eye make-up. The infection did not persist for more than three days. But those three days were really painful."
She further adds, "I also got viral fever at the same time, which left me all the more drained out. I was worried about my scores dipping, but thankfully, it being a slow dance round, I could manage well."
Cyrus, (who was unavailable for comment) was the next in line to fall prey to conjunctivitis only to pass it on to Jay Bhanushali, the heartthrob of Jhalak... He affirms, "I went through four panicky days with the infection. It gave me real grief. We have the final shoots of each episode on Saturdays, which happens after a technical rehearsal on Fridays. I got the infection on Tuesday and rehearsed with sore eyes, praying for the medication to work its wonder. I wanted to give a good technical rehearsal on Friday. But that day too, my eyes were in a terrible shape."
Jay tried convincing his choreographer to allow him to wear glares, (since it was a disco dance round), but he denied saying that it'd take the effect away. "So, I had to rehearse without the glares and was worried sick about the shoot on Saturday. But amazingly, when I woke up on Saturday morning, the infection was completely gone! It was a miracle," says Jay who is all praise for his teammates and choreographers for taking it sportingly.
"I was worried about people running away from me but they all took it sportingly and advised me medication. They really took good care of me. I was overwhelmed," he adds.
Apart from these three, quite a few behind-the-sets team members like production assistants and cameramen had to bear the brunt of conjunctivitis. Bu it is thankfully showing the signs of bidding adieu to the Jhalak... sets now.
