Vardhan Puri on dealing with the pandemic: It has been challenging; I have lost a lot of my dear ones to Covid

Vardhan Puri, like many others, has lost his near and dear ones to the dreaded viral infection, Covid-19. The pandemic has been challenging for everyone across the globe and has especially taken a toll on those who have suffered personal losses. In an exclusive chat with ETimes, the actor shares the mental repercussions that the outbreak has had on people and the way it has changed him as a person.Excerpts…

How are you dealing with the pandemic?
Luckily, I am okay and my family is also doing well.
Do you think the pandemic has affected you or changed you as a person?
It has definitely changed me, a hundred per cent. It has been very unfortunate, gruelling and disappointing. But, I’m sure that we will get to learn something from this experience. The saddest part is that I have lost a lot of dear ones to Covid, they were my friends and family. It has been a challenging time and I hope it gets over very soon.
Go on…
I think I have changed as a person. Earlier I always needed people around me but now I am fine with being on my own. I have learnt a lot of new things such as cooking and gardening. I have also realised that health is wealth and have started taking care of myself more than ever. Now I understand what my elders meant when they told me about the importance of health.
Besides, I am also reading a lot and have become far more spiritual and philosophical. I have realised the true meaning of YOLO-You only live once. I came across Charhdi Kala in Sikhism, which means staying positive and knowing that this too shall pass, whether it’s good or bad. Moreover, you have to have humour in your life; you can’t take things so seriously all the time. Just give your 100% to the present.
What impact did losing your loved ones have on you?
It has created a lot of impact; as sad as it is, it’s also a learning experience. Life is too short and you need to value people. I have had fantastic relations with the people I have lost, but sometimes we get so engrossed in our daily lives that we forget to check on people around us. You think of calling them the next day, but that ‘next day’ never comes. Relationships are more important than anything. I felt so bad that I couldn’t talk to them for the last time. So, I will just tell everyone to value the people around them and tell them that.
What about work?
At the moment, I have just finished working on Vivek Agnihotri’s upcoming social comedy set against the backdrop of a nautanki and Parsi theatre. Apart from this, I have another film which I’m not allowed to talk about right now but you will hear about it soon. There’s a show that I am in talks for, which will air on an OTT platform. I’m also doing a lot of reading and writing.
Any message for the fans?
Just like our elders preach, "Jaan Hai Toh Jahan Hai", take care of your health and life. Without health, the world is meaningless. Life is empty and meaningless, you have to add meaning to it. So just keep finding yourself and your happiness, keep creating joy for yourself; the happier you are, the happier you can make others feel. So just stay positive.