Author-filmmaker Tahira Kashyap Khurrana has been quite consistent with ‘The Lockdown Tales’ that feature short stories written and narrated by her on Instagram. Each story is a reflection on life in these difficult times when the world is grappling with a pandemic. Like her empathetic yet revealing gaze in her second short film, Pinni, which had come out in February, even these stories have heart and soul. The knack for storytelling, however, comes into force on Audible with ‘My Ex Breasts’ where she talks about battling breast cancer in the most inimitable way. In between binge-watching Money Heist and reading Sidney Lumet’s Making Movies, Tahira talks to THE WEEK about her life, work and more.
What was the idea behind doing ‘The Lockdown Tales’?
Honestly, it was not something that just came out... I never decided that during the lockdown, I am going to do this. I just felt that I have do so something that poses no harm. I also wanted to indulge myself in activities which can be constructive in many ways and I have done for the past many years. So, I took to baking and painting. Somewhere in between learning other art forms, my own thoughts and stories were taking shape in my head. Then I said ‘now I need to write these stories down’. Once I did that, there was a common thread running between a couple of stories that were related with COVID and the lockdown. Why not have a series where the commonality becomes the lockdown? But the essential part is that as long as there is humanity, we will always have stories. I just wanted to share those stories that each one of us would be living at some point or the other. The situations are very relatable, the characters are relatable. There is a lot of reality in the stories, but it’s really a figment of our imagination, inspired by some real life characters or some real life incidents, and I have sort of concocted my own stories around it.
Do you think it’s difficult for art to take a form in such times when we are surrounded by so much anxiety and uncertainty?
It is very difficult. It was not like I have to come out with the best story, or the best video, or some earth-shattering film script. My understanding of this problem is that nature wants us to take it easy. Nature wants us to take a few steps back and contemplate, introspect and think about our actions… and then come back. I was trying to ease myself. I was trying to settle myself with positive thoughts, and I was using other constructive means, like painting. Apart from maintaining isolation and being under quarantine, the only thing we can do is try to maintain a happy life. The everyday struggle doesn’t go away [with it] and it used to be very overwhelming. So I stopped looking at it till the evening because it was the same thing. There were so many perspectives that it really gets to you. Of course, that’s the reality. I am listening to the news, but I am not letting it bog me down. I am maintaining my calm, and I think it is in the effort of maintaining this calm that you can also relate to the struggles of the people under lockdown. I think the reason that I can write from empathy is because, probably, a part of me is feeling the pain and the struggle that everyone might be going through. So to answer the question, whether writing in anxiety helps or not—I think pain and sadness and anxiety… it really pushes a writer to write definitely and the lockdown really has pushed me to write these stories.
You have been practicing Buddhism for a long time now. How do you think having a spiritual core and belief helps you, whether in these time or say in the times when you battled cancer recently?
I have always been spiritual, but my perspective was a little different. I used to view life as a struggle, that once I am born, I have to do my stuff, and get over with it. My perspective towards life changed after I started chanting almost four years ago. It has been truly transformational; a major reason why I could endure cancer with the attitude I did. It’s not that problems did not come to me. They did. But the positive perspective really came from the best of my being. I felt like being positive and happy. During these times, there are lows, but the awareness is there to look at the positives.
During these times, what are the conversation between you and your partner, Ayushmann Khurrana, like? Do you discuss the significance of art in the long-term, after we come out of this phase?
Yes, of course. The [growing concern around] economy does bother us. But we take reassurance in one thing that you know everything will settle down. I think art is one form, which is a potential form of happiness for everyone. We are very fortunate to be artists because this way, I feel we have the inherent responsibilities of spreading happiness around us and we can do that. Of course, we do talk about the art, the economy and finances but we don’t let it be the major part of the functioning of our house and of our conversations. We have started cherishing life. Earlier on, all of us, including my children, had a routine. Because of the lockdown, there is a corner in the house with a sofa that we had never used, but now every evening we have our evening tea there. This has come to teach us something and let’s us absorb and learn during this time.
You are also working on your fourth book, The 12 Commandments of Being A Woman. How is it coming along?
I am in the process of writing. I had just announced that I will be coming out with a book, but it looks it will be out sooner than later because there is so much time to write. It’s an ode to the idiosyncrasies and the quirkiness that we women have. At some point of time, I have heard stories from very stereotypical lenses. We feel it’s only about injustice, inequality, unhappiness and protest. It’s not about taking away these issues. Of course, these issues exist and that’s why we are addressing it. But there is more to a woman’s personality, there are multiple facets. We do have immense courage, a funny side, a quirky side. I am addressing all that in the book.
Have you been able to follow the usual routine that was in process before the lockdown?
Before the lockdown, everything was quite robotic and automated—the time for everything was set, kids going to school, coming back from school. I used to schedule my meetings accordingly. Everything had to be wrapped up by 7, so that I could be back home by 8 to be with the kids. Everything happened as per a schedule. Now, I don’t need to slot my life into a timetable. But having said that, I do have a fluid timetable in the most pleasant way. I am not beating myself up though for completing everything. Instead, I have slowed down the pace. Even in these times, if we are going to be anxious and working like maniacs, then there is something that we need to think about.