COVID-19: My focus is now on curing patients, says doctor-turned-actor Ashish Gokhale

Mumbai, Apr 12 () Acting is his first love and will always remain so but in the time of crisis, doctor-turned-actor Ashish Gokhale is on 24x7 duty at a private hospital treating the coronavirus patients.

Gokhale was last seen on Sony TV's "Tara From Satara" in which he played Varun Mane, uncle to Roshni Walia's Tara. He has also acted in films such as Akshay Kumar's "Gabbar is Back" and a Marathi film titled "Mogra Phulaalaa".

Before he made his acting debut in 2015 with Zee TV's "Kumkum Bhagya", he was practising medicine in Maharashtra's Konkan region.

Five years ago, Gokhale shifted base to Mumbai where he started acting in both films and on TV, while straddling a job at a private hospital in suburban Juhu.

"Before lockdown I would go for shoots during day time and in the night I come to a multi-speciality hospital. I last shot for a TV show on March 14. I miss being on sets, the moment between 'roll camera and action' was magical.

"But I am in the role of Dr Ashish now. I don't have to take effort to be in this role. I have learnt it for five-and-half years and done practice too. Because of the coronavirus, I am into this 24x7. I want to save people. I want to help in curing this virus," Gokhale, 31, told in an interview.

The general physician-actor said the situation may be worrisome, but the best way to save oneself is to stay at home.

"Human brain is inborn negative, your subconscious mind is negative. But your conscious mind is positive. Earlier people would say they are busy in their lives and have no time for doing exercise or meditation.

"One can contain this virus if they stay indoors and take necessary precautions. Besides, this is the best time to analyse yourself, read and indulge in some hobby."

Gokhale said from March 24, the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the nationwide lockdown he has been working on round-the-clock shifts.

He believes today there is new found love and respect for the medical staff as they are risking their lives to save the common man.

But this might not last long, he added.

"Doctors are real heroes. They are the front workers today, they are risking their lives. Now the doctor is God. I remember whenever I would introduce myself as Dr Ashish, people would say not-so-good things about doctors.

"There is an opinion that doctors fool patients to undergo several tests just for money. It was a thankless job. After a few days when everything is sorted, doctors will again be treated the way they were earlier."

Gokhale said he pursued theatre in his student years but got into medicine because of his doctor parents.

The actor said his father was completely against his acting career but later allowed him to go to Mumbai, the city of dreams.

"He finally did give me permission to come to Mumbai and said 'I will have to grow on my own'. I told him, 'I will do both, in the day time I will act and during the night, I will be in hospital'," he recalled.

Days before the lockdown was announced, Gokhale said he was shooting for his to-be launched show "Kyu Rishto Mein Katti Batti", had wrapped filming for Marathi film "Lagna Kallol" and was on the verge of signing a web series.