What dreams may come

Actress Raima Sen gives a sneak peak of her fantasy

It’s a dream bubble wrapped in a make-believe world where she holds conversations with her alter ego. In the real world,she would be instantly wheeled in for psychiatric intervention,but in the reel world,Raima Sen is enjoying the attention as she croons “Mere Khwabon Mein Jo Aye”. Due to release on February 6,this is Raima’s glamourous main lead entry into the year 2009. A fantasy flick,Mere Khwabon… has Randeep Hooda playing 18 different characters,“and he is my alter ego,my make-believe friend who helps me through my struggle to success,” tells Raima who plays a struggling singer married to Arbaaz Khan. So,the hubby doesn’t mind this ‘rukawat main khed’ Hooda? “Oh no. He’s an invisible character,an inner voice of sorts,inner strength,” she says. Seems like Vinay Pathak’s Patna Ka Presley act in Dasvidanya has rubbed off! Anyways,back to the script,Sen’s playing this small town girl with big singing star dreams. It’s her journey,and it’s her film. In fact,she sounds pretty upbeat about 2009 for “I have an interesting line-up this year,” she has her fingers crossed for Aparna Sen’s The Japanese Wife,Rituparno Ghosh’s Nouku Dobi with sis Riya Sen,Vinay Shukla’s Mirchi and Leena Yadav’s Teen Patti. “See,I’ve realised that to be a national hit,you have to shift base to Mumbai,” chirps Raima. After making a mark in Bengali cinema,Sen’s trying to break the guest appearance act and make her presence felt in Bollywood. While “publicity gimmicks of being linked up with every hero she’s worked with” still irks her,it’s the Mumbai magic she’s counting on. “Bengali cinema is a talent house,the roles are substantial unlike Bollywood and we have great scripts too,but when we talk big,nothing beats Bollywood,” she confesses,happy that she’s no longer compared to her talented grandmother Suchitra Sen. “I’ve proved myself,” she says. As for Sen senior,she prefers to keep the mystery alive by remaining away from the public eye. But it’s mum Moon Moon Sen who keeps a tight leash on daughters Riya and Raima. “She’s a Phd,and she wanted us to complete our education,study more and do something fruitful,you know,make our lives worthwhile. But I guess,we were in a hurry!” Raima regrets her hasty plans,so,instead,she makes it up reading voraciously,with her dog Tashi cuddled up in bed,and playing scrabble online. Like we said,what dreams may come!