‘I eat,sleep and drink magic’

You are a trained boxer. What motivated you to take up such an unwomanly skill in a militant form of sport?
You said it yourself. I took it up precisely because we call it ‘unwomanly.’ I have always hated the idea of men being stronger than women. I believed in the physical superiority of men over women because men can fight. I wanted to be able to fight like men. That brought me to boxing. It began as a childish way of expressing my anger at this inequality. But it soon became my fuel that fed my confidence. Other girls joined me. They told me that I gave them the confidence to take to a sport that they fancied. Boxing gave me the feeling of responsibility towards other girls and it turned into a serious commitment for me.

How did you chance upon your debut film 033?
The director,Birsa Dasgupta,had seen my work in a couple of non-fiction films. The character of Riya was a bit off-beat and he felt I would suit the role. I was thrilled to act in a Bengali film that was really different. I was nervous because I was the youngest in the group of actors who were experienced and very good. It was a great learning experience for me. It gave me the confidence to face the camera and I matured as an actress in the process.

How did Musalmanir Galpo happen?
It happened like magic,seriously. One day the director,Pranab Chowdhury called me up. He asked me if I would be interested in doing the title role in a period film based on a Tagore story. When he read out the script,I was thrilled. I could not imagine being asked to portray a character as strong as any man. It was a dream role for any actress. The character demanded me to justify the strength and capability of women – physical,emotional and social. I read the original story and liked it very much. Besides,acting in a period film was a cherished dream-come-true.

You had to learn many militant skills for this role,right?
Right. The script demanded me to learn horse-riding,sword-fighting,lathi khela and a bit of fist-fighting. This opportunity became an added attraction for me. The whole concept and morale of the story is something I strongly believe in and live for. The fact that Tagore had written it was another part of the magic. I would wake up at four in the morning to learn and practise my skills under our trainer,go for make-up and then face the camera. It was gruelling work but I enjoyed it.

It is a period film. Did that not deter you since you are new to films?
You must be joking. I have always wanted to work in a period film where I would be called upon to prove my acting skills seriously. I wanted to do a film that conveys something more meaningful that dancing around trees and chased by the hero or be his arm candy.

What is the character you have played in Musalmanir Galpo?
Her name is Kamala. She is a young,beautiful village girl who lives with her uncle. She has no idea about the harsh realities of life,religion and society. When she is married to a man twice her age,her life changes forever. She is thrown in a situation where she is forced to fight her own battles. From the soft,naïve village girl,she transforms herself into a confident,strong and powerful girl,a mentor for women in plight. The story revolves around how Kamala becomes Meherjan,due to circumstances.

How is your role in Musalmanir Galpo different from your role in 033?
The two are completely different. 033 is an urban story that deals with problems faced by today’s young people. It focussed on the rock culture of Bengal. Musalmanir Galpo is a period film that is placed in a different ambience,social structure,time and place. It was much easier for me to relate to Riya in 033 than to Kamala in Musalmanir Galpo. Yet,both the characters reflect the reality of women in their respective times. Riya is a confident,modern and sophisticated girl who is more mature than her age shows. Kamala on the other hand,is a soft,village girl who can’t fend for herself and takes joy out of the simple act of putting colourful ribbons in her hair. The common factor that binds these two characters is that they both want to be independent and self-reliant.

How do you define the term ‘acting’?
‘Acting’ is a very light term because it does not really express the seriousness of the issues involved. One does not just ‘act’ anymore. One becomes the character for that moment. When I enact a given character,I try to become like her by trying to think and feel like her. It is a process always in flux,never constant.

What assignments are you currently working on?
Birsa Dasgupta’s Jodi Bolo Hai,Sukanta Roy’s Mahamaya,Subhrajit Mitra’s Rajbarir Rahasya,and some other films such as Kolkatar Jongoley and The Lost Treasure.