Wanna be a brand name in Bollywood also – Rituparna Sengupta

An extract of an interview with Rituparna Sengupta by Rajnee Gupta

Rituparna is a well-known name in the Bengali film industry but she has been fighting for long to make her presence felt in the Bollywood. Launched in Bollywood with an emotional comedy, Main Meri Patni Aur Woh, Rituparna is now waiting for her forthcoming features. She shares few of her valuable moment with Rajnee Gupta telling how she is expectant with each of her upcoming projects.

Q. Do you still take yourself as an intruder in this industry (Bollywood)?
A. No. It’s how I used to feel previously but now the time is quite changed and I am also quite easy with the industry. Previously I had problems understanding the differences between Kolkata and Mumbai industries. Now I know that if I wish to be a part of any film in this industry then I would have to understand the industry first. So, I have set my mind in that way only. But don’t take it otherwise. I have not forgotten my Kolkata which is still my home. I am a brand name over there and I want the same status here also.

Q. That means you want to be a brand name in Mumbai, too.
A. Absolutely. People in Kolkata know me well for both commercial and arty films. I want to attain the same status here also. I think I can get it by a combination of my approach towards both commercial films as well as art films. I am trying my best.

Q. You did your first film in Hindi Main Meri Patni Aur Woh almost four years back and still you are struggling for your recognition. What do you think is the reason?
A. I have chosen the right film. But it’s not my fault that it didn’t work at the box office. Take for example, Gauri The Unborn which is based on the contemporary topic of abortion. It’s by R Mohan who made a hit like Chandni Bar. But Gauri didn’t appeal the audience. Besides a good production value the film had a star like Atul Kulkarni but it failed miserably. You can also remember Sirf which is a multistarrer with names like Manisha Koirala, Kay Kay Menon, Nauhid Cyrusi, Ranvir Shorey, Sonali Kulkarni and Parvin Dabas. Again I think that I chose a right film but it didn’t work. I think I have to be doubly cautious in choosing films.

Q. Don’t you ever think that despite being a National Award winner, you are wasting your energy in striving for a good role in Bollywood!
A. No. I don’t think that I am wasting my energy but I surely feel bad about that. Again, such thoughts stay for very short span of time. I must be happy that despite belonging to some other place, I am offered with so many films in this industry. I understand that success is the aftermath of struggle and it becomes ephemeral for people who get it easily.

Q. Most of your films show the problems with women. Is it merely a co-incident?
A. Even I don’t know it. Maybe my directors feel that I can portray such characters better. And not even in Mumbai, the Bengali movie, Trishna that I am doing now in Kolkata, is also showing me portraying several shades. It’s a bit like the John-Bipasha starrer Jism. My character in this film is named as Piyasha. Director thinks that only I can play that character.

Q. How did you react on getting the film Trishna?
A. I have already worked with this director but that character was not such a bold one. My character in this film demands both skin-show and acting ability. I am actually little grey shaded in this film.

Q. Item songs are quite an easy way to get a place in Bollywood. Why didn’t you try for any such number yet?
A. Because no one has yet offered me with it. If offered, I’ll definitely do item songs. I don’t think there is anything wrong in doing item songs.

Q. Have you marked any limit beyond which you won’t go for any character?
A. Yeah. I have drawn my own lines. I accept only those characters that appeal me the most and can satisfy the actor in me. I am not like other heroines who create tantrums with things like on screen kissing or appearing in bikinis. I think of honor in association with glamour. Dimple Kapadia has gone through most skin-showy characters but people still honor her.

Q. It’s very natural phenomena that audience take actresses like goddesses. Don’t you think that showing skin can hurt their feelings?
A. I don’t think so. But I am open to any kind of criticism if they feel like. I think criticism is good because it helps finding the faults in me.

Q. Which will be the recent release among your films?
A. It’s Warner Brothers’ SRK which is directed by Ajay Verma. It’s an emotional comedy. I am playing my best ever character in this film. My character in this film is named as Vidya who has to face few incidents for which she has never been prepared. The film starts with comedy and after a phase it turns into a serious film and again it touches the comic mode. I am working with Vinay Pathak in this film. Illaya Raja has given the music for this film while Gulzar has written the songs.

Q. What’s the expansion of SRK?
A. That is a secret. I cannot tell you about that. Only the film will reveal the secret.

Q. Tell us about your forthcoming films.
A. Karan Rajdan’s ‘Mittal Versus Mittal’, Anjan Dutta’s political thriller ‘BBD’, Shrinivas’ ‘Love Khichdi’, ‘Main Osama’, ‘Saab Chai Pani’, ‘Paroksh’ and ‘Dard-E-Disco’ are my forthcoming films. ‘Mittal Versus Mittal’ is based on marital rape. ‘Love Khichdi’ and ‘Dard-E-Dosco’ are out and out comedies. I am working as an airhostess in ‘Main Osama’ and in ‘Paroksh’ I am playing the character of an ambitious corporate woman. Divya Dutta is also working in ‘Paroksh’. Besides them I am also working in some Bengali films. Suman Mukherjee’s ‘Chaturango’ is one of them. It’s based on a novel by Rabindranath Tagore.

--SAMPURN