SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2016 (PAGE-4) BOLLYWOOD BUZZ PERSONALITY "Great honour to be compared with Suchitra Sen" Weaving high hopes Raima Sen Dev Burman is setting a record ferent individuals who never meet. What they have in common is this desperate desire to make it big in Bol- with ‘Kachcha Dhaga’ of sorts with her balancing act between lywood. The character I play is ready to bend every Bollywood and Kolkata. Where does rule in the book, to bend over backwards to pay any she find her comfort zone? How does price to find her place in Bollywood. How do you react to comparisons with she pick and choose between and your grandmother Suchitra Sen? among films? On the eve of the I consider it a great honour when people point out how closely I resemble her. So far as comparison in release of her Hindi film Bollywood acting styles go, I do not feel any pressure or take it Diaries, she talks about her career either as an advantage or as a disadvantage because things are very different now in terms of the kind of with Shoma A. Chatterji. films that are made, the kind of acting that these films demand, the directors who make different kinds of Why does one see you less frequently in films and their approaches, etc. So there is no point Bollywood films than in Bengali films where in comparisons. The style of acting is very different you often have back-to-back releases? from what it used to be when my grandmother was There are many reasons. I do not care for audi- leading lady. She was a great actress in her time. tions and never go for them. I do not have a P.R. per- Which of your grandmother's 60-and-odd son, a manager or even a secretary that is manda- films you love watching? tory if you are working in Mumbai. I never had Harano Sur (Bengali), Aandhi (opposite Sanjeev these people managing my career. I am not Kumar, Hindi) and Saat Pake Bandha (a Bengali film a go-getter and perhaps lack the killer that won her international award). The films are eter- instinct needed to breast the tape first. nal and incurably romantic and she is just so beauti- Basically, I am very lazy. ful and brilliant in all these films. So far as my moth- Then how do you land films in er's (Moon Moon Sen) films go, I love Andar Bahar Bollywood at all? in Hindi and Tumi Kato Sundar in Bangla. The most surprising thing is that I When you are offered an assignment, what still work in Bollywood and am called criteria do you use to say 'yes'? for good assignments in significant The role is the top criterion and the rest come lat- films. I never go out of my way to get Adrija Shukla, Nidhi Nagpal into the jacket, what appeals to eyes is a er. The character must be significant in terms of its design inside it.”, he says. People feel these roles or films. Besides, Bollywood is a positioning and visual presence, not necessarily in A thread and a needle can create mil- designs are one of their own kind. He much larger industry than the Bengali terms of the footage. An intelligent director and a good lions of designs together on a cloth. Each recalled the time when someone wrote in film industry. So, my Hindi film releas- script come next. An intelligent director can work ide- of them begins with a stich. ‘Kachcha Dha- visitor’s book, “each piece says so much.” es happen once in a while. For example, ally with the script and can draw the best out of his ga’ comes from the concept of this stitch Kachcha Dhaga currently provides Children of War released 18 months back actors. I have just done a film directed by Kamalesh- that is formed by amalgamating the employment to 30 women from the vil- and Kaagaz Ke Phool released a year back. war Mukherjee and I believe he is a fabulous director threads of passion and dreams. The organ- lages of Tindi and Chakrohi. The women Now you have Bollywood Diaries that is also because he is a brilliant actor. It is an untitled film isation comprises of people who weave associated with the organisation mainly why you see me less frequently than you see of triangular love where I play Prosenjit's sophisticat- their destinies by filling lives with happi- come from the lower income groups. They me in Bengali films. ed wife and Paoli Dam plays the other woman. ness. also organize workshop to teach their style What kind of actress would you say If asked to pick your personal favourites Kachcha Dhaga is a social enterprise of to the women. Renu, who Mr. Sethi’s part- you are - a spontaneous actress, a direc- from the films you have already done which Jammu that is a confluence of passion and ner coordinates these workshop, is defi- tor's actress or a trained actress? ones would you mention? art, which empowers many women from nitely the backbone of this enterprise. “We I am a director's actress. I need the direc- Among my Bengali films, my favourites are - the far flung areas of Jammu Villages. Chokher Bali and Noukadubi directed by Rituparno want to make their lives better”, she said. tor to guide me. My work shows excellent There is something unique about the results with good directors. Fortunately, I have Ghosh, Bastushaap and Shobdo directed by Koushik The garments produced by Kachcha apparels of this organisation. The weaving worked with some of the best directors both in Ganguly, The Japanese Wife directed by Aparna Sen Dhaga are high end products. That hap- done on each piece speaks volumes about Mumbai and in Kolkata ranging from Rituparno and Abby Sen directed by Atanu Ghosh. So far as my pens because each piece takes days to com- the amount of efforts that goes into its Ghosh through Vinay Shukla, Aniruddha Roy Bollywood films go, I would tick Honeymoon Travels plete. “People don’t believe the products making. Choudhury, Anjan Dutt, Sandip Ray, Srijit Pvt Ltd directed by Rima Kagti, Mirch, directed by have been made by hands. We never com- Elegant colour combinations with enig- Mukherjee, Koushik Ganguly, Reema Kagti and Vinay Shukla, Children of War directed by Mrityun- promise on the quality of raw material”, matic patterns on the clothes make the view- Kalpana Lajmi. I have learnt from each of them. jay Devrat, Parineeta directed by Pradeep Sarkar and said Mr. Sethi. An admirer of Kantha art- er curious to see the design closely. But these I really work well if there is a good director who Bollywood Diaries. work, Mr. Sethi believes in the magic that ideas come to Bhisham Sethi, who is an NRI, knows how to draw the best out of me. What are your current assignments in simplest form of handmade stitches create out of the simplest things of daily life. Suf- You have played a prostitute in Bolly- Mumbai? on the cloth. He says that to preserve an fering from a rare spinal cord disease, that wood Diaries. How did you find the expe- One is called 3 Days with a multi-starcast with art, valuing artist is equally important. doesn’t have a cure, he is on a wheel chair. rience? Kunal Roy Kapoor, Ravi Dubey, Karan Grover, Tisca Kachcha Dhaga is Mr. Sethi’s dream Chopra, Kay Kay Menon and Prosenjit. It is sched- His passion for fabrics and love for colours It was a lovely role because it was full of hope. project that took shape of a social enter- uled for a May release. Another film which marks the takes him into another world. “My pockets The red light area does not feature in the film. prise. His love for work was visible in his directorial debut of Rana Bhatia called Ishq Kabhi got torn by getting entangled into this wheel- Sonagachi, the famous red-light area in Kolkata, shining eyes when he showed his creations. Kariyo Naa in which I have a significant role. chair, so, I have come up with the idea of is the backdrop I belong to and this is just a frame This thread of aspirations has woven the Which directors do you look forward to pockets on front side of Kurtas”, he said. of reference. I loved to work with K.D. Satyam dreams of Mr. Sethi and many women of work with in the near future? Mr. Sethi says that you can cherish what and I also loved the story. Bollywood Diaries Jammu villages together. In 5 years down Mani Ratnam, Vishal Bharadwaj, Anurag Basu you wear when you feel free in it. “During chronicles three separate stories about three dif- the line, he aims to transform his organi- and Anurag Kashyap. (TWF) the time of light breeze when wind blows sation into world class trendsetter. BEAUTY TIPS HEALTHLINES Time to detox your hair Embryonic screening for detecting genetic disorder Dr Kshitiz Murdia wrap 3 or 4 times. This helps the hair and scalp absorb the oil better. Avoid When Sameera (38) had experienced vigorous massage and rubbing when multiple IVF failures, her gynecologist you apply oil. Keep the oil on overnight and wash hair the next day, using a mild advised the couple to opt for IVF along herbal shampoo. Avoid very hot water. with preimplantation genetic diagnosis After shampoo, wrap a towel around the head and allow it to absorb excess (PGD).