Kajol, Riddhi Sen promote Helicopter Eela in Kolkata

Kajol was accompanied by national award winning actor Riddhi Sen, Tota Roy Chowdhury and director of the film Pradeep Sarkar at the promotional event.

Speaking about portraying the role of a single mother in the film, Kajol said: "I think the character is new because I haven't portrayed this kind of a over-paranoid, over-enthusiastic mother. I have seen in real lives but never portrayed onscreen."

The film is based on Gujarat play Beta, Kaagdo, which has been written by Anand Gandhi.

Riddhi, who had won the national award for best actor for film Nagarkirtan, said she was a big "admirer" of Kajol for the kind of human being she is.

The 20-year old actor played the role of Kajol's onscreen son in Helicopter Eela.

When asked about her working experience with the Dilwale actress, Riddhi said: "It is wonderful. When one works on a set for 50-60 days, he takes back certain memories. So I took back so many amazing memories for the kind of human beings I was introduced to. I was always a huge admirer of her (Kajol) as a human being.

"She is what she is and that's is known to everybody. That's what I loved about her. When I saw her in a close proximity, I was really impressed by her. I am a huge fan of the human being she is."

Riddhi made his Bollywood debut with Kahaani in 2012. He played a significant role in Radhika Apte-starrer Parched, which released in 2016.

Throwing light on Kajol's character, who tries to take account of everything her son does, director Sarkar said: "All mothers are like helicopters which hover. But when all will watch the film, they will realise why they (mothers) do it and how much they love their kids."

Illustrating his working experience with Sarkar, Tota said: "I learnt that frame is holy and sacrosanct to him (Sarkar). Nothing is holier than frame to him. He use actors for storytelling. This is the one lesson that I have learnt from him."

Kajol is returning to Hindi films after three years. She was last seen in superstar Shah Rukh Khan starrer Dilwale, which was directed by Rohit Shetty.

On returning to the city for film promotions, the 44-year old actress said: "I am very excited to be here like I usually am. Whenever I come here, I always feel like I landed home. I don't know, there is a feeling about the city, about the people in it. There is a certain warmth in the city. They (people of the city) look at one with so much love and familiarity. I always feel very much at home here. "

Helicopter Eela is scheduled to release on Oct 12.

(Reporting by Souvik Ghosh, images by Avishek Mitra/IBNS)