Personal experiences enrich an actor, Covid pandemic did that to me: Surangana Bandyopadhyay

Q. After working with Indraadip Dasgupta, now Anirban Bhattacharya. Can we safely say that you are ticking all the boxes you wanted to?

A. I didn't set any goal for myself. I just wanted to do or get associated with quality works and I am very lucky that it's happening. After the pandemic, I was insecure about getting film offers. But the fact that I am able to remain associated with my industry is the biggest thing for me right now.

Surangana Bandyopadhyay in Ballabhpurer Roopkotha | Image Credit: Facebook/Surangana Bandyopadhyay

Q. Which element in your character (Chanda Halder) had attracted you?

A. The character is much different from me. My role, which carries tradition, is a hopeless romantic unlike me who is much more objective and practical in real life. I couldn't connect as such to the character but I liked her simplicity with elegance.

Q. In an earlier interview with India Blooms, you had said singing was your first love and later you learnt acting. You have starred in two back to back prominent films. How do you assess your acting and singing now and do you struggle to balance the two?

A. I try to balance between the two by constantly working on the craft. I assess whether I am being able to give equal importance to both. In terms of work, I am right now not in a position to even think of balancing, I can only say that when I will be extremely busy. I am happy with the kind of work I am being offered and hopeful to educate myself more in my craft with time.

Q. You seem to speak with well constructed sentences. Do you follow the same organised method when it comes to your career?

A. I am always slow and steady by nature but have always considered myself inarticulate while I speak. I rather like to see what unfolds in the future. I can't work with a plan. I like to work on myself and get educated but not by setting any target. I just want to be associated with quality works. Moreover, I am very lazy and prefer to wait for quality work. 

Surangana Bandyopadhyay (L) and Satyam Bhattacharya (R) | Image Credit: Avishek Mitra/IBNS

Q. How do you judge roles when you are offered?

A. In every profession, one has to do certain works considering the remuneration and some for the sake of love.

Q. You were extremely active in Covid relief centres, especially during the second wave. How did the pandemic evolve you as a person and an artist?

A. I had insecurity about work even before the pandemic because the number of films in my hand was less. But surprisingly, I have been a part of one or two films after the pandemic. I had tried to educate myself in all spheres during the Covid phase. Real life or personal experiences always enrich an actor. Witnessing people's suffering closely during the pandemic has perhaps changed me to some extent as an actor or an artist.

Q. Coming back to Ballabhpurer Roopkotha, did director Anirban Bhattacharya impress you more than his acting self?

A. I have always been a fan of Anirban Bhattacharya for the kind of person as well as an actor he is. But if I am given an option, I will choose him as a singer. He is an outstanding singer. I can ignore all his abilities to just listen to his songs.

(From L to R) Surangana Bandyopadhyay, Anirban Bhattacharya and Satyam Bhattacharya | Image Credit: Avishek Mitra/IBNS

Q. Were you pampered on the set for being the youngest member?

A. Anirban-da deals with everyone professionally keeping aside the age factor. But yes, I have been specially taken care of since I was the youngest member. Of course there is an advantage of being the youngest member on the set. I have never been scolded by Anirban-da (laughs).