I could sense a shadow around me as I was reading the script of Teenanko: Mumtaz Sorcar

Tell us about your just released Bengali film Teenanko and upcoming one, Raktakarabi.

Well, Teenanko by Bithin Das sees me essay the role of Sohini, a young journalist, who has some paranormal experience and sets on a journey to find its root. She discovers another woman, way back in 1965, had fallen victim to similar supernatural events. Everything leads me (Sohini) to discover the tragedy of a woman being accused of witchcraft in 1890.

'Teenanko' is a horror flick that weaves the stories of different women from different times with a series of spine-chilling supernatural occurrences.
 
Amitabh Bhattacharya directed Roktokorobi will see me as Nandini. Nandini is a bespectacled modern girl who is more interested in politics and governance rather than fashion. The film is based on Tagore’s most complex work of the same name. Ace music director Debojyoti Mishra is in charge of the music.  Bengali stage and film actor Kaushik Sen will essay the pivotal role of Bisu Pagol.

Did you have any eerie experience while shooting for Teenanko?
 
While I was shooting with Shankar da [Chakraborty], at the Baruipur Rajbari, something odd happened. During the shoot of a particular sequence, we had to keep on retaking the shot because the 'dimmer' [a device to lower the brightness of light] was malfunctioning. Now, whoever works in films knows that something like that is not supposed to happen. We had to cut the shot. Director Bithin-da asked one of the spot boys to see what was happening. Curiously, there was no one near the 'dimmer' when this was happening. Bithin-da asked a production worker to manage the dimmer so that we could continue shooting. But as soon as he sat down next to the device,  it exploded. A new device had to be brought in and the entire shot re-set.
 
Earlier too I had an eerie feeling during the reading of the script of Teenanko.  In the initial stages, and I do not know if I was getting too involved with my role, but I would sense a solid shadow around me. Now, one may argue that it was a figment of my imagination, but considering the fact that my friend in my Mumbai flat felt an eerie sensation and a cold chill running down her spine, while I could sense the shadow, does raise questions.

You made your Bollywood debut with Saala Khadoos, which was simultaneously shot in Tamil and Hindi. And now you are shooting for the Telegu remake of the film. You must be feeling happy for being a part of a sports-based film, which gave you national recognition. 
 
Of course! Not only because it is a sports-based film, but the fact that I got to play the character in three different languages, which is an achievement in itself. I consider myself immensely lucky that I got this opportunity.

Interestingly, somehow or the other, sports has always been a lucky thing for me.

Boxing has been an integral part of my life. I am a trained boxer. It was boxing which actually gave me my first break, with Pritish Nandy Communication. The film, which, sadly never saw the light of day, was being directed by Soumik Sen, who would later go on to make Gulab Gang. They cast me in the movie because of my affinity towards sports and boxing. While it did not materialise, I went on to do Birsa Dasgupta’s 033 and my journey in movies started.
 
I guess boxing has been my lucky charm. As I forayed into Bollywood, it was again boxing which became a medium. Now that I was doing the Telegu remake of Saala Khadoos, it is again boxing which has taken me to the South.

Plus, the fact that I know boxing also means I can beat up people!

You are a trained boxer. So, if you were given the option of choosing either your or Ritika Singh’s character, which one would you have chosen?  

Lux any day. Even though Ritika’s character is central to the film, I feel it is Lux who gets to play with a wide range of emotions. Lux has a crazy career graph in the film and essays a variety of emotions. The character is more challenging and also acts as a catalyst in taking the plot forward.

Did you ever get bored of shooting the same film in different languages?

We shot for the Hindi and Tamil simultaneously. Doing the Telegu version has been like a déjà-vu.

Sometimes, it is a bit weird to do the same things all over again but the script is so real that one can effortlessly slip into the role. Besides, one has to realise that the audience in various corners of India are not the same. While the larger picture may appear similar, there are subtle nuances that keep on changing to make the film more appealing to the regionally diverse viewers. It is interesting to comprehend, realise and essay these nuances for the viewers, which makes the role more of a challenge.

In between shooting, did Ritika and you bond over ‘boxing'?
 
We did and we still do.

Ritika and I are like two peas of the same pod. Now that we are doing the film again in a new language has strengthened our bond as friends as well.

In Bengal film industry, sports films with a woman in the lead role, is not common.  ‘Koni’, a film based on the struggles of a female swimmer, was made in the '80s. After that we haven’t seen any such film here. What’s your take on this?
 
There is no concrete answer to this. It is interesting that you brought this up. Maybe it is a trend which is yet to catch up in the industry, or, maybe society at large is still not amenable to the idea. This is the time for experimentation, there are a lot of wonderful films that are coming up these days which deal with a variety of topics. Maybe, this is one topic that no one has delved into yet. Give it a little time for the idea to sink in.

Nowadays, when I visit sports arenas or training grounds, often I see that there are more girls or women training than boys. While women are winning gold or medals for the country, guys are more interested in going to the parlour and looking good. Times change.

Do you feel now that you have come out of your father’s identity and have built your own?
 
Yes and no. I guess it is a fifty-fifty situation, where indeed I am starting to carve a niche of my own, but what do you do when you are a sapling beneath a mighty banyan. Let me tell you, it is very difficult. But then again, I love it. It gives me immense pride that I am the daughter of the legendary P C Sorcar and that is one tag I never want to get rid of!

What are your dream roles and who are your dream directors?

Might sound silly but I want to work with all of them. Each character, each role, and each director brings something unique to the plate and the work of an actor is fulfilled when he or she is able to experience all those unique bits in life. Plus, it would be wonderful to have the bragging rights to say that I have worked with all of them!