I want to be someone with whom my fans can connect: Bangladeshi actor Nusraat Faria

Q. What is the difference you feel when you step into Kolkata now as compared to around 10 years ago?

A. I still feel like that small kid who was coming to Kolkata for a commercial and got selected in a film. I still feel the same nervousness everytime I land in Calcutta (Kolkata). It's not only about Calcutta but work. I am a workaholic, be it here or Dhaka.

Q. Were you always interested to be in films?

A. I never had an aim (to be in films). I always wanted to be an Army officer because my family has an Army background. My plan was either to be a housewife or an Army officer. Since I was fluent in speaking and debates, I was getting offers in hosting in BTV. I used to earn Rs. 500 per show back then. That's how my journey started and then I used to do small shows on different private TV channels. I had a grip in the hosting field because of my fluency in both English and Bengali. Then I finished my higher education which has always remained supremely important for me. Then a movie happened and I felt like giving it a try.

Q. When did you take acting seriously?

A. I always give 200 percent to everything I do in life, be it hosting or acting or modelling. When I had first signed a movie, I didn't work on anything else for nine months because I wanted to be exclusive on the screen. For me, it was a big challenge but I knew films were the thing I wanted to do. I wanted to see myself on big screens.

Q. How excited are you for the upcoming music video Bujhina Toh Tai?

A. The song is fantastic to me. I would say this has been my best work till now. I do songs out of passion. I listen to pop music in English and Hindi. So I often question why not make Bangla pop music? We are trying to make a scenario where our generation will listen to Bangla pop music too.

Q. Do you want to explore more on OTT since you have ventured into the medium as well?

A. Absolutely. I wanted to do more web films, which has created its own audience. Mine and Ankush's (Ankush Hazra's) project (Bhoy) was initially being made for the theatrical release but later it was sold to OTT because of the demand. So I am also aiming a bit more on OTT for the future. But I don't rush, I wait for the right opportunity.

Q. Do you fear getting typecast to gorgeous roles?

A. Yes, I have already been typecast and it's okay. Screen maturity is very important for an actor. Moreover a director's responsibility is to deconstruct an actor for various roles. I will look forward to working with directors who will take the risk to portray me in different roles. At this stage of my career, I am experimenting with my work every other day.

Q. You spoke about screen maturity. How much Faria has matured over the last 10 years?

A. I was a kid in 2013. Right now, I am more centred, I know what I am doing and aware of my ambitions. I don't waste my time now. I am very clear about my dreams and what I want to do in my life now. I think it comes with age and experience.

Q. You are not shy to share developments of your personal life on social media unlike various celebrities!

A. Most of the people, I feel, are not real to social media. But I am very real to social media. I am very true to my audience. That's why my fans adore and love me. I want to be a girl who will seem relatable.

Q. How do you react when you are judged on social media?

A. I can't make everyone happy. People will have their perceptions. Staying true to myself at the end of the day is the most important thing for me. Making happy is not the goal, making oneself happy is the goal because we can take the right decisions for our lives only when we are happy.

(Image Credit: SVF)