CBFC may think that I am setting a bad example in the society:Swastika Mukherjee

How are you feeling standing in front of the showcases displaying various kinds of jewellery?

Honestly, feeling very greedy. The greedy self of mine is actually coming out. I am feeling as greedy as any other woman would, seeing these jewellery.

What kind of jewellery do you like?

I like heavy jewellery. Yes, it is convenient to wear and carry the sleek ones but when it comes to the question of wearing, I would go for the heavier ones.

Your film 'Shaheb Bibi Golaam' is set to release this Friday. Tell us something about your character in the film?

I think she is a woman of the present generation. She is a mother, a housewife and also a daughter-in-law. She actually wants to do something for herself. Like all women she also lives for someone else,be it her husband, family, kids, in-laws.That gives rise to the question as to how much she lived for herself and gave priority to her own interests. Women and their desires are never talked about in any film, in society or in public. It is a kind of taboo that women can't speak about sex and sexual desires or fantasies. So this film deals with all these issues. It is an entertaining commercial film without any intellectualism.

This means the film is dealing with liberalization of women?

Of course it is. Emancipation of women and an achievement of sense of freedom have been portrayed.

What is the present scenario of liberalization of women in our society?

Zero.

So do you think this film is going to encourage the society towards liberalization?

See, a single film cannot encourage the society or do everything. It is a long process. If we go to a public gathering and interact with people, we can understand that liberalization of women does not exist. We just talk a lot about equality in the social networking site but unable to incorporate the same in our lives. These issues have been raised in literature and films many a time,which are but small steps towards the greater goal. So is 'Shaheb Bibi Golaam.'

From 'Take One' to 'Shaheb Bibi Golaam', censor board is very strict on your bold scenes. How would you react to it?

Yes, maybe censor board thinks I am setting a bad example in the society.

What suggestions CBFC gave on 'Shaheb Bibi Golaam'?

Actually, they wanted to delete my character (Bibi) from the film. Their point of view was why should a woman leave her home and take such a bold step. They wanted a woman should feel guilty of having multiple relationships. I think censor board is allergic towards  women who don't apologize. I think, according to them, women can do anything in the outside world but must be answerable and feel guilty.

You had acted in lot of bold scenes throughout your career. How do you feel as an actor when those scenes are chopped off from the films by the censor board?

Frustrating, very frustrating. Actually directors and producers fight with the board. So during shooting those bold scenes, I always remain fearful of the future of those scenes till the time the film gets the certificate.
 
You are working both in Mumbai film industry as well as in the Tollygunge film industry, right now. How are you balancing both and where would you like to concentrate in the coming years?

I want to concentrate on both, so I end up traveling a lot between Mumbai and Kolkata. In Bollywood it is like starting from the scratch and in Tollywood I do not want to repeat myself considering my position here.


(Images by Avishek Mitra/IBNS)