"I wish I had done more popular cinema in Mumbai" - Raima Sen on her career in Hindi films

It might come as a surprise to many, given how young actor Raima Sen continues to look even today, that she has actually amassed a career spanning over two decades. Belonging to film royalty, Sen is the daughter and granddaughter of the legendary Moon Moon Sena and Suchitra Sen, respectively.

But with all this time at the movies, Sen has done some of the best work in Bengali cinema while also making a splash in the Hindi film industry. Now, the actor is all set to play a journalist in the upcoming film, The Vaccine War.

In an exclusive at-length conversation with us, we asked the actor about an array of things ranging from how she feels about amassing such a career but feeling if she misses being in the quintessential popular category to her role in The Vaccine War, working with Vivek Agnihotri and other things.

Q. It might feel great for you as an actor to be having such a long and successful career. But at the same time, do you miss the mass appeal, or so to speak, the quintessential popular appeal that so many other actors probably have?

So basically, I feel that because I started with a film like Godmother in Bollywood, I think I just started getting movies along the same lines. I did Daman after that. So basically, that's what happened, because when you do your first film, I think people have that impression of you, which will last. 

And what happened in Bengal was that I started with one commercial film - like a popular film with song, dance, and everything. That was my first Bengali film. So basically here I enjoyed both the worlds, like masses and the classes, popular cinema and whatever they say, the cinema for the Intelligent. And in Mumbai, basically, I think after Godmother, I was only offered films like Daman and such ones. But then I happened to do one or two popular films like Parineeta and Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. and even Manorama Six Feet Under, which was ahead of its time. But I don't miss having that extra edge. Of course, as an actor, you have to be an all-rounder. And I wish I had done more popular cinema in Mumbai as well, because, of course, that popularity, you can only gain doing that cinema.

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I'm happy I've chosen this path because then I can see myself still being in filming, still working actively for the next at least ten years if not five.

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I've also lasted for so many years because I created a niche for myself in my own way. I think that's why I have such a long-standing career, and I still am actively working because I probably just created my own niche. In Mumbai, I did choose the best of what I got. So, I would choose the best two if I got five offers. So it was not like I was consciously deciding not to do this cinema or that cinema. I'm an actor who would do all kinds of cinema because I know the importance of being an all-rounder and doing everything. But I think I've only lasted because I managed to create a niche. Otherwise, you get burnt out in five years, and then you're nowhere. And then that, too, I'm based mostly in Calcutta. I have a house in Mumbai and keep going there when I shoot. But I think it's better too... I'm happy I've chosen this path because then I can see myself still being in filming, still working actively for the next at least ten years if not five.

Because I managed to keep it like this. You can't be overexposed, also. And then you also can't be there because I'm not living there. I'm not there physically. But I think people like, 'Oh, she does some good cinema, so let's call her. Like that.'

Q. Coming to Vaccine War, firstly, from the looks of the trailer, it seems like your character is designed to be like a journalist who is towards the sensation and TRP grabbing hound, which people, a lot of them, associated with the whole thing was happening. Do you think that is more so an apt representation considering the times that were at that point in time? Or it's more like a one-toned approach or something?

So, I spoke to Vivek Agnihotri about this. So, it is like - there are two groups of people. India can do it; India can't do it. There has to be positive, and there has to be negative. Somebody has to play both roles. You just can't have a positive film with no negativity and no facts. So there was, at that time, someone modelled obviously on me, on my character, who was probably trying to sabotage the situation. When he (Vivek) spoke to me, I was convinced about doing this role, which is not exactly positive, but I feel I was what I was doing as a journalist, what I believed in. I was trying just to be true to my work. Obviously, in the film, I believe in what I'm doing. It's not like I am purposely sabotaging everything. I believe in what I'm doing. There were women who believed in what they were doing. They were convinced. So I took up this role because I know that in his films, women play a very important role. And even my character is a very strong woman who believes in what she's doing. She's very convinced in what she's doing.

So I knew what I was getting into, the pros and cons, but he's also made me a strong character. So it was quite a challenging role, I would say.

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