Interview : Sushmita Sen sans glamour in

Interview : Sushmita Sen sans glamour in 'Chingari'
Feb 04, 2006

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So far touted as the glamour queen and as the ravishing lady of the screens, Sushmita Sen is on her way to get the fame of being one of the fine actresses of Bollywood with Kalpana Lajmi's 'Chingari'. She does films that suit her sensibility very much like her surname, with every grain of her performance speaking about her beauty and intelligence. In 'Chingari' she does what she has never done before, play a prostitute Basanti. Looking very much like her character and pulling a brilliant performance, she tells us in this interview her take about the film.

Excerpts from the Interview:

Why did you choose to do the film 'Chingari'?

The film has been actually written by Bhupen Hazarika and Kalpanaji was for long toying with the idea to make the film. She approached me with just a brief of the film and I had no hesitation to accept it all at once. Even before she narrated me the climax I gave her my 'yes'. The character of Basanti touched me from the first instance. I started feeling spiritual hearing about Maa Kali and Maa Durga who are essential in the film. I feel that this film is my tribute to goddess Maa Kali. I don't believe that this film is for me, I believe that it is for the goddess.

This is a film sans your glamour part. How did you manage the take?

The film was very realistic and is set in a rural place and moves round the lower strata of the society. We went to shoot in Satara, Wai and Panchagani. The film demanded me to appear as natural as I can and reflect more on the character of Basanti. That is because Basanti was not easy to play with her language, lifestyle, rules and her profession of a prostitute. Thankfully while shooting I just glided through the role. I was so much awed by the character that portraying it became very easy for me. Kalpanaji with her accuracy and details made the job easy for me. I just slipped into the character.

Can you in brief tell what the story is all about?

This is a woman-oriented film touching the emotions and feelings of woman universally. The film is about the profession of prostitution. The story is about a small innocent female child from her early stage of life to her journey to womanhood. But she turns out to be Chingari at last. It's an intense and heavy film emotionally.

How did you feel working with veteran actress like Ila Arun and Mithun Chakraborty?

This is for the first time I was working with them. Ila Arun left me dumbstruck with her performance of an owner of a brothel Lal Batti. Her diction of rural language was so accurate that it went to refine me too. It added smoothness to my delivery. Mithun da is superb in the film. I was looking forward to work with him and the opportunity came with this. He just leaves his mark with his performances.

What about Anuj?

He is a newcomer in the industry. He was very enthusiastic and optimistic throughout the film and had worked hard. He is so much a child. Director Lajmi has given him a very good role. She molded him to appear the best.

How did you feel working with Kalpana Lajmi?

Owing to my glamorous image I just couldn't understand initially why Kalpanaji approached me for the role. But she had the confidence in me to bring out something innate from within. I didn't know how I could essay such a difficult role but her faith on me was a kind of ray of hope. She made me look like a Basanti, Maa Kali and Durga. She has brought out of me one of the finest performances of my career, which can never be forgotten.