Is there a cold War btw Indrani&Aman - Article

IS THERE A COLD WAR BETWEEN SUJATA AND AMAN VERMA?

I JUST DON'T INTERACT WITH HIM

Today, we might recognize Indrani Haldar as the protagonist from Sujata but this beautiful Bengali actress has come a long way. She made her acting debut as a child artiste in a Bengali television serial and is one of the few actresses Bengali cinema is proud of.

But that's not all – she has also shared a national award with Rituparna Sengupta in the best actress category in 1998, for the film Dahan. Well, it's more than evident that Indrani has scaled many heights rather soon in her career, but personally it hasn't been an easy ride for her.

Before Indrani got married to her present husband Bhaskar Roy, she had one broken marriage and one broken engagement behind her. She and her co-star Sanjeeb Dasgupta were engaged to be married but fell out. However, today, the actress has left the sour episode behind her as she embarks on a new career path.

ST: Despite being a known actress in Bengali films, why did she choose television over films when it came to the Mumbai industry?

IH: Actually, this is not the first serial I am doing. I have done a weekly mythological serial called Maa Shakti five years back with B.R. Chopra. After that, I decided to go back to Kolkata because five years back, television was very different from what it is today. But when I got a call from them again and I was told it was a serial for Sony and also a main lead, I didn't even think twice as I am very familiar with this company and this company is like my house.

I also wanted to come back to Mumbai, change my city in order to establish myself here, but I was not in the frame of mind to struggle, as I am already an established actress in Bengal. I wanted to make a shift from Tollywood to Bollywood and the way television is today, I think I have a good opportunity to do so now.

ST: Do not you think that making a debut in Bollywood is never easy and television actors are usually typecast?

IH: I feel if a person is talented, he or she will be spotted, come what may. I have done TV in Bengal too but besides that I have done 50-60 films. If any good director feels I have the potential, I will be considered despite the fact that I am working in television. I have come here with this faith and I have full confidence in myself. Furthermore, people have liked my work in Sujata and I'm sure it can help me to get into Hindi films. Well, at least I hope that happens.

ST: Your claim to fame here might be Sujata but the fact remains that she was never the original choice for the role.

IH: I know they were looking at many actresses for the role. Somebody even told me that Bhagyashree had been finalized for the role. But they have not discussed this with me and now I don't need to ask them either as the role is ultimately mine. So I am not interested in knowing who they wanted to cast and who they didn't. I am happy I got to play the role.

ST: She might be happy playing the role but whoever has seen the show would agree that the character of Sujata is regressive in many a way. She has often been referred to as the 'doormat' wife. To what extent does Indrani connect with her since she is also married?

IH: One thing is that Indian women are very decent and I do correlate with that. Maybe I wouldn't sacrifice all the time but I will certainly maintain some decency like her. Irrespective of what happens within my family, I would always stick to my husband and my in-laws; I would always be loyal to them. Sujata epitomizes the Indian woman in that sense. I don't think she is regressive. I think she is beautiful in her own way.


ST: Sources from the sets of the serial have informed us that Indrani doesn't really get along with co-actor Aman Verma at all and they don't even speak to each other.

IH: No, that's not true. We are very good co-actors. We might not be great friends but we do talk sometimes. I am busy but I do speak to my female friends on the sets a lot. I just don't interact with Mr. Verma. He's a wonderful actor, we look great together on screen and I guess that's what matters more than our personal equation. He's nice to me and I am nice to him, that's it.

ST: That means all those rumours are false?

IH: It's not like we don't talk. I mean, we stay in the same building so I do exchange a hello with him when I see him. We share a very formal relationship.

ST: The glamour quotient is a very integral part of the industry so doesn't she feel her gharelu image restricts her in many ways?

IH: Not at all. I am very Indian; maybe not like Sujata because I do wear western clothes. I have a very different kind of an image. Even though I wear modern clothes, I wouldn't go all out to expose. I am not the body-showing kinds. But I have done a lot of bold roles in my Bengali films so I have no qualms in playing a bold character, If I am convinced with the script and the character I would certainly do it. I am open to everything if I think I can justify the role.

ST: She has been happily married for a decade now but she has one failed marriage behind her. What went wrong on that front?

IH: I seriously don't want to talk about it. It's something, which is not of great consequence.

ST: Indrani was also once engaged to her co-star Sanjeeb Dasgupta but that too didn't end up too well.

IH: It's all bullshit and all rubbish. We were friends and we were thinking about something but my father passed away so… Plus it's not important because nothing important really happened there.

ST: What about her love story with her husband. How did she meet him?

IH: He was in Siliguri, a hill station in North Bengal. I was shooting there and was introduced to him by one of my co-actors. We liked each other and after a year of being together, our parents decided that we should get married. We've been married for nine years now. My husband (Bhaskar Roy) works for Air India.

He's a wonderful person and it's only because of his support that I am here today. Otherwise it would have been impossible to change my city. My husband is in Hyderabad at present and I am in Mumbai so he keeps coming and going and that's how we are leading our lives at present.

ST: But maintaining a long-distance relationship is not an easy task.

IH: Even though we meet once a month, we are constantly in touch through text messages and on the phone. And it hardly matters right now as he knows my career and this project is very important for me. He himself told me to go ahead and give this project everything. This is one of the reasons I took up the offer or else it would have been very difficult for me. Also, he is definitely trying for a transfer in the next six months, so after that, my life will be cool.

It was only after I got married to him did I get my national award. He is a big support for me. He doesn't have any hang-ups about anything. He doesn't take me as a celebrity but he respects my profession and never forces me to do anything.

ST: Do you have any regrets?.

IH: I do regret the fact that I didn't stay back here after I did my serial Maa Shakti. Today, I feel if I would have stayed back I probably would have been more established here. But I guess it's all part of life.


**BY RAEDITA TANDAN