For people in Calcutta, Laaga Chunari Mein Daag is the big Bengali release this Puja... (Laughs) Even for me it was very much a Bengali film with a big Bengali family on the sets. You know Pradeepda (Sarkar) is completely Bong. Then there’s me. Then there is Jaya Aunty. Then there is Koko (Konkona Sensharma). Then there is Shobbo (aka Sabya — Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Rani’s designer in the film). The music director (Shantanu Moitra) and sound person (Bishwadeep Chatterjee) are also Bengali. Then the co-producer, Dada’s wife (Panchali Sarkar) is Bengali, too. Not just that, Dada will converse with his non-Bengali crew strictly in Bengali. “Okhan theke ota shoriye de,” he will shout (laughs). Even while explaining scenes to us, he will do so in Bengali. So, for us too, it was very much like shooting a Bengali film. Dialogue-gulo shudhu Hindite.

It must have been crazy for the non-Bengali actors in the film like Abhishek Bachchan, Kunal Kapoor and Anupam Kher?

Yes (laughs). Whenever there would be a third character in the scene, say Anupam, he would say: “This is not fair. I am sure the Bengalis are acting better in the film because Dada is saying something extra to them in Bangla!” Really, we had a lot of fun while making the film. Wherever there are Bengalis together, there is bound to be lots of adda and lots of food. Lots and lots of maachh all the time. At one point, we used to have a competition as to whose maachh was better.

Did it help the film that all of you bonded so well? The warmth that you will see on screen is only because of the warmth we shared on the sets. Jaya Aunty, Koko and me play mother and daughters and so their closeness was very important and we were all so close in real life that it helped a lot. Laaga Chunari Mein Daag has turned out pretty well and now it is ready to go out of our hands. Ready after almost 11 months. We had started last November in Varanasi.

Rani Mukerji in Laaga Chunari Mein Daag

You are very picky about your films. What made you choose Laaga Chunari...? Whenever I choose to do a film, I look at two things. One, who is the director. Two, who is making the film. In today’s day and age it is very important who the producer is. You may have a fabulous script but if it is not made the way it should be made, then it’s not worth it.

This is not the first time you are working with Pradeep Sarkar... No, he has shot so many ads with me. He was integral in my decision to do the film. I have an excellent rapport with Pradeepda. We are like dada and chhoto bon. I am like a kid on his sets. He is very sweet. We have an excellent chemistry as actor and director.

It must feel special that the script was written with you in mind...

Not just me, each and every woman in the film has a mind of her own. And they are all so different women, Jaya Aunty’s character, Koko’s character and mine. When I was reading the script, I felt like I was part of a proper Hindi film after a long time. Yes it is woman-oriented, but it is also so much about the family. How a family lives for each other in this world. Personally, it has a lovely graph for me. From a girl to a woman. That’s why the full title of the film is Lagaa Chunari Mein Daag — Journey of a Woman.

Through this journey does your character become a different person or just adapt to situations?

Na na, ota aami bolbo na. You have to watch the film for that (laughs). But I can tell you it is very enjoyable for me to do a film where I can transform myself physically. When you will see Badki, Natasha and Vibhavari, you will hopefully see three different women and none of them is Rani Mukerji. And the credit for that goes to Shobbo, my make-up person and, of course, to Dada.

Is there a sense of identification because like Badki you had played a major role in your family’s fortunes?

No, no there is no such identification. Because in the film Badki is the first born in the family and she is pressurised to be the son of the family. As for me, I was the second born (after brother Raja). So there is no such common factor.

Whoever has seen rushes from the film says you have gone a step ahead of Black with Laaga Chunari... What do you feel?

Eshob Pradeepda bolechhe... (laughs)! See, whenever I do a film I do not think that this is going to be a great performance or anything like that. That is later for you and the audience to tell me. My biggest achievement is if and when the audience relates to the character that I am playing. I can’t tell which performance is better, Laaga Chunari or Black. That is your job (smiles).

(Which is your favourite Rani Mukerji film? Tell t2@abpmail.com)