Raima Sen at Taj Bengal. Picture by Aranya Sen

She has done a fair share of light-hearted roles (Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd and The Bong Connection). Now, Raima Sen wants to focus on romantic leads only. t2 caught up with Moon Moon Sen’s firstborn on Saturday before she rushed home to have dinner with her Amma (Suchitra Sen).

What’s keeping you busy in Bollywood?

I am doing a romantic film called Mere Khwabon Mein Jo Aaye with Arbaaz Khan and Randeep Hooda. I play Maya, a married woman with a daughter. Arbaaz plays my husband. Maya is a home-maker in the beginning, then there’s a sudden transformation in the second half. She becomes a singer and meets Randeep and her life changes completely.

You play a mother in Aparna Sen’s The Japanese Wife too. Are you comfortable in such roles at your age?

See, I don’t have a problem playing a mother if the role is convincing. Besides, I have had my share of playful, bubbly characters. This year I want to look my character. And after a long time I have a lead role in Mere Khwabon Mein Jo Aaye. The story revolves around me and I am happy to do the film. Arbaaz and Randeep are great to work with. There is a lot to learn from them.

What about Sachin Yardi’s C Company with Tusshar Kapoor?

That’s complete; I am dubbing for it now. That’s again a comedy and it’s hilarious. I play Priya, Mithun’s (Chakraborty) younger sister. In this film too I’m in a solo lead. There’s Anupam Kher and Rajpal Yadav too. It was a lot of fun working with them.

How was Mithun to work with?

Oh, it was great! This is the first time I worked with Mithun. He is a don in the film who speaks awful English. His dialogues are the funniest. There’s a scene where he is supposed to hug Tusshar and me without saying anything. But he came up and said “huggies”, stretching his arms. The entire unit burst out laughing! He is too good and such a gifted actor. People in Mumbai respect him a lot. The entire unit, from the spot boy to the producer, is his fan.

What about Tollywood?

Frankly, nobody has offered me anything. Rituda (Rituparno Ghosh) wanted me to do Bipasha’s (Basu) role in Shob Charitro Kalponik but I had already started shooting for Mere Khwabon… But Khela will release in April. Also, Anuranan released in Mumbai in Hindi. The film did not do well. I personally feel that Bengali films should be released with subtitles and not dubbed in Hindi.

Why are you in pick-and-choose mode?

I’m taking it easy. For me every year is better than the last. This is a great year for me as I’m doing only lead roles. Plus this year (sister) Riya and I might star together in Vicky Chopra’s film. Talks are on but we haven’t signed yet. And in Tollywood unless there is an offer from Rituda or Rinamashi (Aparna Sen), I’m not too keen.

What do you do when you are not shooting in Mumbai?

I chill out with friends. Riya and I go shopping. When Ma and Baba are around, we take a short trip together. Plus I read a lot. Currently I’m reading Love in the Time of Cholera and Half of a Yellow Sun.