Sushmita Sen with friend Rajat Dalmia and father Shubeer Sen; (below) at Hushh on Friday night. Pictures by Rashbehari Das

As usual, Sushmita Sen’s visit to town was not long. But in the span of less than two days, she hosted the Calcutta leg of I Am She, the Miss Universe India pageant, spent time with daddy Shubeer Sen, had dinner at Hushh with family friend Rajat Dalmia on Friday and even squeezed in a visit to Kali Mandir with eight-month-old Alisah on Saturday morning! t2 talks to the lady about her many hats...

What is it about Calcutta that makes you keep coming back?

(Laughs) I feel very lucky. I am one of those privileged few who get to call a huge part of India — in terms of its states — her own. For example I was born in Hyderabad, raised in Delhi, at my core I’m a Bengali. So I’m from everywhere! Calcutta has a very special place in my heart — my Baba lives here.

Who are you dating now?

I’m as single as they come and I’m not feeling bad at all about it. I have a romantic life, two daughters and my third child, which is I Am She. I just completed No Problem, my first film with Anees Bazmee and I’m excited about that. My world — oops! wrong word, my universe — has opened up! I couldn’t be in a happier state although I have really no time right now to be in a relationship.

What’s the story behind I Am She?

The reason why I took up the franchise for this beauty pageant is because there’s an emotional connect… it’s all about the first 15 years of my life.

Models use beauty pageants as a gateway to the film industry. Are you trying to change that?

At the age of 18 I had no option because I won this and that and I went on to become an actress. I have no complaints but today another girl should be able to make her choice. It shouldn’t be a no-option situation. The good thing is that so many of the participants are academically driven. Some are working and studying, even supporting their families! Their ambition in life is to do something respectable. The easiest way is to go into Bollywood… easy money, don’t have to be too educated (I’m XII-pass), but if there is someone who says I want to study instead, then we have scholarships for her. The choice is hers.

Define the perfect ‘she’…

As generic as that. That’s why we called it She. We didn’t want to say tall, lovely skin, beautiful eyes, gorgeous hair. But when we say ‘she’, it’s a gender. Which means everything is beautiful about her. And let me tell you another naughty thing about ‘she’: it has the prominent alphabets of my name.

Is the ‘I Am’ tattoo on your wrist for real?

Of course! That’s permanent and so are these: Soli deo glory (shows off her left wrist) and Temptation (on her right arm).

You were going to walk the ramp for Ritu Beri on Day One of Wills Lifestyle Fashion Week (which was cancelled). Will we see you on Day 5?

Oh, I feel very bad about that, very bad. Unfortunately not, because I’ll be going from city to city for this project. But, next time.

How stylish is I Am She going to be?

We’re turning it into the biggest style event of the year. There are fantastic Indian and foreign designers who will be dressing these women. It’s going to be marvellous because they’re going to be walking the ramp in couture clothes and be speaking in Gujarati. There’s no language barrier in the pageant.

It’s the first time the girls will not be groomed in India — but in Italy (Rome)! Also, look out for who’s going to crown the finalists on May 29! That’s what legends are made of — and he’s not an Indian!

How busy are your daughters keeping you?

Very! These days the make-up hour is a funny sight in my life, with a little one in my lap who’s being fed. That’s what my life has become nowadays. I’m on the phone, baby’s (Alisah) having milk, the elder one (Renee) has come with her report card — by the way she’s done very well, moved into Class VI. It’s a good time for me as a mother.

Why haven’t you said yes to any Tollywood films?

Tollywood has to come up with something extraordinary. When I did a Tamil movie there was no problem. Every Tamilian in the country will know and say, ‘Poor thing she’s a Bengali, she’s doing a Tamil film’. But if I do a Bengali film and I behave like that, they’re gonna say, ‘Aamader barir meye thik korey Bangla boltey parey na!’

Short ’N’ Sweet

An actress who doesn’t need a makeover:

Sienna Miller.

Style icon:

Victoria Beckham. Individualistically stylish.

Fave pop star:

Madonna. I love her. She reinvents herself so beautifully.

You never leave home without:

My faith.

Your dream date:

A blend of Barack Obama and Brad Pitt, and a bit of George Clooney and one Indian who I don’t want to name!

IPL team you’re supporting:

All the underdogs. The ones who lose wickets in the first over!

How you manage to turn your ex-boyfriends into good friends?

By being honest! Do you know how tough that is?