The morning after Nishir Daak released on Hoichoi, we caught up with Sreeja Dutta over a phone call. Best known for her performances in Baghajatin and Tekka, Sreeja’s latest project sees her step into darker, more layered territory. Directed by Joydeep Mukherjee, Nishir Daak is a supernatural thriller. And at its centre stands Sreeja — playing not one, but two characters — a feat few would dare attempt in just their fourth screen outing.
She had stayed up late the night before, watching people’s reactions pour in. By morning, she sounded exhilarated, her voice brimming with gratitude and disbelief. What followed was a conversation that meandered between college deadlines, dance diplomas, mentorship from Dev, and the quiet joy of finding one’s own rhythm in chaos.
Balancing College Life with Work
“I’m in my final year — by the end of this year, I’ll be an engineer,” she said cheerfully, her tone making it sound as effortless as it probably wasn’t. “I took a gap from acting after Tekka because it was a lot to handle together — the studies, the shoots, the exams. I just needed to breathe.”
That pause, however, didn’t slow her pace. If anything, it helped her focus. Sreeja’s creative roots run deep — she grew up surrounded by art and encouragement. “I love to dance. I’ve completed a diploma in it. My mum is a singing teacher, so I learnt singing and drawing too. I’ve even graduated in painting from the Academy of Fine Arts.”
Her mother was never one to measure worth by marks. “My mum never told me I had to be a topper,” she said with a laugh. “She’s always said, ‘Do whatever you want to.’ Nobody ever pressured me at home. Probably that’s why I could excel in all these areas. Children fall in love with these activities when you don’t force them.”
It’s this sense of creative freedom that led Sreeja to discover acting. “At SRFTI, I worked on this project called Safar — it was about a father meeting his estranged daughter for the first time in years, and he brings along a stepbrother. I really felt that script,” she said softly. “It made me realise how much I loved expressing myself through performance.”
The Journey So Far
Sreeja’s entry into films reads almost like a script in itself — equal parts coincidence and destiny. “I got chosen for Baghajatin out of 6,000 applicants,” she said. “I had just casually sent my images. And suddenly, I found out that I’d been selected for this huge film — with Devda! It was a complete surprise.”
That project opened many doors, but she took her time walking through them. “Before that, I had done a music video with Rajda — Raj Chakraborty,” she recalled. “After Baghajatin, my focus went back to studies. Then came Tekka, which got extremely good reviews from the audience.”
Those early successes, however, didn’t make her restless for more. “After Tekka, I knew my next project had to be something where I could really execute my craft and showcase myself,” she said. “So for the next one-and-a-half years, I didn’t take up too many projects. I wanted to carefully decide how I would write my track.”
When Nishir Daak came to her, Sreeja was instinctively drawn to its story. “The first thing I see in any project is the storyline — and the importance of my character,” she explained. “That’s something I learnt from Rukminidi (Maitra). She once told me — in a story, if going from point A to C depends on your character, like the story cannot be completed without you, then it’s worth doing.”
She added, “When I heard the story of Nishir Daak and realised I’d be playing not one but two characters, I knew it was going to be special. People are thinking my character is like Vidya Balan from Bhool Bhulaiyya, but that’s not true — it’s actually a real eye-opener.”
Being part of such a large-scale project was surreal. “To be trusted with something this big means the world to me. I always consult my mum about every decision, and she’s completely aware of everything I do. But I also consult Devda. Like, I tell him, ‘I’m thinking about this project — what’s your view?’ He always gives me honest feedback. It’s so reassuring to have someone like him guide me.”
Her joy was evident when she spoke of the early audience reactions. “There’s this sari look I have in the series that’s been complimented a lot. And people have really appreciated my last episode. That makes me so happy.”
Learning from Joydeep Mukherjee
Working with director Joydeep Mukherjee, she said, was both an education and a comfort. “Joydeepda is a very sweet person — like a father figure to me,” she said. “He’s extremely technical, and he handheld me through so many things.”
The screen test itself was a memory she laughed over. “I communicate a lot with directors, especially during auditions. I get very anxious, so I kept asking him questions — probably too many!” she said, giggling. “And he just told me, ‘Yeah, you do it your own way.’ That meant so much.”
Once she was selected, she began to see how precise and patient he was. “We shot a lot of scenes in the dark, because it’s a horror project. I didn’t know how to take the light or move with it, but Joydeepda taught me everything,” she recalled.
Returning to set after so long, she confessed, was nerve-wracking. “I was extremely anxious,” she admitted. “But Joydeepda would come up to me and say, ‘Why are you scared? Tui toh fatiye dibi (you’ll rock it).’ That kind of faith just makes you stronger.”
Her mother met the director, too. “He was so kind to her,” Sreeja said warmly. “I give him full credit for guiding me through Nishir Daak, teaching me, and helping me find my confidence again.”
Finding Her Own Voice
For someone so immersed in performance, Sreeja’s creative process remains refreshingly instinctive. “Of course, there are influences,” she said, “but honestly, I’ve been so busy that I never really got the time to binge-watch or study other actors’ work. I know I should — but I try to bring my own take to each character instead. I always ask myself what new thing I can give to this character,” she added. “The director briefs you, but after that, it’s about adding your own layer — your own thought.”
As a Gen Z actor, she draws inspiration from a few names close to her age. “I really like Alia Bhatt,” she said without hesitation. “She started very young, and so did I. In Highway, she was so young and yet so fabulous. She’s definitely a role model. And of course, actors like Irrfan Khan — I really admire them.”
Social Media and the New-Age Actor
Unlike most of her generation, Sreeja wasn’t initially drawn to social media. “I wasn’t that active,” she admitted, “but recently I’ve understood how important it is. You need to exist there, to sustain.” Her realisation came with experience. “You can showcase your skills — dance, singing, acting — and people might notice you,” she said thoughtfully. “I didn’t realise it was such an important element until I started working. So now I’m gradually working on that too.”
Looking Ahead
When we asked her about what comes next, her voice brightened again. “I love working. And if a good offer from Mumbai comes my way, then sure — I’d love to explore it but Bengali cinema and the industry at large will always be a priority because this is where my roots are.”
That seems to be the essence of Sreeja Dutta — grounded but eager, deliberate yet curious. For someone who once “just did a project for experience,” she has quickly turned that experiment into a calling. “I wanted to be a doctor once,” she mused. “My Dadu is a doctor, and so is my mum. I thought I’d follow that path. But here I am — doing what I love.”
As she spoke, her voice carried the soft assurance of someone who knows she’s exactly where she’s meant to be. Whether she’s painting, dancing, or performing in a dual role that has audiences talking, Sreeja Dutta isn’t just answering Nishir Daak — she’s answering her own calling.