On a sunny Wednesday, t2 arrived at Chapter 2, Southern Avenue, for an exclusive shoot and chat with Ankush Hazra and Koushani Mukherjee, who star in the much-awaited Durga Puja release Raktabeej 2 (directed by Nandita Roy and Shiboprosad Mukherjee). The focus of the shoot was their romantic number, Deewana banaisen, which drops today. From the film’s teaser, we already know Ankush plays a sharp and calculating villain, while Koushani’s character is on a journey, searching for something she has lost. That immediately made us wonder, how do these two characters, poles apart in their arcs, come together in a romantic song?
Just then, Ankush walked in, looking crisp in a white linen co-ord set. Between bites of his Grilled Fish Steak, he couldn’t stop gushing about his excitement to play the bad guy. Known for his jolly, fun-loving persona, Ankush had rarely dabbled in negative roles before. Speaking about his character — Munir Alam — he quoted, “A villain was never always bad,” hinting at an innocent past that perhaps justifies Munir’s choices. That revelation gave us a cue; maybe this very past is what leads to his soft, romantic track with Koushani.
From the glimpse we’ve seen, Deewana banaisen feels like a slice of sweet innocence. It paints the picture of two medical students (played by Ankush and Koushani) falling in love. Shot in a dreamy Thai town that looks straight out of Venice, the song captures tender moments, the pair swaying together, sharing stolen glances, and even riding boats against a magical backdrop.
Soon, Koushani made her entrance, looking glamorous in a silver bodycon dress, ready to match steps with her co-actor. The shoot kicked off with their easy camaraderie taking over. Their lighthearted banter had everyone behind the camera laughing out loud, adding warmth to the already vibrant setting. As the sun dipped, we wrapped up with picture-perfect frames of the duo — a fresh pair ready to charm audiences this Puja. Sitting down afterwards, the two actors opened up about their reel-life chemistry, their real-life friendship, and the fine balance between love and conflict their characters share in Raktabeej 2. From what we gathered, their on-screen journey is set to be just as intense as it is endearing, promising audiences a roller-coaster of emotions packed into this much-anticipated release.
How has your chemistry evolved over the years?
Ankush: We first met while working on Kelor Kirti, where we were cast opposite each other. Since then, beyond being co-actors, we’ve become very good friends. Our bond grew not just on set but also outside of it. During the big outdoor schedule of Kelor Kirti, we had a blast shooting songs and scenes together, and over the years, that friendship has only deepened.
What was your reaction when you heard you’d be paired together for a song like Deewana banaisen?
Ankush: We were really happy and excited! Koushani began her career in 2015, and I started in 2010. In her 10 years in the industry and my 15, this is officially only our second film together. The song tells a very sweet love story between two youngsters who study together. There’s a bit of leg-pulling, a little sweet-and-sour bonding, which is almost exactly like the bond we share off-screen.
Where was the song shot, and what kind of vibe does Deewana banaisen give off?
Ankush: The song was shot in a very colourful location. Though filmed in Thailand, it didn’t look like Thailand at all. It actually resembled Venice, with vibrant buildings and little canals of water streaming between them. The backdrop beautifully captured the essence of the song and the bond the characters share. The song not only shows us swaying to the music but also portrays sweet college-life moments, like two students studying together, exchanging glances, sharing inside jokes, and even learning how to give CPR. Our costumes, too, were bright, youthful, and innocent, just like how college-goers dress.
Ankush, you’re known as the funny guy in the industry. What’s the funniest prank you pulled off while shooting for the song?
Ankush: Given the tight schedule we had for shooting the song, if either Koushani or I had tried to play a prank, Shibuda and Nanditadi would have smacked us hard! (Laughs) But we still had a lot of fun filming. It’s always fun when Koushani is around. Since we had to wrap up by 5pm and complete everything within daylight hours, the shoot was hectic for both us and the team. Still, we managed to squeeze in some laughs, share lunch together, and enjoy the process while shooting the song.
Koushani: Ankush always does something funny during shoots or even in serious moments (both laugh). But during Deewana banaisen, as he mentioned, we had a hectic schedule. I think the audience will still get to see a lot of the genuine bond we’ve shared for years reflected in the song.
Which dance number from each other’s career is your personal favourite?
Koushani: For me, it would be the title track of Ami Shudhu Cheyechhi Tomay. I really love that song, and Ankush and Subhashreedi looked really good together.
Ankush: For me, it has to be Dakatiya banshi! The way the song was made so authentically was incredible, and Koushani looked amazing in it. Plus, it was such a big hit.
Was there a fun moment while shooting Deewana banaisen?
Ankush: The boat sequence in the song was really funny. We both had to row the boat in the same direction and with the same force, otherwise it kept hitting the walls. Chemistry and bonding on screen is one thing, but coordinating while rowing a boat was a whole new challenge (laughs). To make it trickier, the water underneath wasn’t very clean, so every time we went wrong, that dirty green water would start seeping into the boat. We had to give our expressions for the song and, at the same time, make sure the boat was moving properly.
Koushani: Because of the deep bond of trust and friendship we share, I completely left it to Ankush to row the boat properly (laughs). Constantly rowing was becoming really difficult for me!
Koushani, tell us about your character in the film. And since Ankush plays the antagonist, how did the two of you come together for a song like this?
Koushani: As we know, Raktabeej 2 is a suspenseful thriller, so I can’t reveal too much about the characters. But what I can share about Aisha is that she’s a modern, independent, happy-go-lucky girl — a lot like me. She loves dancing, and it’s truly her heart and soul. She meets this guy in college, and that’s where their love story begins, which is beautifully shown in the song. Since it’s an out-and-out action film, I’d say Aisha is the breather point, the thread that ties the action and the romance together. That’s all I can reveal about her for now.
From Mr. Funny to being Mr. Fierce, Ankush, what tempted you to go dark this time, and how was the experience of stepping into the shoes of a villain?
Ankush: It was pretty difficult. But one thing I’d like to say is that there’s at least 20 per cent of Munir Alam in everyone today, the way he’s portrayed in the film. I can’t reveal much about him, but from his looks to his moods, he keeps transforming constantly. For me, as an actor, playing Munir Alam has been one of the toughest yet most satisfying roles I’ve ever done. We don’t get 100 days to shoot a film; we have to wrap it up in about 30. And in those days, living and breathing the same character in so many different moods was extremely challenging, but also deeply fulfilling for me as an actor.
Pictures: B Halder
Location: Chapter 2
(Southern Avenue)
Koushani Mukherjee
Styling: Mahima Jain, make-up & hair: Sourav Mitra and Sima Ghosh
Ankush Hazra
Outfit: Sandip Jaiswal,
make-up & hair: Sayanta Dhali