It is 8am, and the sky has opened up. As Rituparna Sengupta chats with us over the phone, multiple voices can be heard in the background, suggesting hair and make-up changes. She asks for the script so that she can go through her lines. “Shooting has started," she says. Our interview was confirmed at 2am, and by 8am she was on the floor getting ready for a shot. Rituparna has been working for over four decades in the industry, but her dedication and resoluteness remain unaltered. Much like the undaunted mother and cartoonist Anurekha Sengupta, she plays in Sayantan Ghosal’s film Madam Sengupta, running in theatres now. A t2 chat...
You portray a mother to a college-going daughter in Madam Sengupta. Does motherhood become challenging when children have minds of their own and are away from parents to pursue their dreams? You have a similar situation at home…
Absolutely! Mothers are often very sensitive — perhaps even overly so — about their children. It can be quite difficult to have them away from home. Not being able to see them for extended periods is an emotional situation as well. No matter how positive a mother might be, her child’s well-being is always on her mind, regardless of what she’s doing. However, despite feeling concerned about their well-being, we also have to let them grow.
What was your reaction when your daughter Rishona came to watch the film at the premiere with her friends and cousins?
(Laughs) They typically aren’t interested in most of my films since they often find the concepts too heavy to grasp. But this time, with their mother playing a detective in a thriller, it intrigued them. I called them a few times for the cake-cutting, but they refused to come! They were glued to the screen. Overall, they loved the film but had many questions for me afterwards! (Laughs) They are Gen-Z kids and quite analytical when watching films. They have been exposed to great cinema from around the world, so they view movies with a very inquisitive mindset.
What is your earliest memory of being introduced to Sukumar Ray’s Abol Tabol?
Sukumar Ray’s Abol Tabol always fascinated me, especially since we were children at the time, and it captivated us. I loved the illustrations in the book. Baburam Sapure and Bombagorer Raja are my all-time favourites.
You are an avid reader. Do you enjoy murder mysteries?
I enjoy mystery stories in general, and I’m a big fan of Agatha Christie, Nancy Drew and Paulo Coelho. Their works are quite engaging.
Your character is a cartoonist, in addition to being a wife and mother. What drew you to this film?
Murder mysteries have always intrigued me, and I was particularly interested in this project because Sayantan has a remarkable ability to craft a suspenseful thriller. I haven’t done many thrillers, nor have I been part of a franchise before, so he was eager to introduce me to this one. Everything came together perfectly because the producer, Pradip Kumar Nandy, was also interested in collaborating with me.
The film features an ensemble cast with talented actors. And my character, Anurekha Sengupta, is a cartoonist. I had never played a character like this before. There was so much emotion, trauma, and a mystery-solving aspect to explore as an actress.
Could you relate to Madam Sengupta in some way? You also have a habit of solving problems in real life…
That’s true! I often solve everyday problems for myself and those around me. If someone is in trouble — whether it’s a personal or professional issue — many people come to me for solutions. My husband jokes that I should put up a sign outside my house that says, ‘Mushkil asan’ because I end up solving so many different types of problems every day! He says it is not even funny anymore!
Was the name of the movie decided when you received the script from Sayantan?
The name of the film was entirely decided by the director’s team. The producer loved it too, so we stuck with it. While it’s true that many people mistakenly thought it was a biopic about me before the trailer was released, they later understood that it wasn’t. I absolutely loved portraying a character with such deep emotions.
How was it working with Rahul Bose again after Anuranan?
It was fantastic to collaborate with Rahul after so many years. We bonded over movies, food, and life in general. I brought him home-cooked food on set, and he really enjoyed it. Anuranan has been such a wonderful film that people still talk about it today. In this new film, the role really suited him. We hope that this film will resonate well, especially with teenagers and younger audiences.
You recommended Ananya Chatterjee's name for the film. It’s not the usual norm…
I have always recommended both male and female actors whenever I feel they are suitable for a role in a film I am involved with. Ananya is among the most capable actors and a wonderful performer in our industry today. She has done justice to her role. I had also recommended her for Annapurna, which was narrated to me first. A good team coming together to create a film always makes me happy.
Nowadays, when you take on a film, you seem to be more than just an actor…
I don’t know why I end up feeling responsible for various aspects of a production, even when I’ve signed on as an actor! It’s simply because I want the end product to be spectacular and engaging. I feel that if my contributions can enhance the film’s production value, it will benefit everyone involved. Many people tell me not to take on this extra responsibility, but I am emotionally attached to all my films. I truly believe that with good teamwork, we can achieve anything. In the process, I often take on more responsibilities and exhaust myself completely. Sometimes it’s worth it, sometimes it’s not, but I haven’t learned how to set boundaries at work yet in such instances.
What was it like working with Sayantan as a director?
Sayantan is incredibly talented. Since he has a background in literature, he possesses a profound knowledge of literary works. In this film, he brought a fascinating perspective to Abol Tabol that many might not be aware of. The audience is receiving this interpretation well. I find him very impressive and he always shares new ideas with me. He enjoys working with subjects that have a literary flavour, and his team is highly efficient. He is a very patient director who handles pressure well, and I genuinely hope to collaborate with him again.
Are you also playing the song Jete dao on loop?
Yes! What an amazing composition by Anupam Roy once again! He consistently makes a significant impact with his work. I am thrilled with the song. Shilpa Rao delivered her best in terms of mood and diction.
You have a packed release schedule this year. Is the real Madam Sengupta gearing up for a holiday soon?
Yes! I will probably go for a short trip. Since Puratawn, I haven’t taken a break. Working on Puratawn with the legendary Sharmila Tagore has been incredibly fulfilling for me. My husband, daughter, and sister-in-law are expecting me in Italy soon, so I will travel to Europe for a few days. I think it will be a much-deserved break, though I might combine it with a few meetings. Once I return, I will dive right back into work with the release of Goodbye Mountain, which is a poetic film to look forward to.
A lot of Bengali thrillers are being released in theatres and on OTT platforms. What have been the reviews of the film so far?
The reactions have been overwhelmingly positive. Even on weekdays, despite the rain, we’ve been having full houses! We saw a spike in box-office collections over the weekend, and the producer is pleased. However, I must mention that distribution continues to be a challenge in this industry. It’s still a world unknown to me. New producers, despite good box-office performance, struggle to secure prime-time show slots, which is unfortunate. I feel helpless in such situations. Madam Sengupta is receiving a wonderful response, and despite the challenges we face in the industry, I believe we will succeed, as everyone involved has put in a lot of hard work on the film.