The interview faces a minor glitch even before  greetings can be exchanged. The interviewee has spotted a cockroach carcass under the table and run away. When she returns, coaxed by parents Bhaswati and Dipankar Mukherjee, and perches herself on a stool far enough from the dreaded sight, Arshiya Mukherjee, all of eight-and-half, comes across every bit as lovable as Bhutu, the friendly ghost she plays on the small screen, on Zee Bangla earlier and now on Zee TV. 

You are clearly scared of cockroaches. What scares you more?

Wasp. (Father prompts: And Ma?) Oh yes, Ma in a foul mood.

Are you scared of ghosts?

I’ve never seen ghosts. But I love to see ghost serials — Fear Files, Aahat.... Didi also loves those serials. Kintu o amake patta dyay na. Thamma sits with me. Or Dada. But if the serial is too scary then Didi comes and sits beside me. We also see a lot on YouTube — Real Ghost Caught On Camera, Highway Ghost, I Am Rocker…  Didi and I see these daily at night. I want to see a real ghost.

Do you like being Bhutu Majumdar (Zee Bangla) or Pihu Bose (Zee TV)?

Both. They are same. No, Hindi has become a bit different. I have a double role now. 

The mawaali girl Sona? Don’t you have trouble mouthing mawaali dialogues?

No. Ma teaches me. The director also shows me how. I also get help from other actors who have done such roles before.

Is Sona a bad girl? 

Yes. Or ma baba nei toh. Or mawaali bondhu bonechhey, o churi kora shikhechhey, mawaali jaise baat karna shikhechhey.

Do you get languages mixed up when speaking at home?

Yes. Bengali and Hindi. Aami jol peebo. I have forgotten some words in Bengali which I’ve not used recently. 

Do you remember your first day on the sets?

Yes. I was bent on bunking school — nothing much happens there — and accompanying Mummy to Didi’s set (Adrija, five-and-half years older, acted in Goyenda Ginni). I used to love it there. 

(Mom Bhaswati fills in: She would reach and promptly sit on the director’s lap. They asked her, “Acting korbi?” Dilei korbo,” she shot back. Three months later, auditions were on for Patol’s sister in Patolkumar Gaanwala. They wanted a kid under six. She joined the show. After two months, they decided to end her track in Patolkumar and cast her as Bhutu in February 2016.)

Do you find dialogues easy or tough to memorise?

Easy. I don’t follow the script line by line. I say what has to be said my own way. 

Have you heard Bhutu is being telecast in Kannada? Would it have been a problem if they asked you to do it?

Yes! (eyes wide open)

(Bhaswati: I hear Bhutu is being dubbed in Sri Lanka too)

What do you miss when you are not in Mumbai and Calcutta?

Shooting in Bombay and Papa in Calcutta.

Ice cream or chocolate? 

Ice cream. Also chips. I am not allowed to have ice cream (points to the abandoned glass with barely a scoop eaten).

(Bhaswati: She delivers her dialogues at such a high pitch that I try to protect her voice from cold.)

What is your routine like in Mumbai?

I wake up, dress up, eat. I study for half-an-hour only if Ma asks me to. I cycle around a bit and play with Barbie. Then I sit to do make-up…

Make-up... really?!

I do base with sponge, then I do under-eye, then I do the eyebrows… Eyeshadow or eyeliner, which do I do first? Yes, shadow, then I use kajol. After that liner and mascara. Tarpor cutting kori — gaal cutting, nose cutting. Tarpor lip liner aar lipstick. After that, I do blush-on.

Do people recognise you on the streets?

Yes, on the flight first they whisper: “Ota Bhutu na?” “Hyan, oi toh Bhutu.” “Tui jaa na.” “Naa, aami jabo na.” I can hear it all. Then they come and click pictures with me. I don’t like it always but sometimes it’s fun.

Has anyone asked for autographs?

No… Oh yes, Didi’s school friends. I told her I won’t give. Didi bollo: “De na, noile tor shonge katti hoye jabo.” Tokhon aami dilam.

BHUTU’S FAVES

Cartoon: Doraemon, Shin Chan, Horrid Henry and Sab Jholmal Hai. 

Game: Playing with my Barbie doll. Also the Barbie make-up game on my mother’s phone. My tab has 21 games. 

Book: I don’t like reading. My sister reads (Geronimo) Stilton. 

Best friend: I don’t have friends. 

Sudeshna Banerjee

(Bhutu airs Monday to Friday, 6.30pm on Zee TV)