The Crisscross actress in a Puja adda with t2...
Durga Puja means...
Eating out, adda, reunion. No one says no to anyone during the Pujas. We plan so much and then those four days just go by... and you keep waiting for next year.
My Puja wardrobe has...
Kanjeevarams that my parents got when they travelled to Chennai. One in orange and another in blue. Dutoi diyechhe kiptemi korey! But I will go shopping. I am also travelling, so I will pick up something too. But I am a bad shopper, very impulsive. For myself, I leave it to others mostly. I am going to change the upholstery in my house a bit. And, I have to buy things for everyone. My sister won’t be able to come down from Delhi, so I have to do every thing possible to make her happy.
As a kid...
I would count the number of clothes I got during the Pujas. I would get 10 outfits for sure! Denim tops to fairy frocks, I wore them all. And one kiddie sari too! When I grew up, saris became a fascination. Now I can walk around in a sari, but when I was 17-18, I was like I don’t have a blouse in my size, I’ll have to get my mother’s. Also, her jewellery. I wouldn’t wear much make-up, apart from kajal.
My Puja style now...
If I am chilling at someone’s house, you will find me in denims and tees. What is important is being comfortable and enjoying the Puja feel. Pandal-hopping in a sari is difficult, but when I go for Puja openings, I always wear a sari. Or if I am in a hurry, I pull out a kurta.
My Puja make-up...
Is minimal. You can do kajal and a small bindi. Try statement earrings.
Puja dates... what Puja dates?!
No, no, I don’t go on dates! Why would I go on a date in the first place?! Oshob phaltu jhari mara, but people who enjoy it should go out. In college, all my friends were boys. Twelve boys, me and another girlfriend of mine... and they are still my friends. Sometimes they wouldn’t even consider me to be a girl. Five other guys would probably not even approach us because we were in such a huge group. So, unfortunately, I never got a chance. And then it is also very cliched. Prem is important in life, but not pujo prem!
Puja food means...
Street food, like rolls and chow mien, the onion and cucumber with an orange-coloured tomato sauce. The amazing part is that I never have indigestion and acidity. I grew up eating all these things! Today I might be a heroine, but body doesn’t accept that! I cook throughout the year and during Puja too. I make sure my friends come over. We make everything... mangsho, chingri maachh.... It is a proper Bengali meal. I cook fast. Three hours.
Pandal-hopping...
I do go out during the Pujas! Last year, I went to one of the melas also. I don’t let the fun quotient go. I make it a point to be what I was.
Pictures: Pabitra Das
Location courtesy: JW Marriott Kolkata; styling: Ankita Banerjee; hair and make-up: Prasenjit Biswas; sari: Parakh Creations, blouse: V-Cut The Blouse Expert; tube-skirt-dupatta: Esha Sethi Thirani; jumpsuit: Tequela Rose; shoes: Rohan Arora and Hamlyn Grande; jewellery: Shyam Bhajo Jewellers
