He was awkward on the first day, but she has done it many times on screen and knew how to put her man at ease. The two in question are Rajdeep and Rituparna Sengupta — co-stars in Reshmi Mitra’s Mukti, that revolves around a student-teacher relationship and hit theatres on Friday. Over to the lead couple...

RITUPARNA

You play a woman in love with her student in Mukti. Have you ever fallen for a man younger than you?

Oh yes! Many times. Before you start guessing, let me clarify. I have fallen for younger heroes in films. Besides, I have many friends who are half my age and who are men. It’s no big deal nowadays. Earlier these things were taboo but not anymore. When it comes to liking someone, age isn’t a bar.

Which means you identify with your character in Mukti?

Mukti is not only about a teacher falling for her student. It is also about a woman who realises that life is beyond how a man perceives you. Nayanika (Rituparna) is let down by her husband (Shilajit) who falls for another woman. She feels having a man in her life will complete her, but at the end she realises that it’s her life and she lives it her way. That’s why the title ‘mukti’. The film talks about a woman’s self-realisation and self-discovery.

How did you make Rajdeep comfortable in the love-making scene?

I have worked with so many newcomers in my career that making a new hero comfortable comes naturally to me. We discussed the scene a couple of times, we chatted a little and he was comfortable.

Have you seen The Graduate where a young Dustin Hoffman is seduced by the older Anne Bancroft?

Yes, I loved the film. See, that’s what I am trying to say... that the film was made in the ’60s, so such out-of-the-box relationships have always been there. You don’t fall in love with someone going by his or her age. Love just happens. I may not start a relationship with a younger man but I might get attracted. It’s not something to gossip about. It happens with you, me and everyone else.

What would you do if you get into a relationship with a man half your age?

I haven’t thought about it. But I know I won’t get into a relationship. We might end up being very good friends and meet often over coffee. I think that way it’s far more beautiful. All relationships don’t have to end in bed, you know. You also need friends in life with whom you can share a coffee when you are down.

RAJDEEP

A love-making scene with Rituparna Sengupta on the very first day of your shoot! How did that go?

It was not just awkward, I was very, very nervous too! It was the first day of the shoot and Ritudi is a big name. I met her for the first time on the sets of Mukti... I mean I had met her once or twice before but never interacted with her. We had to shoot a montage song sequence where Arko (Rajdeep) and Nayanika end up in bed. Though I was nervous while doing the scene, later when I saw it, I was okay because Shirshada (Roy) shot it beautifully. It’s not looking vulgar.

How did Pamela (girlfriend) react to the scene after watching it?

I had already told her about it. I am more worried about how my dad is going to react!

Could you relate to Arko, who gets involved with an elder woman?

I could relate to Arko in bits and pieces. I had a crush on an aunty when I was only four! She was a smart lady and would often come to our house parties. I would wait for such parties to happen so that I could get to see her. But I was very shy and never had the courage to speak to her. I’ve also had a crush on one of my teachers. I think every boy has these infatuations but we get over them when we grow up. In Arko’s case, it’s not so. He ends up in a physical relationship with the teacher because he has a lot of other problems. He comes from a broken home, is underconfident, friends taunt him.... All that I couldn’t relate to.

Have you watched any film on a younger man-older woman relationship?

Yes, I have seen Summer of ’42 and The Reader. See, I can’t comment on these but personally I feel if two people, irrespective of age, are emotionally attached to each other then that’s fine. But if the relationship is only physical, then... I don’t know actually... to each his own.

What are your views on a younger man-older woman relationship? Tell t2@abp.in