Last year was a mixed bag for actress Arunima Ghosh. Her five-year relationship ended around Puja. The cracks showed, but she soldiered on with her shoots. The hard work has paid off. Three films (Asche Abar Shabor, Nilacholey Kiriti and Michael) featuring Arunima are already out and the fourth one releases this Friday. She has roles of a tribal woman and the young wife of an old brick kiln owner in Ranjan Ghosh’s film Rongberonger Korhi, also starring Rituparna Sengupta, Soham and Ritwick Chakraborty. A t2 chat with Arunima....

You have begun the year on a high note...

I am really looking forward to Rongberonger Korhi. I have been a part of a bunch of really nice ensemble films now, which have worked out. I am versatile, and I feel I can give much more. I would like to act in films where the story is centred around me. In fact, you’ll soon get to see me in solo heroine films.

What happened last year?

I was in a five-year relationship, and we broke up. I was depressed. Also, I feel I have commitment phobia in the personal space. We both gave it our all in the relationship, but it didn’t work out. I am an emotional fool… I can be very possessive. My ex is a really nice guy, and we are friends now.

Do you miss him?

Yeah, I still miss him a lot. He has started dating someone. I am single. I was unhappy last year, but I tried to focus on films. It has paid off and people have liked my work… they appreciated it. I feel I’ll just focus on work now. I won’t think of getting into relationships.

Do you think of settling down?

Definitely I’ll get married, I just need to get over my commitment phobia.  Let Mr Perfect come my way…. My first priority is movies.

What are the things that you feel should change in Tollywood?

I feel new actors and actresses should be given a chance... they should get more opportunities. Bengali commercial and urban films are going through a good phase. I really like watching them.

You had done potboilers in mid-2000s. What happened with those films? Why did you stop?

I wasn’t getting creative satisfaction, so I stopped acting in those films. And the industry people felt that I was moody. I was doing great work in television then. I stopped doing television serials around 2008....  The roles I used to get in those potboilers a decade or more ago were quite meaningless. I would get only song sequences and crying scenes. I had nothing to do in those films. I was quite frustrated then.

Weren’t you worried about the industry perception?

I was never scared. And that’s the problem, I feel! I was young and not diplomatic. The opinion of my friends at that time influenced me. They appreciated my work in television, and I veered towards that. Of course things are different now, and I don’t get swayed by other people’s opinions. I feel I should have done a couple of more films then.

So did the offers for commercial films dry up?

No, I used to get them. But I decided on not doing them. My focus then was on winning awards (for television soaps). I had also done whatever was there to do in television. I had nothing else to contribute. So I shifted to the urban films.

After leaving television, weren’t you worried about your career?

I have always got work, but maybe not the roles I had wanted. But I have tried to change… see I am a very passionate person. I’ll be able to give my all if I like a role. 

Do you have friends in the industry?

Not really, except for (producer) Rupa Datta… the industry is a professional space. I am comfortable and transparent with whoever I work with. In that sense, I am friendly with all the people I work with. I have my childhood friends.

Do you think of returning to television?

No. I was offered good money to work in daily soaps but I refused. I have nothing more to contribute. They might think I am mad. Television has given me a lot. But I am not interested in daily soaps… however, I would like to do non-fiction.

You went through a lull period midway...

Three of my films came out in 2013, but since they weren’t from a big production house, they got lost. The support of a big production house really matters. I waited out 2014. I didn’t shoot for anything in 2014. I travelled a lot during that time with my parents. Things changed soon, and I bagged a plum role in Kiriti O Kalo Bhromor.

Is driving a stress-buster for you? 

Yeah. I used to like that adrenaline rush, I guess. Now, I don’t drive around a lot.

Don’t you go out for drives at night?

I used to, but not anymore! My mom doesn’t allow it. Earlier, I used to take the car out for a spin, and then the frequency of the spins would increase gradually. I’ll have tea, a paan, and then go back home. I don’t like going to parties. No nightclubbing for me. I think I am extremely restless.

What are the other things that bother you?

Dirt, germs… I cannot walk on wet grass. I have OCD. If I like a song, I’ll listen to it 14-15 times on loop. Often, I cannot sleep at night. I’ll watch television or Netflix throughout the night, and go to bed around 5am.

How do you chill?

I try to spend time with my family on Sundays. I meet up with friends. I catch up on sleep. I can sleep in three shifts. For example, on off days, I’ll wake up around 10am. I’ll have my breakfast and again go off to sleep. I’ll have my lunch and then doze off. Then I’ll hit the gym in the evening. Give me a television and an AC and I’m all set.

Arindam Chatterjee