Rituparno Ghosh, Suman Podokkhep Ghosh and now Anjan Dutt — Ananya Chatterjee’s CV has started boasting all the big names in Tollywood.

Anjan has chosen Ananya to play Shiuli in his Byomkesh Bakshi film Adim Ripu. “Shiuli is one of the major suspects in Adim Ripu. It’s a guest appearance. Anjanda called me and offered me the role. My association with him goes back a long way. I have done three ETV Bangla telefilms with him — John Johnny Janardan, Ekdin Darjeeling and Amar Baba. I was also supposed to do Chalo Let’s Go... but couldn’t manage dates. But I was still a part of the film. I dubbed for Sunita Chhaya’s voice!” laughs Ananya, who entered the world of films last year with Rituparno’s yet-to-release Abohoman. She has recently finished shooting Suman Ghosh’s Dwando.

The dusky actress is also game for Tolly potboilers, despite what her work profile may suggest. Alongside Dwando, she has worked in Anup Sengupta’s Mama Bhagne, opposite Prosenjit. “So far I have only done films that needed me to play characters of substance. Mama Bhagne is just the opposite. I am Bumbada’s (Prosenjit) girlfriend here and I really enjoyed doing the film. It was a great learning experience too. Bumbada’s tenacity and energy is infectious,” she gushes.

At the moment, Ananya is looking forward to the release of Dwando and Abohoman. “My role in Dwando is very challenging. I play a simple married woman who is in a relationship with another man. I had to work hard to make my character look real and convincing.... My character in Abohoman has various shades too. I play Nati Binodini in a film within the film,” she says.

With big screen offers pouring in, is it time to say goodbye to TV? “No, I will soon start shooting the Zee Bangla mega serial Asambhav,” signs off Ananya.

Kushali Nag