Lake View Road girl Subarna Ray Chaudhuri dialled t2 soon after landing up at home. “We have been speaking for years but this time I made it a point to meet and talk,” smiled the jovial costume designer and stylist, who has Bolly biggies like Lootera, Gunday, Kick, Bajrangi Bhaijaan... on her CV. That done, Subarna settled down to chat about her journey “from a small car to a big car” and, of course, Calcutta!
You are back in Calcutta after three years. Do you find any changes in the city?
Yes, actually after Gunday (released in Feb 2014), I didn’t come to Calcutta. Then I was travelling all over for work. Back in the city, I am mesmerised by the look of the roads... they are so clean. And a lot of classy food places have come to Calcutta. I am very happy to see such a great change. I would like to live here, earn a little less money and be happy. In Mumbai, there’s too much running around! But in Calcutta, there’s no work! But I can earn there (Mumbai) and stay here (smiles)... Calcutta has the best of schools. My son (Arrya, 9) can get better education here.
How is Arrya liking Calcutta?
He is very happy here. He loves the yellow cabs. He told me, ‘Mumma, let’s buy one taxi!’ He loves Calcutta winter and the food here. Not only Bengali cuisine because we make Bengali food at home in Mumbai, but he also loves the Continental food available in Calcutta. I showed him my school (Nava Nalanda High School). I then studied fine arts from Shri Shikshayatan College.
SUBARNA’s STYLEFILE
Which places have you revisited on this trip?
I went to Gariahat. I bought some kettles and plates from the shops where we used to buy when we were young. There’s a phuckhawaala there. I ate some Continental food at La Maison Des Delices (off Purna Das Road, Keyatala) because I didn’t want to fill my stomach with that... I wanted to eat trash! (Laughs) I bought saris for myself from RMCA Basak. I bought a white-and-pink Dhakai. I also got bought two cotton saris. In Mumbai, I wear saris with boots to Blue Frog (a live music space in Mumbai). And yes, I was at The Saturday Club on New Year’s Eve!
You sound like a true-blue Calcuttan...
I am truly a Calcuttan from my soul and heart. I believe that Bengali women are very powerful. People say that we are dominant and we play with our eyes! (Laughs) I guess it’s in our genes. We love eye make-up, don’t we? Bengali women are going places. They are not dumb blondes. They have both beauty and brains.
What are the Calcutta things you miss the most?
The Lake Road jhalmuri and phuchka, lyangcha from Shoilo Sweets (near Lake Market) and the simplicity of Calcutta. People are very sweet and simple and that’s what I miss in Mumbai. My fondest childhood memory is running up and down our building steps. We would ring the bells at people’s houses and run away before they opened the door! When here, I love to spend time at Someplace Else. We used to go to Shisha when we were shooting Gunday. Ranveer (Singh) would go with us. I love to take tram rides in purono Calcutta.
You are also quite a foodie, aren’t you?
In Morocco (where she had been shooting for Dishoom with John Abraham and Varun Dhawan), I made stuffed chicken and grilled chicken with rice. I cook wherever we go for shoots. I want to have my own restaurant. The other day, I had dinner with Anjanda (Chatterjee, of Speciality Restaurants) at Mainland China, Mumbai. Calcutta is where I want to have my own restaurant. That is my dream!
Weren’t you a part of a rock band in Calcutta?
Yes, I started singing in a rock band, called Trishul. We did about 150 shows across Calcutta. We performed at various places such as Calcutta Club, The Saturday Club, Someplace Else.... Like every Bengali household, I had a music teacher at home. But the saddest thing in my life is that I can’t sing anymore....
Why?
I lived in Saudi Arabia for three years. I was a teacher there. During that time, my voice got spoilt because I used to shout a lot at the students and also because of the effect of chalk powder! But I go for karaoke nights in Mumbai (smiles). Among musicians, I find Adele and Rihanna very stylish.
So, Parineeta happened after you came back to India?
Yes, but before I left for Saudi Arabia, I had finished a German (Shadows of Time) and a British film (Victorian Values, a BBC documentary on Queen Victoria), so my portfolio was very organised. I showed it to Pradeepda (Sarkar, Parineeta’s director) and he was very impressed. I did the research work for the film and he was very happy.
Today, you are one of Bollywood’s most sought-after stylists. How do you look back on your career?
It’s been a long journey. There were a few breaks. I went through a divorce... I am a single mother. I had to fight the whole world and it wasn’t easy. When I went to Mumbai, I used to travel by bus. From there, I bought a small car and now I have a big car. I used to live in a small house but now I have shifted to a big house. It feels great! I have to look after my son, my family, my maids and my team. My son is a very mature boy. Sometimes he says, ‘Mumma, I want you to get married and become a housewife’. When I see a complete family, the sense of not having it and the sense of failure inspires me to do better every day. We should never sulk... Vidya (Balan) always tells me that I am one person who is always happy and looks at life positively. You know, if you think positive, it will happen. I think I haven’t yet achieved anything in life. I am 40. I have another 60 years to make it big! (Smiles)
Who are your friends in Bollywood?
I don’t interact with Bolly stars unless they invite me for work. I don’t go to parties. After work, my priority is home. John (Abraham) is very nice and sweet. Jacqueline Fernandez is very friendly. I talk to Vidya. I interact with Priyanka Chopra... I message her sometimes.
How was it shooting Dishoom in Morocco?
We had gone there for a long shoot. We partied for two days at Casablanca because if we go to Morocco and not go to Casablanca, then it’s a waste! It’s an amazing place.... It’s a fast-paced film... an action-thriller. Rohit (Dhawan, director) is very sharp. He appreciates my views. We discuss a lot.
What are the other films you are working on?
I have been offered a film to be produced by Boney Kapoor. It stars Sridevi, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Arjun Rampal, but I may not be able to take it since I am working on Dishoom now. I am doing the costumes of Boman Irani in Houseful 3. I was supposed to do Ayushmann Khurrana’s new film (Manmarziyan) with Bhumi Pednekar, but I couldn’t accept it because they are starting now. I am also doing Bang Bang 2.
What’s your advice for budding costume designers who want to be where you are?
I think they should first assist a good costume designer for one or two years. Then they should take up a small amount of work. If you have committed to deliver something at 8pm, then it should be delivered exactly on time. Deliver on your promise.
Ratnalekha Mazumdar
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