Swastika-Abir and Gaurav-Ridhima (below) at a t2 photo shoot at Park Plaza, off Gariahat. Pictures: Pabitra Das

Abir and Swastika, this is the first time you’ve been paired with each other...

Swastika Mukherjee: Yes, and on our first screen outing people will see... (pauses) us in some hot, steamy scenes.

Abir Chatterjee: And though Gaurav-Ridhima play the younger couple, they didn’t do what we did! I told them many times that they should follow in our characters’ footsteps, but they didn’t. (Laughs)

Ridhima: Arrey, but we were not asked to do what you guys were doing!

Abir: Which means you would’ve done it had you been asked?

Ridhima: No!

Abir, what are you hinting at?

Swastika: For that you’ll have to watch the film. Those intimate scenes between Abir and me were very difficult to do.

Abir: (Looks embarrassed) Let’s not talk only about those scenes....

Why not? Isn’t this the first time you’ll be seen in steamy scenes?

Abir: No, not the first time!

Ridhima: Of course, this is your first time!

Abir: Why? Have you guys forgotten my smooching scene with Raima (Sen) in 22shey Srabon?

Ridhima: That was nothing, ya!

Abir: Arrey, the camera was placed at some distance from us, so people couldn’t figure out. But I had to do it!

Swastika: Yes, 22shey Srabon kick-started it. Abir-er haate khori hoyechhe and with Ashbo Aar Ek Din, he literally grew up!

Abir: Yes, and Bheblu (that’s what Abir calls her), what did you say after our intimate scenes were over?

Swastika: Kadalibala-r (Swastika’s character in Bhooter Bhobishyot) chhoayay Bomkesh boro holo! But the scenes were shot aesthetically. My character Mira is Karan’s (Abir) wife in the film, so the steamy scenes won’t look out of place.

Abir: Actually the steamy scenes were not there in the script.

Swastika: Only two scenes were there.

Abir: But we did a whole lot of them! (Laughs) And during one of those scenes, I chased my director (Abhijit Dasgupta). I told him, now let me kiss you!

So Abir, with Ashbo Aar Ek Din you’ve shed your inhibitions?

Abir: (Laughs) Okay, I take that as a compliment.

Swastika and Abir in Ashbo Aar Ek Din

Swastika: Yes, he was in my company nah! I think Tollywood has come a long way as far as handling hot scenes on screen is concerned. We no longer show flowers and birds. We’ve come of age.

Gaurav and Ridhima, since you are good friends off-screen, doing steamy scenes might not have been a problem for you....

Swastika: No that’s the problem actually. Bomu (Abir) and I are such good friends but during the steamy scenes we found it all very funny, though we were not self-conscious. We kept laughing!

Ridhima: It’s easier to work with Niki (Gaurav) because he helps a lot.

Abir: And Niki and Ridhima have already kissed in Rang Milanti, so they are pros!

Gaurav Chakrabarty: Before we started shooting I had very little interaction with Abirda and absolutely no interaction with Swastikadi. But now we are all friends.

Since you are the GenX of Tollywood, do you agree with Swastika that intimate scenes in Tolly films have come of age?

Ridhima: Yes, the audience have also started accepting intimate scenes. But I think we should not cross the line, noile amader khub chaap hoye jabe!

Gaurav: See, it’s all about making cinema realistic. But sometimes shooting intimate scenes becomes uncomfortable for actors. Intimate scenes in moderation is fine.

Favourite screen couples from Holly-Bolly-Tolly

Swastika: Jim Carrey-Kate Winslet; Shah Rukh Khan-Kajol; Jeet-Shrabanti

Abir: Tom Hanks-Meg Ryan; Shah Rukh-Kajol; Anjan Dutt-Mamata Shankar

Gaurav: Richard Gere-Julia Roberts; Amitabh Bachchan-Rekha; Abir-Swastika

Ridhima: Richard Gere-Julia Roberts; Ranbir Kapoor-Deepika Padukone; Abir-Swastika

best romantic scene from a film

Swastika: Our intimate scene in Ashbo Aar Ek Din has been very well shot.

Abir: Parinda... the last making out scene between Madhuri Dixit and Anil Kapoor.

Gaurav: The song Roop tera mastana from Aradhana. Very sensuous.

Ridhima: There’s a scene between Ranvir Singh and Sonakshi Sinha in Lootera where they do nothing, yet it’s a very sensuous scene.

Who are your favourite couples from Holly-Bolly-Tolly? Tell t2@abp.in

Kushali Nag

Do you think Bengali films have come of age? Tell t2@abp.in