GENERATIONEXT

Ronnie

Age: 26

Classroom: A Mass Com graduate from St Xavier’s College and post-grad in dramatics from Rabindra Bharati University (RBU).

First break: As a VJ on Sangeet Bangla. “Although I always wanted to be an actor, I auditioned for Sangeet Bangla and got the chance to be a VJ. Soon offers started pouring in and I signed up for Ravi Ojha’s mega serial Mohona.”

You know him as: Anurag in Mohona, a colleague of the title character. “My character starts off as a womaniser but later falls for Deepa (Sweta Tiwari).” He also anchors 1000 Miles, a music show, on ETV Bangla.

Big-screen act: Has recently shot for Kaushik Ganguly’s Brake Fail, where he plays Parambrata’s childhood buddy.

His goal: “I want to act in films now.”

Parno Mittra

Age: 22

Classroom: Pursuing an English (hons) distance education course under Bangalore University.

First break: The Bollywood film Ghat in 2005, which is yet to release. She went to Mumbai after participating in Sananda Tilottama the same year, following which Ravi Ojha chose her for Khela.

You know her as: The title character in Mohona and the widow Indira in Khela, both on Zee Bangla. “Both the roles are challenging but slipping into Indira’s shoes was more challenging as she’s a widow. Also because I grew up in Arunachal Pradesh and had to work hard on my Bengali diction. In contrast, Mohona is my age. She comes to Calcutta from Delhi and takes up a job,” says Parno.

“Recently I got an offer from Balaji Telefilms to play the main protagonist of Kis Desh Mein Hai Mera Dil, but I couldn’t shift base due to my commitments in Calcutta.”

Her goal: To make a mark in Tolly and Bolly. “But right now I just want to focus on the two serials. I don’t want to do any more megas. Rather, off-beat films are welcome.”

Anindita Das Mullick

Age: 23

Classroom: Doing her Masters in Rabindrasangeet from RBU.

First break: Suman Mukhopadhyay’s film Herbert, where she played Herbert’s crush Booki. “My husband, actor Kanchan Mullick, had gone to meet Sumanda. When he saw me, he offered me the role and I was game. Offers kept pouring in then...”

Also featured in: Zee Bangla’s Devi (she was Churni Ganguly’s niece) and Mushkil Aashan.

You know her as: Chandra in Khunje Berai Kachher Manush on Zee Bangla. She’s a village woman who ends up in a brothel. “She is rescued by an NGO and it’s about how she copes with the trauma.”

Her goal: “I want to work on both the small and big screens as long as the roles are meaty.” Coming up, a stint in Suman’s next film Chaturanga.

Tina Datta

Age: 17

Classroom: Studies in Class XI, St Paul’s Day School.

First break: Sister Nivedita in 1992. Though the serial never took off, Tina didn’t look back. “I was a child then and soon started acting in films. I played the heroine’s daughter in Pita Matar Santaan, Dus Number Bari, Sagarkanya and many more.”

Big-screen act: She was the chubby little Lolita (a young Vidya Balan) in Parineeta. “I was also in Chokher Bali as Aishwarya Rai’s neighbour.”

You know her as: The bad girl with three names (Hiya, Saira and Mili) in Khela on Zee Bangla. “Basically, I play a thug who Dipankar De hires to spy on his daughter-in-law (Sudipta). Now a lot of people know me; when I step out on the road I get mobbed!”

Her goal: To be a “famous” actress. “I want to act with Balaji Telefilms. I got a call from Ektaa Kapoor but couldn’t leave Calcutta due to my studies,” she rues.

Nibedita Chatterjee

Age: 24

Classroom: A post-grad in English from Burdwan University.

First break: As Soudamini in Thakurbari on DD1.

Also featured in: Khelaghar and Lajja, also for DD1; Bishprantar for ETV Bangla.

You know her as: The crafty Parama in Zee Bangla’s Ranikahini and a cop in the guise of a nurse in Laal Trikon on ETV Bangla. “Parama was my first big role which later got me Laal Trikon.”

Her goal: “To be seen in films. I have recently done a small role in Raj Mukherjee’s Love Story, which is yet to release.”

Manali Chakraborty

Age: 24

Classroom: A Mass Com student of Jadavpur University.

First break: Cracking the final round of Anandalok Nayikar Khonje in 2006. “TV producer Atanu Roy was one of the judges; he asked me to audition for the serial Bishprantar.”

You’ve known her as: Urmi in Bishprantar. She’s the younger sister of a para mastaan, who elopes with her boyfriend. “The role earned me a lot of praise but the director decided to replace me with someone else.” Next up, two telefilms directed by Suman Das and Parthasarathi Bhattacharya.

Her goal: “To play only lead roles in telefilms and films. I won’t settle for anything insignificant.”

Shaheb Bhattacherjee

Age: 22

Classroom: Second-year B.Sc (hons) in Ashutosh College.

First break: The DD Bangla telefilm Bhaloy Bhaloy; he was only six then. “Getting into acting was never my intention, but once I got the hang of it there was no looking back.”

Big-screen act: Sangharsha, Mukkhomantri and Bidroho, directed by Anjan Chowdhury. He played a young Prosenjit in all three.

You know him as: Rudra on Zee Bangla’s Bijoyini and the bindaas anchor of Dos Minuter Khel on ETV Bangla. “Rudra in Bijoyini has grey shades but he is also a sacrificing soul.”

His goal: Playing “positive characters” in films.