Her heart was pounding and the very idea was enough to set her pulse racing on the last day of the shoot of the film Tui Amar Hero (which airs on Zee Bangla Cinema this Sunday at 1pm). But all of this was happening to her “less from excitement and more from anxiety”. Why?! Because Priyanka Rati Pal was about to go for her first on-screen kiss! With Joey Debroy. “And the shot took place on the streets! I was thinking about the onlookers who had gathered around to watch! They had no idea what was going to take place! Initially, I was very rigid about kissing on screen… because I did not know how to go about it in front of the camera. I was not comfortable. But now, things are different! I have overcome my fear,” smiles Priyanka. A t2 chat…

Tell us about Tui Amar Hero…

It’s a romcom (directed by Soumyadipta Mondal). I play a regular girl and many will be able to relate to her. The film says, ‘Listen to your heart… there is no guidebook to lead your life’. It is about changing your own life and your perception towards life. When it comes to settling down, it matters what kind of a bond you share with the other person, and if there is a bonding, then give it a thought. Don’t think about the ‘rules’ that have been passed down generations!

In the film, your character Piya is a well-educated, successful, upper-middle class independent woman doing well in her life while Vicky is the quintessential tapori. What if Vicky had met the character you had played in Ekchokro, an IPS officer called Zoya?

(Laughs out loud) Darun hoto! She would have locked him up in jail and tarpor prem ta korto!

Priyanka at The Astor on the sets of Tui Amar Hero. Picture: Pabitra Das

Can you relate to Piya in any way?

To some extent… initially I had wanted to settle down early in life, have a family. But then I have realised the results of the best-laid plans can turn out very differently. I have not married yet… and I have been single for the last three years! This is quite surprising for me. I firmly believe in relationships… and I had been in one steady relationship for many years. And for me, if I fall for somebody, then I know that I am gone. The only thing that gives me happiness now is my work.

What does acting give you? How does it excite you?

It is very exciting because you get to live the lives of other people for a few days! You observe people, try to understand their psychology. In turn you start understanding other people a lot more in real life.

What are your big-screen aspirations?

See, it is a bit complicated for me since I run my family. So I cannot just sit back and wait for movies to happen to me. I would have loved to do that. You can really work on your character in movies… you can give time to it. You know what you are doing. I would love to do movies but it is great to be in serials and films for television since I know that I am regularly working there. It’s important to balance it out.

Are you good at networking?

I am really bad at it. My PR skills are not that great. But everyone knows me, so I know if someone thinks of me for a particular character, they will get in touch with me. I am quite active on social media!

What is the secret to being a star on television?

Hard work, and staying down to earth. Don’t let sudden fame change you or turn your head. Survival and sustenance is the main fight here. If you can do that then you are a survivor. Many new people have come to the industry in the last 10 years but maybe 20 per cent of them have stayed back. Getting to the right place at the right time depends on luck. I have never planned my career. At the end of the day I just want to be happy.

How ambitious are you?

My happiness is much more important than my ambitions. I love my work, and this is what I love doing. I have to be in front of the camera!

Priyanka as Piya

Why?

The moment the camera is on… it gives me a different kind of a high! It is like an aphrodisiac… it is like something is happening inside. Also, I feel very special. I feel those who have gone into cinema from modelling are giving it a new dimension. Some of them are really good actors, and doing good work. They have also brought in a lot of grace and style.

Your serial journey started in 2010 with Mukhosh Manush, and then you played an antagonist in Palabodol…

And then I did Agniporikhsha, which was a massive hit. It became so popular and I enjoyed the fame and acclaim for that one. Everyone would call me by my screen name Ruby. Then I did the serial Shesh Theke Shuru… later I moved to Bombay. I did quite a few ads there, TVF —The Insiders, a web series, and a couple of serials. But I came back to Calcutta since I was missing home. Back in Calcutta, I did not look back since I started doing serials once again.

And then Ekchokro happened to you…

The response was amazing. People liked the strength of my character. The compliments assumed a greater meaning since I did everything on my own. I prepped a lot for that film.

Outfits: Abhishek Dutta

Location: The Park

Make-up: Suman Ganguly