Debasree Roy. Picture by Aranya Sen

On the sets of Sanghamitra Chaudhuri’s thriller Rahasya, Debasree Roy takes out images of various gods and goddesses and says a little prayer with eyes shut. She has gone through the lights-camera-action grind for close to two decades but Debasree still feels jittery before her first shot. A t2 chat...

What do you play in Rahasya?

My role is of a fashion designer who lives abroad. She comes back to India when her sister is murdered. Rahasya is a thriller and I don’t want to give away the story. But it’s an interesting role. I haven’t done anything like this before.

What roles do you want to play now?

Now I want to do roles that I have never done before. I want to do roles like Meena Kumari’s in Pakeezah or Nargis’s in Mother India. I have played all kinds of roles all these years. I entered the industry when I was about two or three years old. So it’s been a very long journey for me.

What kind of offers do you get nowadays?

I get lead roles. For instance, I am doing Ujjwal Chatterjee’s Lal Salaam based on a novel by Mahasweta Devi. Then there’s Kanaj Das’s Thikana Rajpath, where I am a domestic help who agrees to be a surrogate mother for the sake of the childless couple who have employed her. I am getting a variety of roles.

Which has been your most challenging role?

I can’t name any one in particular. There are too many. Rituparno Ghosh’s Unishe April was very challenging. Shatabdir Galpo, Aparna Sen’s 36 Chowringhee Lane, Dena Paona with Soumitra (Chatterjee) were challenging too. Not just these, commercial films like Tomar Rakte Amar Sohag was very challenging as I played a widow who tracks down her husband’s killers. My roles in Nagarpare Roopnagar and the TV serial Mahabharat (Satyavati) were very challenging too. These were roles which weren’t exactly difficult, but portraying them convincingly was a challenge.

Which directors do you want to work with now?

I have worked with them all, nobody is left. But yes once Mrinal Sen had offered me a film, which got shelved. That’s a regret. And also not being able to work with Satyajit Ray. I wanted to work with Uttam Kumar too. I once had the chance to play his daughter in a film but later the role went to someone else (smiles).

You are often busy with stage shows in the suburbs...

Yes, I started dancing at a very young age. I still dance because it gives me a different kind of satisfaction. People shower so much love on me during these shows that it is infectious. Requests keep pouring in to dance to the hit numbers from Chokher Alo, Nayan Moni, Akrosh and Troyee. It’s great because it’s like reliving those moments.

Any plans to get into direction?

Yes, I want to direct a film someday. Maybe after a couple of years. I want to make a film that the audience will be able to relate to.

How much do you think has Tollywood changed?

The industry is very different now. People still remember the films that were made then. Now most Bengali films are copies of Bollywood films. It was just the opposite before. Remember Bhalobasha Bhalobasha? Those films won’t be made anymore. The songs of Troyee are still in demand! Now people just copy the old films and make a mix! Besides, the atmosphere on the sets has changed. We worked as a family during our times. Several senior artistes would treat me as their daughter. We would often drop by the studios even if we didn’t have shoots. I miss that. I miss the artistes of those times.

Do you watch contemporary Bengali films?

Honestly, no. Not because I don’t want to but because I don’t have the time. I just want to tell the present generation of actors and actresses to have patience. It is something they lack.

How do you maintain that figure?

(Laughs) I check what I eat. I don’t visit gyms nor do I have time for yoga.