Picture by Pabitra Das. Styled by Kallol Datta. Make-up: Jitu. Sequinned bandeau lace gown: Sailex NG. Jewellery: Breathing Space by Eina Ahluwalia. Nude pumps: Aldo, Forum Courtyard

Sanjukta Das admits to having made mistakes. Lots of them. And she is ready to set them right this time round. A t2 chat with the dusky beauty about lessons learnt in the world called modelling...

So, you’re making a comeback to catwalk...

Yes, kind of. I wouldn’t say it is a comeback because I was never gone. There weren’t any good assignments in Calcutta. And there is definitely something called a budget.

Then why didn’t we see you on the runway for the past several months?

It’s been eight to nine months there hasn’t been any work. Before, I used to work every day… shoots and shows. I did get a lot of calls, though…. And what happens is slowly people start asking, “Where have you been?” And I am very bad with PR. Work just stopped coming. I have stopped partying also. I am at home mostly with my friends. There were also rumours that I was charging a lot of money. Recently, I came to know that aami naki bolechhi that I don’t work with a certain kind of people, which I never did!

Who do you think was spreading these rumours?

There are a handful of people… so-called stylists and model co-ordinators and definitely the model who is my senior. She started saying that Sanjukta Das cannot walk. It doesn’t bother me. I am waiting for the day when I get really drunk and I will just blast her!

But why do you think they are doing this?

I don’t know! I have no idea. May be they are jealous. I have never caused anybody any harm. I have never been bitchy. I am a little finicky about let’s say make-up. But I am very friendly with everyone.

I feel very bad. It’s been 10 years in this industry. I have done a lot of good work. I remember I was doing a show in Tantra when Narendra Kumar offered me a show. I was really shocked at that point of time. But when it came to Calcutta… with Calcutta models and co-ordinators… I somehow wasn’t in the picture. I really cannot get up in the morning and call people asking, “Hey! How are you doing? How is your son? How is your dog? Let’s meet up for tea. Okay, what about this show?” If I like you, I will sit and talk to you, I will cook for you and I will do everything for you. May be that is my problem. I go, work, take my money and come back. I was bullied very badly when I started modelling. I have realised that you will have to belong to a group to get good shows.

Your career was going up, up, up…

And then zoop! I am in this profession because of my friend Priyanka Chowdhury. We used to go for the same tuition (class). And Kelly (Kallol Datta) really groomed me. He is one of my best friends and I have learnt a lot from him.

What went wrong?

I never realised that you literally needed to run for work. Meet photographers and go for auditions… I was also never very career-oriented. It was more addabaji! The first time I moved to Bombay… I got a call from (photographer) Jagdish Mali to do this video album… I did the shoot… very happy. But slowly I started missing those days. I was there for two to three months and then I was back. I got a lot of movie offers then. I did not do it. I don’t know… maybe I was too childish. There was a trend in Bollywood those days that one must wear a bikini. I did not want to wear it. Then I moved to Delhi. Elite (Model Management) wanted to sign me. I was back in Calcutta soon.

Do you think returning to Calcutta was a bad decision?

Yes!

You must have faced flak for not making it in Mumbai?

Leave alone others, my boyfriend tells me, ‘You were there at the top… and where are you now?’ He wants me to start working again. He tells me to go out and meet people.

If you returned to Mumbai or Delhi now, would you stay back?

Yes, I would. Right now, I feel I am missing something important. I love modelling. I miss those days.

Do you think you wasted a good number of years?

Yes, definitely. I misused them. But whatever I have done in life has been my decision.

How differently would you be doing things today?

I would start from the beginning. I trusted people too much. This is such an industry where you need to be a bitch. You cannot be nice to everybody… honest, sweet girl… you need to be very fake. You need to change as a person.

What are your immediate goals?

I am trying to get into acting. Modelling is no longer happening in Calcutta and if I have to model, I have to leave the city. And I still don’t want to leave. But never say, never. People may have ditched me but the city has always been good to me. My mom is here. She is alone. I am waiting for good work. And this time when I get it, I am not going to waste it.

Your boyfriend (actor Zoheb) belongs to this industry....

He is a big support. He has told me how it works.

Okay, let’s talk about love a little. How did you meet Zoheb?

Zoheb is Kelly’s friend. I met him during an NIFT show three years back. He is a very sensible guy… He understands me and is also my biggest critic. He is my world. I met him at the right time.

You seem to be in a happy personal space.

Yes, very happy! I am happy in my small world. I cook… I have Scooby, my dog.