Jaya and Mumtaz team up for Kanchenjunga express

JAYAND MUMTAZ

One is a strong, independent woman, the other a meek, docile girl. That’s Jaya Seal Ghosh and Mumtaz Sorcar in Kanchenjunga Express, which also stars Sabyasachi Chakrabarty.

Arnab Ghosh, who’s turning director with Kanchenjunga Express, owns two nightclubs — Xrong Place on Sarat Bose Road and Club 69 off the Bypass. So, why get into movie-making? “Well, I was toying with the idea of making a film for long. Finally, I wrote the story and decided to direct as well as produce it!” says he.

“Kanchenjunga Express is about a train journey where Jaya and Sabyasachi are co-passengers. The two exchange words and start a conversation. Actually, Jaya narrates Mumtaz’s story to Sabyasachi, who is a cop. We see Mumtaz in flashback,” says Arnab, who is confident about his casting. “Jaya’s age and face are suitable for the character she portrays, and Mumtaz is shaping up to be a great actress.”

After Raj Mukherjee’s Prithibi Amakey Chai and Premangshu Roy’s Katakuti, Kanchenjunga Express would be the third film where Jaya plays a strong-willed character.

“I guess people want to see me as a strong, independent woman on screen. They somehow relate to me in these kinds of films. Honestly, I too enjoy playing a woman of substance. I have been extremely choosy since the very beginning,” says Jaya. “In Kanchenjunga Express, my character goes through a lot in life and that is what makes her very strong. And because of what she goes through, she doesn’t have faith in people.... It’s a suspense thriller and I cannot give away anymore,” she laughs.

Mumtaz, who is getting busy post-Bhooter Bhobishyot, finds her role “brilliant”. “I play Nandini, who is tormented and tortured by different men at various stages of her life. At one point, she is also a victim of domestic violence,” says she.

Kanchenjunga Express goes on the floors in mid-June.