Tanishaa: Raring to go

For her first film in Bengal, from where her father Shomu Mukherjee hailed, Bollywood babe Tanishaa is depending heavily on her mother, who has been there, done that. The younger daughter of Tanuja slipped into the shoes of a married Muslim woman in Goutam Halder’s Mukti when Vidya Balan failed to commit dates.

Before hitting the Tollywood studios in mid-July, Tanishaa tells t2 what made her follow in her mother’s footsteps...

You are foraying into Bengali films in two months...

Yes, I am very excited and looking forward to Mukti. Actually, I have wanted to do a Bengali film for quite sometime and I kept telling mum about it. Chivach Media, the producers of Mukti, had thought of me but they were apprehensive about whether I would do the film or not. When they approached me, I said yes.

But why were you keen to do a Bengali film?

Well, you see my dad is a Bengali, which is why I wanted to learn the language. Plus, mum has done Bengali films. Mum suggested that the easiest way to learn Bengali is to do Bengali films. That is how she had learnt the language and believe me my father was the happiest person when I told him about Mukti. He was very proud of me (Shomu Mukherjee died on April 10, 2008).

My decision to do a Bengali film was to make him happy, and also because I love mishti doi. Recently when I was in Calcutta for a promotional event, director Goutamda met me along with the producer. They narrated the story and I said yes. It was a very spur-of-the-moment decision and of course they brought me mishti doi. I had to say yes!

Do you speak Bengali at home?

Not really. And so I will dub for the film only if I can pick up the language. Goutamda will decide that.

What do you play in Mukti?

I play this young girl Hasi, who is married and has a two-year-old son. Hasi comes to live as a tenant of Bijolibala, whom she affectionately calls mashima. That’s the role my mother is essaying. The two women bond and then a lot of other things happen which I am not going to reveal.

How does it feel to be sharing screen space with your mum?

I am glad that she will be with me in my first Bengali film. I would have been very nervous had she not been there. Of course, Goutamda is there. But having mum around would be very helpful. Since she has already done films in Bengali, she knows the industry better and her suggestions would help me immensely.

You will play a mother for the first time. Any homework?

Well, I love children. I have literally brought up my niece Nysa along with my sister Kajol. But Goutamda has encouraged me a lot. The first day he saw me he told me that I am his Hasi. He told me to live and feel the character everyday.

And how are you doing that?

I am reading the script many times and working on my dialogues a lot. Both mum and I sit and discuss my role. I think I am slowly becoming Hasi. That’s all. I am not doing any special homework as Goutamda has asked me not to. I want to be spontaneous and deliver on spot. I don’t want to have any preconceived notions about my role.

Is Kajol giving you any inputs?

Not really, but she has been a pillar of support for me, always. She is the one I bond the most with. She is happy for me.

Have you seen any of your mother’s Bengali films?

Yes, I have watched a film in which my mum was the leading lady. But I won’t be able to say the name. And since I didn’t understand the language I didn’t sit through the whole film.

You have cousins in Calcutta. So will your stay be a family reunion of sorts?

I have a few cousins living in Calcutta but I don’t think I will meet them as I am not very close to them.

What about Bollywood films?

I will start shooting for a film in November about which I cannot talk now. But I am looking forward to Ram Gopal Varma’s Sarkar Raj, which releases on June 6. I play Avantika Nagre, opposite Abhishek Bachchan.