Nusrat and Ankush in Khiladi, directed by Ashok Pati and produced by Eskay Movies

Isn’t three films in three years too little for a commercial heroine?

Not really. I think if you make good choices and do good movies, it’s not less. Even after doing two movies (Shatru and Khoka 420), I wasn’t out of the mind of the audience. They always wanted to see me. They follow me on Twitter and Facebook and doing just one movie I have about five fan clubs so I think I’ve earned a lot of love. Doing less movies doesn’t matter. Doing good movies is important.

What’s your role in Khiladi (releases in October)?

I play Puja. She is smart and confident but comes from a conservative Hindu family. Puja is very religious but at the same time she is naughty — she winks at men just for fun! Puja is like any other heroine in a commercial film. I’m glad that my name’s Puja again in Khiladi because the name is really lucky for me. My name was Puja in Shatru. I had super fun working with Ankush (in Khiladi). We belong to the same age group and we’ve both done three movies each.

Don’t you think you should devote less time to openings and inaugurations and more to films?

No. Openings and inaugurations are a part of our career. If you do not do movies you will not be able to do openings and inaugurations. If I do a big banner film, only then people will notice me and contact me for work. One movie earned me lot of recognition, fame and love. I’m doing good films with good banners and mostly high-budget films.

Raj Chakraborty, who gave you a break in Shatru (2001), is known to repeat his heroines. But he hasn’t offered you anything again...

That is completely Rajda’s call. We are always in touch and I still call him Daddy! (Giggles) We do catch up over coffee but he is doing different kinds of movies and he needs different kinds of actresses for that. That’s why maybe I am not there in his list. But this doesn’t bother me and I don’t think why he is not repeating me or calling me for his movies.

You’ve worked with both Dev and Jeet. Who has inspired you more?

Both are inspiring in their own ways. Jeetda used to guide me a lot. He is like a mentor. Dev is more like a friend. Both are unique in their own way.

Who’s your favourite Tolly actor?

My favourite is Bumbada (Prosenjit) and I am dying to work opposite him!

Do you go knocking on producers’ doors for work?

Never. I believe that doing PR in this industry really helps. You have to call up producers, be in touch with directors and other actors to get movies. But for me it’s different because nobody can ever point out and say that Nusrat has come to me for work. I believe no director or no producers gives me work... it’s God. It’s all about luck.

How’s everything going on the personal front?

Good. Whatever time I get I either sleep or work. My production people have become my family at the moment. (Laughs) I don’t really get the time to come back home and watch TV or watch a movie in the theatre. I know it’s horrible! I have also moved out of my parents’ home because I was becoming too dependant on them. So on mutual consent I have rented a flat in Gariahat where I live with my maid but as they say, old habit dies hard — I call up my mom at least 10 times a day. I will soon buy a flat of my own.

Kushali Nag