Raima Sen has been doing the “dub smash” all through July. She has finished the dubbing for three films — Reunion, Finally Bhalobasha and Sitara. “This whole morning I have been doing a Bangladeshi accent.... and then I come here and I am supposed to do proper Bengali! It’s driving me mad,” laughs Raima after wrapping up the dubbing for Reunion, which also stars Parambrata Chattopadhyay. A t2 chat...

Do you like to dub?

You can improve your performance in dubbing. And this is easy for me. 

We heard that you are talking less on the sets now!

Now I have learnt the trick of how to talk less on screen. Earlier I used to do a lot of things and then you had to match it in dubbing. Like I would talk away in the background. But now I keep still (laughs). 

Who are you in Reunion (directed by Murari M. Rakshit )?

I play Monideepa, who is a very sophisticated, confident lady… she knows what she wants. She has her own opinions. We (characters played by Raima and Parambrata) were in college and we meet again after 20 years… all of us. The film is about friendship, politics, love and romance. 

How were you in college?

I was very naughty in college, but people thought I was very good… because of my face! I look like I can do nothing wrong. I did everything  but got away! But when exam time came, I studied and I managed. I wasn’t studious at all... but all my best friends in school and college have been toppers. I would get all the notes from them (laughs). I would do everything under the sun but study. I was so naughty that I got suspended in Class XI for a month… that happened because I would bunk every Monday, and go to the club. My mother (Moon Moon Sen) just told me one thing — ‘If you have to be naughty, don’t get caught. At least be clever about it.’ Which is right! 

Did you miss college once you were out of it?

No! I am very happy that I finished school and college!

Both you and Param go back a long way…

Since Sandip Ray’s Nishijapon. When I first met him, he was very quiet. He didn’t talk. He was very shy. We were in our own worlds. Then I met him during the shoot of Anjan Dutt’s The Bong Connection... we had only maybe one scene together. I became his friend when he directed me in Hawa Bodol. We became friends then, and started doing a series of films together. Now we know each other really well. He understands my kind of humour. He can laugh with me on the smallest of stupid things. He knows when I get angry, when I don’t. During the shoot of Mi Amor (directed by Suman Ghosh), he would go to the gym every day. And he would tell me to go to the gym too. But I went shopping when I had free time. So we would have fights in Miami... because he’d go to the gym and I’d go shopping. He was right because by the end of three weeks, I really put on weight (smiles). I regretted it, and it took me six months to get thin.

Everyone has now become disciplined, stylish and health-conscious. When we used to go to the gym, no one took it seriously. Param has become very conscious about his food now. He has brown rice while we have white rice. After watching Pari, I told Param that he is a very good actor (smiles). He was like, ‘what about the rest’! After watching Pari, I take him seriously! Now he tells me that I haven’t changed in the last 10 years. 

You think so too?

Yeah, I am the same. Not a single mannerism about me has changed. I have less patience now. Earlier I was patient. Now I feel the more you adjust, the more they will walk all over you. Of course I won’t throw tantrums unnecessarily… but maybe for the right reasons. 

Is it tough to keep a straight face when doing a romantic scene with a friend like Param?!

In every film with Param, there has to be a kissing scene. There is a kissing scene in Reunion too. There was no point in arguing with the director. I gave up. Now we just surrender to it.

Pictures: Pabitra Das