The right kind of project has finally rolled Riya Sen’s way. For her debut in the Tollywood commercial film space, Moon Moon Sen’s younger daughter has chosen Hero 420, co-starring Om and Nusrat Faria, directed by Sujit Mondal and produced by Eskay Movies. t2 caught up with Riya at the look test...

So, how are you feeling about your big debut?

I am not nervous because I have done a lot of commercial films in Mumbai.  But then I was dying to do movies in Calcutta and it took me a long time to make it to the Calcutta industry. People say that working in Mumbai is difficult but I find it more difficult to be in Calcutta, you know, for them to accept you.

What made you pick this film?

When I got this offer, I just couldn’t refuse it... the banner, the director. Guess life has come full circle and I am quite happy! I started with urban films and then semi-commercial films like Dark Chocolate but now with this, I am happy that I am getting to do various roles.

What kind of roles do you want to do now?

Everything! I want to experiment and I think I am doing that already!

What do you play in Hero 420?

Well, my character comes from a well-to-do family with a political background. She is very confident, stylish and in love! (Laughs)

What is your personal style like?

My life is very simple, but the way I am going to be portrayed in Hero 420 is the type of person people think I am. But personally, I do not like to dress up much at all because when I am shooting I am dressed up morning to night, so other times I just want to relax. Mum and dad keep on saying that when you go out in the evening you must dress up, but my sister (Raima) and me do just the opposite. (Laughs)

What would be your outfit for a day out, brunch and date night?

I love palazzos, kurta top, tank tops for all of them. I am most comfortable in palazzos... and guess what, my friends in Mumbai are like, listen we are going out at night but do not wear those palazzos! And then after changing 10 times I end up wearing the palazzos. I like it loose and easy-breezy.

So how many pairs of palazzos do you have?

You might kill me... I have two or three, but I only wear one all the time! Even this one (pointing at what she’s wearing), this is a salwar kameez pant. I have one Indian, one western and a few cheap Lokhandwala palazzos.

A trend you are crushing on?

I have my favourite lip liner that I have worn for the last five years. I change lipsticks but my lip liner is the same. The thing is when I get stuck on something, I get stuck with it.... And I love wearing my chappals in spite of having Christian Louboutin, Jimmy Choo, Chanel, Prada... limited editions... just name it and I have cupboards full of them. But at the end of the day, I am wearing the chappals.

What’s a regular day in your life like?

If I am in Calcutta, I sometimes cook for my parents. I go through phases where I do what I like. I need to travel or I feel claustrophobic and it’s like I am living out of my suitcase. My base is not Mumbai, nor Calcutta.... I am always shifting, like yesterday I was in Mumbai for just a day to meet three directors, be with my dogs, do my treatments, pack clothes…. In Mumbai, I am with my dogs and I like to stay in the house.

What do you cook?

I am a big foodie. I like north Indian, Filipino and Bhutanese food. If I go to a state or a country and if I like a dish, I make sure to learn how to make it. My father, being a foodie, keeps telling me, ‘Why don’t you cook for me tomorrow?’ And now it’s like ‘I am having guests, I would like you to cook’. So that way he has made me enjoy the process and given me the confidence to cook a meal for him and his friends. That encourages me.

With so much cooking, how do you control bingeing?

I am a foodie and I can’t diet and I haven’t worked out in a year now. For me Calcutta is more like a holiday spot and I cannot work out here.

Besides cooking, how do you de-stress?

I love shopping but not all the time. I love being with my friends and being at home. I love my space, so I stay in my room with my dogs, surf the Net. I can spend days in my room by myself. Sometimes I listen to music or just be there and do nothing.

What music are you hooked to?

I listen to different kinds of music. My father also loves my taste in music, so we share music. I like artistes like Nina Simone, Jamie XX…

What are the things you are possessive about?

My dogs Tashi and Puchi. My pets have their own Instagram accounts and they are really cute. You should see their expressions! They wake up with me, follow me around... if I have a meeting at home they will sit next to me and they have to be given attention by the producers and directors. My parents think I love my dogs more than I love them!

Complete the sentence for us: When Riya is shooting, she is__________ on the sets.

What do you think? Not normal, na? Normal is boring. When I come on the sets, I need to speed things up. Everyone has a limit of energy for a day as it is impossible to carry on and on. So when I come and get ready, I like to finish with that energy.

 

Pramita Ghosh
Will Riya make it big as a commercial film heroine in Tollywood? Tell t2@abp.in