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| Samadarshi and Rituparna at the t2 chat on Akarshan in Paris Cafe. Picture: Pabitra Das |
He plays her young boss, she plays his sexy secretary. Sparks fly and an office romance blooms which soon turns dangerous. Rituparna Sengupta and Samadarshi, the lead cast of Akarshan which released this Friday, talk fatal attraction with t2.
There’s a steamy song sequence set in the office. Samadarshi, how comfortable were you doing it with Rituparna?
Samadarshi: I was very nervous. Not at all comfortable. She made me comfortable.
Rituparna: Is it my job to make everybody comfortable or what!? (Laughs) In fact we had a bold scene in Arohan too!
Samadarshi: Yes, it was shot in Benaras in December. We were wet and shivering. And then we had to be very lovey-dovey.
Rituparna: There, too, I had to make him comfortable!
Samadarshi: See, when you are doing bold scenes with somebody of your generation, then it’s okay. But when you are doing a steamy song sequence with Rituparna Sengupta, it’s not comfortable boss, let me be honest with you! But since I have known her since Ichche (Samadarshi’s debut film, which was presented by Rituparna) and I really look up to her, always, there’s been a constant and wonderful relationship. So that’s why I could do it.
Tell us a little about what you play in Akarshan...
Samadarshi: I play Shayak who works in an MNC. He has a family but he is attracted to Tora (Rituparna), his secretary. Akarshan is basically about extra-marital affairs; it’s also a thriller. There’s an age difference. Tora is older than Shayak, yet they fall in love.
Rituparna: Tora is very naive and vulnerable. And she falls for Shayak, emotionally, who doesn’t really take her very seriously. So it’s fatal attraction.
Do you think women tend to become vulnerable when in a relationship?
Samadarshi: That’s debatable.
Rituparna: I think, yes. Girls are vulnerable. I am not saying that men don’t get emotional... well, yes... it is debatable.
Samadarshi: We always think that when a relationship doesn’t work out, probably the girl gets hurt more or insulted more. But that’s not always the case.
Rituparna: But society victimises a woman more easily than a man.
Samadarshi: Yes, that’s true.
In real life have you ever been fatally attracted to someone?
Samadarshi: After marriage, no. I just got married. Before marriage, yes!
Rituparna: Yes, I do have a fatal attraction for someone and he is Hugh Grant! (Laughs)
But it’s more like a fan-girl thing. It cannot be fatal...
Rituparna: No, it can be fatal if I meet him! But coming to your point, we are all imperfect and we’ve all been in various kinds of relationships. Some we talk about, some we don’t even want to remember. You have to move on. There are certain relationships that we can’t accept, society won’t accept. But we as human beings should take a lesson from each one and move on. I don’t want to discuss too much about it but I am sure everybody has had such relationships.
Is Akarshan a remake of Fatal Attraction?
Samadarshi: Not at all. There may be similarities but it’s not a remake.
Rituparna: It’s an original story written by Debraj Sinha (director). Relationship forms the basis of the film.
And do you believe in the saying that age is just a number?
Rituparna: Of course, I do! Age has nothing to do with anything now. Older woman dating younger man or getting married is no big deal in today’s time and age. It’s about compatibility.
