Paayel at the t2 chat in Park Plaza’s Nirvana. Picture: Rashbehari Das

It must have been a lot of fun playing the young Aparna Sen in Chotushkone...

Yes! And I loved my look... the bouffant, the way the sari is draped... and all my portions in the film are in black and white. I had a lot of fun playing Trina.

And what about Bachchan with Jeet?

In Bachchan my character Trisha falls in love and marries a don (Mukul Dev) and becomes his pawn. But she does come out of his clutches and connects with Jeet’s Bijoy. I don’t think any mainstream heroine would agree to play a don’s wife! Trisha appears to be a negative character but she is not a vamp. Very fashionable, very modern... high pony, ruby lips and leather jackets.

And then you have the Hindi film Guddu Ki Gun with Kunal Khemu where you have two different looks…

Guddu Ki Gun is a nonsense comedy. There I have a glamourous look and the other look is under wraps. Working with Kunal Khemu… I was a little nervous initially. I would wonder what I would do if he turned out to be one of those serious types. But he was very chilled out. We have a small schedule left which will be shot in Bombay. Guddu Ki Gun is directed by Shantanu Ray and Shirshak Anand, who had written the script for Table No. 21.

How did you land the role?

Since they were shooting almost half the film in Calcutta, they wanted to cast a Bengali girl. Indranil Ghosh (art director) referred me to them and I auditioned for it. I didn’t even think I would get a Hindi film offer sitting in Calcutta!

Chotushkone is doing well and you’ve signed a couple of films more. Is this the best phase of your career?

It’s been eight years in Tollywood and I have done about 15 films. It can be better... you never know, we actors are greedy. But yes, it’s a very nice phase I am going through... touchwood. But I wish for more. I have three releases coming up — Ebar Shabor, Lorai and Guddu Ki Gun — and I am shooting for Amanush 2 and Kathmandu.

What is the space you occupy in Tollywood? You do both masala and urban films...

I feel that as an actress I should be flexible to do any kind of film. One should not categorise oneself. I am as comfortable doing an I love You or a Le Halwa Le and Prem Amaar as I am doing Cross Connection, Jaani Dyakha Hawbey and Chotushkone. That’s why I have had two films of different flavours releasing on the same day (Chotushkone and Bachchan), and I have done justice to both!

Unlike many heroines in Tollywood, you are friends with other actresses...

Yes, Parno (Mittra) is a good friend of mine. Raima (Sen) and I talk a lot. That’s it. Basically, actors are lonely, self-obsessed people.

Are you self-obsessed?

Yes, a little, of course. I am always staring at the mirror or taking selfies! My mom is sick and tired of me because whenever she tries to have a conversation with me, I look in the mirror and answer her. But at least I am conscious that I am self-obsessed!

Srijit Mukherji is a good friend too, isn’t he?

(Smiles naughtily) Yes, he is, of course.

So, any plans to settle down with him?

No, no! See, since I am single and I am a heroine, there will be gossip and rumours. But as you said, I am going through a great phase and I really want to concentrate on my work. I had invested a lot of my time and energy in a person at one point (referring to her affair with director Raj Chakraborty) but now I am just focusing on work. Marriage can wait for another five years!