In between her acting assignments and mommy duties, Arpita has quietly turned entrepreneur. In town for the release of Chauranga, the star wife chatted with t2 at her Ballygunge home about her new life in Delhi... and in the digital space.

You are rarely seen in Calcutta. Have you completely shifted base to Delhi?

Delhi is now my second home, I live near Mayur Vihar. I have set up Mydia 100, my company, in Noida. We make audio-visual content for smart phones. It’s an absolutely different field that I am working in. The apps we create will focus on the rural economy, health sector and women’s empowerment. We have developed Saheli, an app related to pregnancy care. Then there’s Hariyali, on agriculture. We are soon coming up with another app called Ha Ha Ha, which will have very fun, snappy content. All these apps are in six regional languages. I am really enjoying it because it’s a new field for me. If we succeed, we’d be the first player in this field.   

Isn’t it taking your focus away from films?

See, this bug called entrepreneur bit me a long time ago! When I took a break for six years post-marriage and motherhood, I used to look after Ideas, our (husband Prosenjit) production house, and I did a lot of programmes for Zee Bangla and ETV Bangla. Practically speaking, there’s a time limit for actresses. There is a pressure and you can get rid of it only when you have something substantial to fall back on. I don’t feel the pressure anymore. I am in a position to pick and choose films. I will do films till a certain age and when I stop doing films I know I will have more things to do that I enjoy. There will come a time in an actress’s life when she won’t get roles she likes and expects and then a lot of us get frustrated, and since there is a monetary pressure most of us end up doing films that aren’t so good. There are actresses who are working for many years now. But for how long? And are they getting roles that they really want to do?

But being an entrepreneur doesn’t have a time limit. This company will remain, not just for me but my son (Trishanjit, 11) too can take over in future. So after a lot of thought, I decided to invest my time and energy in this.

What kind of characters do you want to play now?

Kichhui toh kora hoyni (I haven’t done anything)! But I am happy that the characters I am playing now are good. I don’t put in a lot of effort to get these roles. My character in Chauranga (directed by Bikash Ranjan Mishra and produced by Onir) is so different and difficult. A typical housewife... quiet, docile and dominated. It’s difficult because she doesn’t speak much.

You’ve finished shooting Shab for Onir. Are you focusing on Hindi films?

Hindi, Bengali... I have no pressure regarding films.

You don’t think like an actress anymore?

Anymore?! I never thought like an actress. Never did PR, came to the industry with no strategy. I was committed to the characters I have played. But getting more offers and being consistent needs a lot of planning, which I lacked. That’s my drawback.

Any regrets for the way things have been?

No. In fact I am fortunate that I am playing so many roles. I am an actress, a mother, an entrepreneur. Films are no longer my first priority.

What is a day like in your life in Delhi?

I wake up in the morning, have breakfast, shower and then it’s only office, office, office! Delhi is the worst place in the world. The way people are, the way they talk… everything is a culture shock for me. I miss Calcutta and my son. He studies in Kodaikanal International School in Tamil Nadu. I really look forward to his winter holidays. When he is here, I cook his favourite Aloo Posto and French Omelette. This work that I am doing is very innovative. Please pray for me. 

t2: All the best!

Kushali Nag
What’s your message for Arpita the entrepreneur? Tell t2@abp.in