It was written in the stars. And the signs were there in their first movie itself. Gaurav Chakrabarty and Ridhima Ghosh played friends-turned-lovers who get married in their first film together (Kaushik Ganguly’s Rang Milanti, 2011). Now, after dating for over six years, Gaurav and Ridhima are set to tie the knot in November 2017.
“We have become a little like each other now,” smiles Ridhima. “We are very lucky for each other. The marriage will do us good... she has changed me for the better,” smiles Gaurav. “He is a complete man. Nobody understands me like he does,” adds Ridhima.
The BFF couple in love share the deets, first with t2.
Ridhima, when did you first meet Gaurav?
Gaurav & Ridhima: It was on September 5, 2010. Our first meeting happened at Kaushik Ganguly’s place for the script reading of Rang Milanti. And our first picture together came out in t2!
Ridhima: The first time I had heard about Gaurav was from his father (Sabyasachi Chakrabarty) during the shoot of the film Friend. He had told me that Gaurav goes out with him on treks in the jungles, that he is very active.
Gaurav: Coming back to the script-reading session, I didn’t know anyone in that room except for Kaushik kaku, his chief assistant director, and Indrasish (Roy, actor). It was my first film, obviously I was nervous.
Ridhima: I didn’t know anyone except for Gourab Chatterjee.
Gaurav: Indrasish and I were the first to reach. And we were waiting for everyone to arrive. Soon the bell rang and I saw this beautiful girl entering the room. And since I was so shy I couldn’t look into her eyes. She came in with her father. I was quite awe-struck the first time I saw her.... And, Kaushik kaku had informed me earlier that there was a kissing scene!
Ridhima: There were three kissing scenes, and I thought of not doing the film!
Gaurav: I am not comfortable doing kissing scenes. Post-Rang Milanti there have been lots of movies I have said no to because of kissing scenes. I had told Kaushik kaku, ‘How will I do this?’ He had said, ‘Your father has done a kissing scene in my film, Waarish. So why not?’ Which is why I was so nervous at the script-reading session…
Ridhima: And I didn’t know this. I got to know after the script-reading got over… I was like, ‘Three kissing scenes?! Oh… okay. I have to think about it.’
Ridhima, what was your first impression of Gaurav?
Ridhima (turning to Gaurav): You had/have a cute face, but you used to wear oversized clothes! He was the decent guy. I felt there must be something wrong since a guy cannot be so bhadra and so bhalo. Of course he is that, but he has another side also... he is human! He was an introvert, I was an extrovert. He liked staying in the house, while I was the wild child!
Gaurav: Ridhima and Gourab were responsible for changing my whole wardrobe.
Ridhima: We became friends when we went on a recce for the shoot in Bolpur.
Gaurav: On way to Bolpur, I started chatting with Ridhima’s dad. Kaku was the catalyst. He got everyone talking and by the end of the trip we were chatting with each other. There was a script-reading session in the evening, and then we gave adda till 3.30am!
Ridhima: I always had to initiate a conversation. He would participate later...
Gaurav: I got intimidated.
So Gaurav was the shy, good guy. What worked for him?!
Ridhima: He always stood out. During the film shoot I sort of had a crush on him. I knew he was the kind who would listen, since he talks less (laughs). Of course, things have changed now!
Who sent out the first ‘friend request’ on Facebook?
Ridhima: I did, but I made sure I had sent out friend requests to the other guys, except Gourab who was already on my list, and once they accepted I sent out one to Gaurav.
Gaurav: I didn’t know all this. And I would see Indrasish and Ridhima messaging each other... and I had a crush on her from the moment I met her!
Ridhima: You did not!
Gaurav: Yes, that’s why I couldn’t look at you.
Ridhima: His behaviour started changing.
Gaurav: I started taking an initiative.
Ridhima: One night he played the guitar and sang a song for me, Tumi na thakle by Anjan Dutt!
Gaurav: Later there was a private moment, and I said, ‘I think I like you more than I should’. And by December when we went to Darjeeling, we had started dating.
Who said, ‘I Love You’ first?
Ridhima: He messaged me!
Ridhima, how did Gaurav finally propose to you?
Gaurav: I knew whenever I would ask her to marry me it had to be really special and large-scale and filmi. Our relationship began in the most filmi way possible, with a film... now last December we went to Darjeeling... that place is special for us. We had shot for Rang Milanti there. The scene had us standing at this viewpoint with the sun setting on the Kanchenjunga. And our hands touch. So I thought that would be the best place to propose. I bought a ring and told her that we have to watch the sunset from that same spot.
Ridhima: And I was like why does he want to watch the sunset?! We could go whenever. And there were a lot of people around.
Gaurav: People recognised us. One person clicked a photo. And I was thinking, ‘I can’t do it like this... there are people and they’ll see’.
Ridhima: I told him, ‘Let’s quickly take a selfie and go.’ He wanted to recreate that scene once more.
Gaurav: Now she is thinking I’m there to recreate the scene. And she is getting impatient. My left hand is in my jacket pocket. I am holding the phone in my right hand to take a selfie and asking her to click since my left hand is in the jacket pocket. And she is getting irritated and saying, ‘Why don’t you click the photo?’! Once the crowd had thinned I got down on my knees, pretending to tie my shoe lace…and she got so irritated. She was like, ‘Now, you have to tie your shoe laces?’
Ridhima: I was looking here and there, and then suddenly I look down and there was Gaurav on his knee, with a ring in his hand… and I was zapped!
Gaurav: She wasn’t reacting… I was like, ‘Please say something...’
Ridhima: I forgot to say anything. I didn’t know how to react. For a really long time…
Gaurav: Fortunately she said ‘yes’!
Ridhima: Nothing could have been more romantic!
Romcoms have opened up a new side of life for me — Gaurav
Gaurav: In the last year she has made me watch films like Pretty Woman, Notting Hill, Dil To Pagal Hai, Hum Apke Hain Koun…! and I watched them for the first time... it’s opened up a new side of life for me. That’s how I have changed.
Previously I thought these films were too mushy and I was too no-nonsense for that. Earlier I would rather watch Terminator than Notting Hill. Now I feel I have become more sensitive.
Ridhima: I made him watch Titanic in 3D only recently.
First reel kiss
Gaurav: I was very nervous. It is all very clinical. It is not as romantic as it looks.
Ridhima: We were not talking to each other for some reason on that day. And when we did the scene I felt there was something from his side. And I got too emotional about the shot.
Arindam Chatterjee
Pictures: Rashbehari Das
Team t2 says: “All the very best Gaurav & Ridhima!” What’s your message for Gaurav and Ridhima? Tell t2@abp.in