TV stars from Calcutta

Name: Sreejita De

Age: 25

Calcutta address: Rajarhat. Was born and brought up in Haldia.

School: St. Xavier’s School, Haldia.

College: Bachelors in mass media from Ramnarain Ruia College, Mumbai.

First break: Annu Ki Ho Gayee Waah Bhai Waah (STAR One)

Show currently on air: Uttaran (Colors).

Work so far: I had come to study in Mumbai aur aate hi hawa lag gayi ! I did small roles in Karam Apnaa Apnaa and Kasautii Zindagii Kay. After Annu Ki Ho Gayee Waah Bhai Waah, I did Miley Jab Hum Tum, Mukti Bandhan and Ladies Special. I have also acted in two films — Luv Ka The End and Monsoon Shootout.

Miss most about Calcutta: Food! Calcutta food can’t be compared to any other place.

Favourite Calcutta hangout: I meet my friends in and around Park Street.

Favourite Calcutta street food: Chop, shingara, fish cutlet and noodles.

Favourite Calcutta restaurant: Flurys.

Closest friend in Calcutta: All my friends have moved out of Calcutta. Only one friend, Jackson, lives near Park Street.

Back in Calcutta: I will definitely go back to Calcutta if I get a break in Bengali films. I always wanted to work with Rituparno Ghosh. I try to watch Bengali films released in Mumbai. Jaatishwar, Bedroom and Autograph are my recent favourites. I want to work in a Srijit Mukherji film. I love the genre of films that Raima Sen does.

Calcutta vs Mumbai: Calcutta has trustworthy people, food, friends and relatives... warmth and happiness. Mumbai’s traffic is annoying.

Name: Tina Datta

Age: 23

Calcutta address: Behala.

School: St Paul’s Boarding and Day School (Kidderpore) and Meghmala Roy Education Centre (Behala).

First break: Koi Aane Ko Hai (Colors).

Show currently on air: Uttaran (Colors).

Work so far: Uttaran apart, Tina has acted in Bengali daily soaps Khela, Durga and Sukh. In Tollywood, she has films like Chokher Bali (played Aishwarya Rai’s neighbour) and Chirodini Tumi Je Amar to her credit.

Miss most about Calcutta: My family and other close relatives.

Favourite Calcutta hangout: Victoria Memorial.

Favourite Calcutta street food: Phuchka. I don’t like the panipuri you get in Mumbai.

Favourite Calcutta restaurant: Mainland China, Oh! Calcutta and Bhojohori Manna.

Closest friends in Calcutta: Tanaya Chakraborty, Muku and Nandini Chatterjee

Back in Calcutta: I love living in Mumbai, so I don’t think I will ever come back to Calcutta!

Calcutta vs Mumbai: Mumbai lacks that apnapan and the warmth that Calcutta gives to people. Mumbai is too professional.

Name: Ishita Ganguly

Age: 19

Calcutta address: Near Tollygunge tram depot; was born and brought up in Halishahar (North 24-Parganas).

School: Annapurna Girls High School.

College: Pursuing English (honours) from Netaji Subhash Open University.

First break: Shastri Sisters (Colors) for which she got an offer through Facebook. “I went to Mumbai for seven days only to try my luck, but have stayed back.”

Show currently on air: Shastri Sisters (Colors).

Work so far: Bengali TV shows Mrs Singha Roy, Bhasha and Annapurna.

Miss most about Calcutta: Shopping before Durga Puja!

Favourite Calcutta hangout: Babughat and the coffee shops near Lake Gardens and South City Mall.

Favourite Calcutta street food: Phuchka, mishti and egg roll.

Favourite Calcutta restaurant: Tero Parbon (Purna Das Road).

Closest friend in Calcutta: Piyali Munshi. She has also worked in Hindi TV shows.

Back in Calcutta: Only if I get a good offer there.

Calcutta vs Mumbai: I have spent three months here and it’s a dream to stay and work in Mumbai. Mumbai is professional, fast and focused, but I miss my friends, family and Calcutta a lot.

Name: Vishal Vashishtha

Age: 22

Calcutta address: Salt Lake.

School: The Heritage School.

College: B.Com (hons) from Bhawanipur Education Society College.

First break: Crazy Stupid Ishq (Channel V).

Show currently on air: Veera (STAR Plus).

Miss most about Calcutta: My vellapanti, my family and my friends.

Favourite Calcutta hangout: Bon Appetit and Sharma Tea, both in Salt Lake.

Favourite Calcutta street food: Phuchka.

Favourite Calcutta restaurant: Afraa (City Centre Salt Lake).

Closest friends in Calcutta: Abhishek, Aman, Mukund and Chaitan.

Back in Calcutta: I love my work in Mumbai. I guess if I ever come back, it will be for the luxury at home.

Calcutta vs Mumbai: Mumbai is always on its toes! Calcutta has heritage and tradition.

Name: Ayaz Ahmed

Age: 27

Calcutta address: Grew up in Howrah, but has recently bought an apartment in Park Circus.

School: St Lawrence High School.

College: South Calcutta Law College, but studied till the fourth year.

First break: Ayaz, who worked as an RJ in Calcutta, auditioned for the fifth season of MTV reality show Roadies and got selected. After Roadies, he came back to Calcutta. His first acting break was in the Ekta Kapoor show Kitani Mohabbat Hai.

Shows currently on air: Splitsvilla 7 and Kaisi Yeh Yaariyaan (both on MTV).

Work so far: Roadies 5, Kitani Mohabbat Hai, Tujh Sang Preet Lagai Sajna, Ishaan, Meri Toh Lag Gayi… Naukri, I Luv My India, Do Dil Ek Jaan, Gumrah, Yeh Hai Aashiqui, MTV Webbed, Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya.

Miss most about Calcutta: Food! I am a huge foodie. The biryani that we get in Calcutta has no match anywhere else. I badly miss KC Das’s kanchagolla and kheer kadam.

Favourite Calcutta hangout: Russell Street Dhaba, Balwant Singh Dhaba and Forum Mall.

Favourite Calcutta street food: Phuchka.

Favourite Calcutta restaurant: Arsalan. I have biryani every day when I am in Calcutta!

Closest friends in Calcutta: Shaad and Shahid were my two neighbourhood buddies. All three of us got our black belts in martial arts together. I am still in touch with them.

Back in Calcutta: I would like to go back to Calcutta and do one or two projects.

Calcutta vs Mumbai: I hardly get time to visit Calcutta. I miss staying with my family and catching up with friends. Mumbai is really fast, while Calcutta does everything at its own pace. But Calcutta has my home, my family and my friends.

Text: Ratnalekha Mazumdar
Which TV star with roots in Calcutta do you want to know more about? Tell t2@abp.in