(From top) Locket and Sreelekha take a break on the sets of Uro Chithi; Indraneil Sengupta rehearses before a shot; Biswanath Chatterjee takes a last-minute look at the script. Pictures by Aranya Sen

Sudha is a homemaker of modest means who dreams of a better life. Raka is also a homemaker, but very different in her outlook.

At Bondel Gate Rajbari on Friday afternoon, Locket Chatterjee and Sreelekha Mitra became Sudha and Raka — a study in contrasts — for Kamaleshwar Mukherjee’s directorial debut Uro Chithi. They had co-stars Indraneil Sengupta and Biswanath Chatterjee for company.

Shedding her glamorous image one more time after Necklace, Locket slipped into a crinkled taant sari teamed with shakha-pola. Sreelekha, on the other hand, draped a crisp cotton sari for that urban, sophisticated feel. Her Raka is a feisty woman who walks out of her marriage when she finds her husband cheating on her.

“Indraneil plays my husband. The couple have a steady relationship till recession strikes and what Kamaleshwar explores in the film is how Indraneil’s professional life takes a toll on his personal life. I really liked my character. Raka has a mind of her own, she has good taste and she keeps herself updated about everything,” said Sreelekha, who is working with Indraneil for the first time.

Locket likes the duality in Sudha. “In the first half, I play this domesticated housewife but Sudha changes completely in the second half when she becomes the owner of a parlour, which is a seedy place, and her lifestyle and looks undergo a complete change. Biswanath plays my husband and Sreelekha-Indraneil are our family friends in the film. Sudha also has a soft corner for Indraneil,” said Locket.

The other woman Indraneil’s character falls for is played by model-turned-actress Tanusree.

The Uro Chithi cast includes Rudranil Ghosh, Resshmi Ghosh and Sudipta Chakraborty.