They won our hearts with their innocent and playful romance as Abir and Jhinuk in the treasure hunt films Guptodhoner Sondhane and Durgeshgorer Guptodhon by Dhrubo Banerjee and will soon be reuniting for the third film of the franchise, Karna Subarne’r Guptodhon. Ishaa Saha and Arjun Chakrabarty. When we proposed this shoot idea, Ishaa was quick to ‘lock’ the timeless Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol pair and Arjun was game. One January morning, we checked into The Park and got Ishaa into her Kajol avatar and Arjun into Shah Rukh Khan’s. An hour later, three cars made their way to the Maidan to find a similar tree as seen in the song Suraj hua maddham. Obviously, we lost each other in the vastness of Maidan, but soon reunited to see this shoot through to a happy ending. Just like in most Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol films.
Ishaa Saha-Arjun Chakrabarty channel Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol from Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham...
Star talk
The Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol jodi…
Arjun: Probably because they acted well and looked good together, which is why the audience accepted them that way which is why they did so many films together and which is why Shah Rukh-Kajol has become a phrase, a term, which is used to define good chemistry. It was fun recreating this, but like I said, I don’t have half the grace of the man (laughs)! So, it did feel funny, but we are in a funny profession and I quite enjoy being what I am not in every photo shoot and film.
I was nervous because SRK is known as the king of romance for a reason. Maybe there is one bone of romance in me because I married the woman I love from high school. But apart from that no... I am not a huge romance buff. I don’t read romance novels or enjoy watching romance. Once in a while I might. I have seen Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind or Shah Rukh Khan films.
Ishaa: I chose SRK-Kajol because they are synonymous with love. I didn’t even consider other options. They are the ultimate. I was very excited. This was my first shoot post-Covid. And that too recreating SRK-Kajol because to match them is next to impossible.
There is some kind of magic. It is difficult to describe that chemistry. Arjun and I haven’t shot something this romantic till now, but tomra prothom dekhiye diley and now hopefully lokera aamader arektu romantically bhabbe! Eshob bolchhi bole Arjun aamai marte pare! (Laughs out loud) You saw how we shot... moja, khunshuti. Tar moddhe ei shot gulo deao shotyi khub difficult!
What makes for the great chemistry?
Arjun: I am not sure if being on good terms off-screen really helps. Tomorrow I might do a film where I’ll have to kill her or be rude to her. That might be a problem if I am on good terms off-screen! It’s confusing! You just have to pretend well. That’s what acting is. I don’t have adda sessions with my friends from the industry, but I don’t think that affects work. And, it’s not only about the chemistry between a hero and heroine, the romance angle, but chemistry in general. I think Abirda (Abir Chatterjee) and I share great chemistry. Apart from Guptodhoner Sondhane and Durgeshgorer Guptodhon, I have also worked with him in Byomkesh Gotro. I have been a part of good films, which did well and had a good plot and story.
I think a lot depends on the writing, on how the makers choose to show them. I don’t understand why people say ‘chemistry was thanda’ and ‘kuch jaami nahin’. I don’t know when that happens. I don’t know who I have the best chemistry with, but I definitely enjoy working with Ishaa. Guptodhon has done well and the next part will begin soon and I am sure that too will do well. You have to enjoy working with the person.
Ishaa: I really don’t know but when two people emote on screen and there is reciprocation and how well you reciprocate, that’s chemistry, I guess.
Working with each other…
Arjun: She is fidgety and shob shomoi heshe fele, at least in the projects we have done together, but she is chilled out and easy to work with and I look forward to working with her. I am glad you chose us for this photo shoot.
Ishaa: He has ‘no-nonsense’ written on his face. Strict and gombhir. Since I have worked with him and observed him, I have often asked him ‘Ei acting ta ki kore paro?’ He is actually not like this! Abirda and Arjun get along to pull my leg. We have a basic bondhutto jeta aamar onek co-actor er shonge nei. We might not be meeting up outside work, but we start off from where we left off. When I started off, Arjun was my senior at work, but he made me feel so comfortable. Same for Abirda. We developed a tuning.
Team talk
“This is a classic look and perfect for the romantic feel on V-Day. I have replicated the red-on-red crystal earring with the red sari. It was very big on colour-on-colour. I gave her a dash of a golden bangle. Arjun’s look was simple yet sexy,” said Ankita Banerjee, stylist.
“A red sari is one of the sexiest garments ever created, so we made a red chiffon number for Ishaa. For Arjun, we made a breezy black linen shirt, accompanied with comfort linen trousers. The look was finished well with a black watch and black loafers” said Vedant Jain, fashion designer.
Abhijit Paul worked on both the pairs — Ishaa Saha-Arjun Chakrabarty and Sohini Sarkar-Anirban Bhattacharya, for this special feature. And, he loved it. “The looks were both simple. While Ishaa had smudged eyes and semi-nude lips, Sohini had glossy pink lips and smudged eyes. This was fun. Rekha’s look was a lot more natural, which is something I loved and the character was much more interesting,” he said.
Jewellery: Pantaloons
Black denims: American Eagle
Watch: Titan; Hair and make-up assistant: Sananda Mondal Laha
Special thanks: The Park
Pictures: Pabitra Das
