There is no concept of retired hurt for Mimi Chakraborty. The feisty actress may have been slightly unwell but she gave it her all for this Durga Puja special shoot for t2 at The Dockyard Co., a stunning riverfront property on Garden Reach Road, a blend of heritage and contemporary. She loves honouring her commitments, like a true professional. And, on a day when a drizzle this minute was followed by a strong sun beating down on us the next. Post pack-up, Mimi sat down to chat with us about her Puja film Raktabeej 2, the making of her bikini song, her hard-earned life mantras, and more.

So, when Sanjukta Mitra (her character in the Raktabeej films) dresses up, this is how she dresses up, right?

I hope so! The third look is very Sanjukta and me. It’s closest to my personality.

We have to ask you, does Sanjukta fall in love in the film?!

I can’t tell you that (laughs). That is a very important part of the film. There is an NDA! (Laughs)

You look fab in the song Chokher neele. Did you have any inhibitions about wearing a bikini?

No. I generally don’t have inhibitions. If people don’t make me feel awkward…
Nowadays, some people fish out their phones and will take your picture from all kinds of weird angles. There are no ethics. So, I have also become very nervous about this fact.

We shot this song on a virgin island in Thailand. The hotel we were staying in was six hours from the Phuket airport, and the location was five hours away from our hotel. I was on a very strict regimen. So, it was mentally and physically taxing for me. But when I see the final song, I am really happy. This was a challenge for me, and I like to challenge myself, because otherwise I get bored. You need to motivate yourself. There was no pressure, but when I started prepping for the song, I realised what I had undertaken. I have been fit for a very long time, but to be wearing a two-piece on the big screen, where you can’t hide anything, it was difficult. And, also, I am a vegetarian. So, for me, when I go on a diet, it gets very difficult.

Yes, we saw what you had today for lunch! Boiled broccoli and fruits…

Trust me, it is not bad! (Laughs) I make it in a way that it doesn’t taste bad. I steam it, so the taste is intact. I had a lot of potatoes, along with sweet potatoes. I love potatoes. That is a box I carry everywhere. I get my own olive oil and seasoning. I carry that pouch of mine!

Mimi Chakraborty

For the prep, I didn’t go off rice because I don’t believe in not having carbs. Everything I ate was in portions. I even had an egg roll or lactose-free, low-calorie ice cream. But there were nights I used to cry (laughs), I was like: ‘Why am I doing this to myself?!’

I trained as per the requirement and my recovery was also important. I made it a point to sleep nine hours. With my dogs, I can’t sleep for nine hours. So, one of my staff members slept with them.

When did you become comfortable with your body?

I think it just happened. I have realised after reading books, journals and listening to podcasts that you cannot please everyone. Either you are too thin or too fat, too dark or too short or too tall, either you are outspoken or dumb, or you are a brainless beauty, or precocious. It used to affect me a lot before, but now I feel, if I start thinking about these things, I would have to surrender my life to them. So I don’t care.

I know what I have done in my life. I know what I have gone through and how I have reached here. I know the hard work, the downs and the highs. It is always you and you alone who matters. When times are tough, there is hardly anyone with you and the day you won’t be able to deliver your 100 per cent, you will be replaced. So, it doesn’t affect me at all. That competition that I have to star in 10 films a year, it doesn’t affect me any more. I know I don’t have any backing in the industry, a godfather, a husband, a boyfriend, who will back me up for a movie.

Isn’t that an empowering feeling, though?

I am happy about the fact that my fans and my hard work have put me where I am today. But I also know that even after Raktabeej 2 becomes a blockbuster, I will have to wait for my next film and, if I quote a certain amount as my remuneration, it’ll go to someone else. But I don’t care. To be honest, I always used to tell people that work is my passion; now my life is my passion. I want to live my life. I have done it for a very long time, and I am in no rush. And, life gets over in this mad race.

I am spiritual. When I travel, I see life differently. Now, I just want to earn money, and my only aim in life is to build my own farmhouse. I want to have my own pond, my goats and cows. When I look at the wounded horses, it pains me. I want to be able to do something for them. I want to gift myself that life. I look at the videos at night, which people send me, and I cry. And, I pray to God to help me reach a place where I can do this and can provide for their food and medicines.

What is your advice for all the women who feel unhappy with their bodies?

I would say to each his own, but don’t obsess over it. I know I don’t have my bikini figure now, and today, if you tell me to wear a bikini, I wouldn’t be able to, because it’s a rigorous process. I have done it and I might again, for a movie.

You have to understand one thing — you are you. You can’t have what others have. And others can’t have what you have. Otherwise, five fingers on the hand would have been of the same shape and size. This realisation has come with age. So just don’t listen to people who are saying you are fat or short or tall or outspoken or dumb. When I wake up, I have my motto written in front of me, on a piece of fluorescent paper, that I am grateful. Self-love is different. Take care of yourself, but be happy in life. Life once gone is gone.

Who are the women who give you confidence?

Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts… I like Ritudi (actress Rituparna Sengupta) a lot, her energy levels, she looks so pretty and that energy matters. Sushmita Sen was not from the industry and is a single mother…. I like Rihanna. She launched a beauty brand, thinking about the skin she is in.

Last year, I had rape threats. I had to raise the case. I filed an FIR and took it to the court. I am not a person who will back down. They were convicted… It hit me so hard. I don’t want to stay in showbiz any more. I want to live my life. I used to love this profession so much and social media so much. I can’t tell you how much I hate social media right now. So, above everything, I would say I believe in myself. I talk to myself a lot.

How has your fitness journey changed you?

It has changed me totally, both mentally and physically. I am stronger than ever. I lift 100kg. I was at a party and was enjoying my profiteroles. This guy came up to me and said, ‘So lucky. You don’t gain weight’. I didn’t tell him anything. So this is how people judge you, too! If you eat, people will be like: ‘Oh, you eat and don’t gain weight’. If you don’t eat, they’ll be like: ‘Oh, you are a heroine. So, you don’t eat!’ (Laughs). No one was ready to believe. I was in Iceland all alone, but I won’t recommend that to anyone (laughs). There is no one to talk to or a bar where you can sit and chill. It is always snowing, and everything is indoors.

What’s your Puja message for our readers?

Just enjoy! Maa Durga is coming. Be happy, and I hope this world gets safer for women.

Location: The Dockyard Co. (Jetty 8, Indenture Memorial at Clock Tower, Garden Reach Road)
Hair: Sima Ghosh
Make-up: Ameeth Dash
Jewellery: Vasundhara Creative Jewelry
Styling: Kiara Sen
Assistant stylist: Pragya Sarkar
Outfits sourced from: Aza (20 OC Ganguly Sarani)