Set against the beautiful backdrop of Wayanad, Indrasis Acharya’s Goodbye Mountain stars Rituparna Sengupta and Indraneil Sengupta in an edgy love story. A The Telegraph chat with the actors...

As a fresh on-screen pair in Puratawn, both of you received much love. How hopeful are you about captivating the audience with your chemistry in Goodbye Mountain?

Indraneil: The pairing in this film wasn’t planned post-Puratawn. We shot Goodbye Mountain before Puratawn, and its release just happened afterwards. We hope to carry the love and appreciation from Puratawn into this film, as the stories and characters are quite different. We strive to bring our best to each project.

Rituparna: It’s great to reprise our pairing, but every film has its own unique resonance. Puratawn highlighted a different chemistry between us, while Goodbye Mountain is a deep love story set in the mountains, featuring very different character dynamics. For Indraneil and me, this is a lucky phase because we are given characters that are uniquely written for each film, rather than repeating the same dynamics as a pair. Romantic films are rare in today’s industry, so I believe this film will resonate deeply with the audience.

A The Telegraph shoot inspired the film’s location. Can you elaborate on that?

Rituparna: The management from the resort reached out to me for a travel story and I wanted to do the shoot with The Telegraph. The owner of the resort was also part of the film industry, having produced several Malayalam films. The scenery made it an apt location, and it seemed perfect for our film. We came up with the idea to shoot there, and to our surprise, the owner was intrigued and expressed interest in collaborating. It shows that cinema transcends language barriers.

Indraneil, how did you come on board?

Indraneil: I received a call from Ritu about a film being directed by Indrasis. He then called and narrated the story to me, and I thought it was a unique take on relationships. It resonated with me and felt relevant at this stage in my life. The filming location was also beautiful, which added to my excitement, so I was eager to join the project from the start.

Rituparna: When Indrasis first shared the story, I was intrigued by its potential to rekindle romance for couples. The film is modern and bold, focused equally on both male and female perspectives. The role of the man in this film is significant. I wanted someone who is sensitive, good-looking and has an intellectual appeal, and Indraneil came to mind. I knew he could bring sensitivity and depth to the role, especially with his expressive eyes.

Could you share some of your favourite mountain memories?

Rituparna: I have many memories from shooting in Darjeeling and various locations like Siliguri and Ladakh. I filmed in Meghalaya for Puratawn, where the experience in the cave was a revelation to us. I’ve also visited beautiful places in Switzerland on family trips.

Indraneil: My favourite mountain memory is from my childhood trip with my parents to Kodaikanal. More recently, I visited Darjeeling for the first time in 2021. I completely agree that it is the ‘Queen of the Hills’. I’ve travelled to Shimla, Kashmir, and other places in Himachal, as well as Ooty and Mount Abu, but I find the charm of Darjeeling captivating. There’s something magical about the way it suddenly becomes foggy, and I love the feeling of the mist in my hair.

You have a beautiful scene of dancing the waltz in the film...

Indraneil: Honestly, I’m paranoid about dancing — I can’t dance to save my life! When Indrasis suggested that Ritu and I would be dancing, I said, ‘No, please!’ But Ritu encouraged me, saying that I would just have to stand and she would do the needful. (Both laugh) Typically, the man leads, but in our case, Ritu led, and I followed. And it worked out well for our characters, too.

Rituparna: It was the director’s idea that was added to the script later on. The director saw the atmosphere and felt it was vital for expressing the lost moments in their relationship. It became a form of expression, showcasing their attempts at connecting and engaging with each other. We were able to express ourselves through body language, it was beautiful.

Indraneil, if you had known about the dance beforehand, would you have hesitated to accept the role?

Indraneil: Yes, I would have felt paranoid and probably said, ‘I cannot dance, so I am not doing this for sure.’

Rituparna: It wasn’t really a proper dance!

Indraneil: Right, but if I had known there was going to be a dance, I would have said goodbye to the film! (both laugh)

What resonated with each of you regarding your characters in this film?

Indraneil: You typically find something of yourself in the characters you portray. This is how actors immerse themselves in their roles. But what I love about acting is that it allows me to explore lives vastly different from my own. I enjoyed playing Arjun because it let me step into a completely different persona.

Rituparna: While I can’t say I completely relate to Anandi, I admire her strong yet vulnerable personality. In my life, I also feel both strong and vulnerable at times, which intrigues me. We often explore different facets of ourselves through the roles we play, and Anandi was a significant discovery for me. The sensitivity with which she was written will stay with me for a long time.

Indraneil, what was your experience of working with Indrasis for the first time?

Indraneil: Each director has a unique approach, and Indrasis’s clarity really helps actors. It made it easier for us to understand his vision, and I enjoyed the poetic language he brought to the film.

Rituparna, Indrasis directed you in Parcel. What appeals to you about his filmmaking?

Rituparna: Parcel was suspenseful and explored relationship issues. This film, however, is more offbeat and beautifully romantic. I admire his sensitivity and unique understanding of life, which I’ve seen evolve in his works. I’m also doing another project with him called Gajan-er Dhulo Bali, a political thriller. I regard him as one of the most sensitive directors we have today; he has a unique understanding of life and relationships.

How was your shooting experience?

Rituparna: Our schedules were packed. However, the setting was beautiful. Getting the whole crew to climb up the hillocks was an experience in itself. But some locals had warned us that we had to finish early because there were animals in the area. So, one day we had to wrap up early as one animal was spotted. Also, I learnt a bit of their local language.

Indraneil: I really enjoyed being in a place where it wasn’t too hot, as I’m a mountain person.