Rimli Sanyal and (below) a scene from Anubhab on Mahua Bangla. Pictures by Gopal Senapati

She has done so many TV soaps that she doesn’t remember the names. Her mother helps her with the names but the biggest role and challenge for Rimli Sanyal was portraying Savitri in Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s Charitraheen aired on ETV. While this was her first lead role in a TV serial, it was difficult for Rimli to step into Sarat Chandra’s character.

Those who watch Bengali TV serials regularly, Rimli is bound to be a familiar face. The girl, who is pursuing her graduation, has been working in the industry since childhood. Starting from playing Krishna in Joydeb-Padmabati on ETV to playing Nati Binodini in Ramkrishna aired on Rupashi Bangla, Rimli has been acting for more than a decade. “When I was about three-and-half years old, I joined group theatre. I worked with Amit Moitra’s group, Pancham Sawar. From there my mother took me to meet cameraman Premendra Bikash Chaki. He cast me for his serial Joydeb-Padmabati on ETV,” said Rimli.

Rimli Sanyal (left) and a scene from Anubhab on Mahua Bangla. Pictures by Gopal Senapati

There was no looking back for the little girl who managed her roles well because of her grounding in theatre. “That was one of the advantages I had over others because I had done group theatre and I had also learnt recitation from my mother,” said Rimli. Her first break in TV serials came when she was in Class IV. She played the role of a challenged girl in Nil Simana aired on Alpha Bangla. “The serial ran for four years and I was noticed at that time by many others. While doing Nil Simana, I also worked in a number of telefilms,” said Rimli. With time, Rimli has grown as an actress and has worked in other popular serials like Sonar Harin (ETV), Ei Ghar Ei Sansar (Zee Bangla), Erao Shatru (Zee Bangla) and many more.

Rimli made her debut in big screen with Sushanta Saha’s Sagar Kinare, where she played a child artiste. Later, she did more films like Ujjal Mitra’s Go For Goals, Subrata Sen’s Hothat Mirar Jonnye, Olot Palot, Mon Amar Sudhu Tomar and so on. With so many films and serials in hand, Rimli found it difficult to find time for studies. In 2010, however, she took a year’s break to study for her Higher Secondary exams.

She resumed work in 2011 with the lead role in Charitraheen. “This was a dream role but at the same time, it took up a lot of my time,” she said.

After being in the industry for over a decade, Rimli feels, “There is too much competition, specially in TV serials these days where producers are compromising with quality of acting just to meet targets.” About bagging a lead role in films, Rimli said: “I do not want to make compromises for a lead role in a film.”

More about rimli

• DoB: December 11, 1992
• Born in: Howrah
• Education: BA (pursuing)
• Family: Parents, brother
• Loves: Writing poetry and stories
• Hates: Back-biting