A role without glamour, but full of heart

Bangla Press Desk:   Several star-studded films have hit Kolkata’s theatres this Durga Puja, the biggest festival for Bengali Hindus. Among them is “Joto Kando Kolkatatei”,  featuring Bangladeshi actor Quazi Nawshaba Ahmed in the female lead. Recently, she spoke to the Daily Sun about her Tollywood debut and more. Here is an excerpt of the conversation. 

Finally, your film has been released in Kolkata. How do you feel?

Alhamdulillah, it feels good. The exams are over, and now the results are coming in. Although I could not go to Kolkata, the artistes of this film are constantly sharing updates. Among all the Puja stories, this film tells the tale of a girl-without glamour-and yet the simplicity of the story is being accepted by the audience. That is a matter of great joy for me.

How are you receiving feedback on your performance?

I earned a pass mark in acting, and that means a lot to me. Honestly, I did not expect so much! The response is better than I had imagined. I haven’t seen the film since acting in it, but my director said my work was good. Now, seeing the audience’s feedback, I truly believe I succeeded in portraying the character. Otherwise, why would the Kolkata’s newspapers write so positively about my role? And why would Indian National Award-winning actress Srilekha Mitra encourage me so much through voice messages? After watching the premiere, she told me she had seen a performance free of vulgarity after a long time. She even sent me two text messages personally, saying she liked my work. For me, such blessings from a talented senior artiste are nothing less than an award.

Did you ever imagine acting in a Kolkata film?

I’m not someone who follows strict rules. I’m very spontaneous and don’t think too much. I always want to do good work, and I’m very serious about it. I could never have imagined that, in an industry like Tollywood—without lobbying, purely on the strength of my talent—I would get the chance to play the female lead opposite Abir Chatterjee.

How did you get involved in this film?

I often wrote about my father on Facebook. Anik Dutta would sometimes comment, saying my writing reminded him of his daughter. At that time, I didn’t know he was the director of a famous film like ‘Bhooter Bhabishyat’. One day, he messaged me, saying he was making a film in which a Bangladeshi actress would play the lead role, and asked if I was willing to act. He suggested I audition. After I agreed, he auditioned me online for about three months. Many artistes auditioned besides me, but finally I was selected for the film.

Tell us about your character in ‘Joto Kando Kolkatatei’

I played Saba, a girl from Dhaka who goes to Kolkata in search of her roots. There she meets Abir da’s character, and an emotional relationship begins to unfold. In short, the film is about Saba’s journey. Saba is glamour less, but full of heart. Since I’m from Dhaka, the director gave me the freedom to shape the character naturally.

How was Abir Chatterjee as a co-actor?

He was wonderful. He’s not only a great actor but also a good human being. The team easily connected with him. Abir da understands the spirit of teamwork very well. Working with such an artiste was undoubtedly a great experience for me.

How was your shooting experience?

It was even better than I had imagined. Before shooting began, I worried about how I would manage such a big role. But the unit was so well-organised that once filming started, I was able to adapt to my character easily. I already knew Kolkata to some extent, but through this film I discovered both Kolkata and Darjeeling in a new way. Overall, it was a fantastic experience.

Do you think Tollywood films are better than our movies?

I don’t think it’s fair to compare the two. Our films are ours, and theirs are theirs. The histories of Tollywood and Dhallywood are very different, so comparing them is meaningless. For example, we made ‘Rehana Maryam Noor’, while Tollywood made ‘Autograph’. Both are significant in their own right. What I want is for world cinema to move forward and improve.

What about your next ventures?

I’ve been living in my own world and am now waiting for the next project after ‘Joto Kando Kolkatatei’. I think my job is to wait. Perhaps now people in Bangladesh will no longer think that I cannot be given central roles. That perception has changed. Many filmmakers will now believe I can take on such roles. So, I’m waiting for the moment when a Bangladeshi director will call me for a lead role.

BP/TD