What Rakhee Is Doing These Days

‘I
am
not
playing
someone’s
mother
or
grandmother
just
because
a
big
director
is
offering
a
role.’
‘Believe
me,
I
have
many
got
such
offers
but
they
don’t
persuade
me.’

Rakhee‘s
latest
Bengali
film

Aamar
Boss
released
to
rave
reviews
earlier
this
month,
and
the
senior
actor
seems
thrilled
about
working
in
the
film.

It
marks
her
return
to
Bengali
cinema
after
six
years,
and
she
tells

Subhash
K
Jha,
“I
am
not
in
a
hurry
to
get
back
to
doing
a
film.
It
has
to
be
something
worth
my
while.”

Your
first
Bengali
film
in
a
long
time
is
a
work
of
joy
and
beauty.

You
know,
when
the
directors
(Shiboprosad
Mukherjee
and
Nandita
Roy)
offered
me
the
film,
I
wasn’t
sure.

My
last
Bengali
film
is
yet
to
be
released.
I
don’t
know
what
happened
to
it.

But
then
I
saw
Shiboprosad
and
Nandita’s
film.

You
mean
their
blockbuster

Raktabeej?

No,
not
that.
Their
earlier
film

Haami
is
about
a
child’s
upbringing.

I
was
immediately
excited
about
working
with
them.

Their
past
work
apart,
they
have
conceived
a
role
for
you
in

Aamar
Boss
which
not
many
actresses
your
age
are
given?

I
agree.
It
is
very
difficult
to
get
a
central
role,
and
that
too
one
with
so
many
layers.

I
am
glad
the
film
was
made
smoothly
and
released.

I
am
even
more
happy
that
the
film
is
being
appreciated
not
only
in
Kolkata
but
other
metropolitan
cities
as
well.

What
is
the
point
in
doing
a
film
that
doesn’t
get
released
properly?

We
are
happy
to
have
you
back
on
screen.

Don’t
raise
your
hopes
too
high.
I
am
not
in
a
hurry
to
get
back
to
doing
a
film.
It
has
to
be
something
worth
my
while.

I
am
not
playing
someone’s
mother
or
grandmother
just
because
a
big
director
is
offering
a
role.

Believe
me,
I
have
many
got
such
offers
but
they
don’t
persuade
me.

I
would
rather
be
at
home.

Your
grandson
is
the
apple
of
your
eye.

Samay
is
a
very
important
part
of
my
existence.
He
is
only
15
but
taller
than
all
of
in
the
family,
taller
even
than
his
father
Govind.

I
have
introduced
him
to
books
and
Nature.

He
is
a
very
mature
boy.

Coming
back
to
your
film,
what
was
it
like
to
shoot
with
Shiboprosad
Mukherjee
and
Nandita
Roy?

They
made
me
feel
so
much
at
home.
They
looked
after
me
like
their
own.

Kolkata
is
always
a
pleasure
to
shoot
in.

Your
video
devouring

gol
gappas
on
the
street
of
Kolkata
have
gone
viral.

That
is
part
of
the
film.

We
were
shooting
on
the
street
with
a

gol
gappa
vendor
by
a
secret
camera.

Nobody
knew
it
was
a
film
shooting.

Didn’t
the

gol
gappa
vendor
recognise
you?

No.

Which
part
of
the
galaxy
does
be
belong
to?

Oh,
stop
it!
He
was
a
young
man.
Probably
a
fan
of
Alia
Bhatt.

His

gol
gappa
was
good,
shooting

chalta
raha,
main
khati
gayee

It
had
no
detrimental
affect
on
my
stomach.
I
enjoyed
myself.

Which
was
more
enjoyable,
the

gol
gappa
or
the
shooting?

That
is
a
trick
question.
But
seriously,
I
was
overwhelmed.

We
visited
a
movie
theatre
where

Aamar
Boss
was
being
screened.

The
lights
were
turned
on
mid-screening.
There
were
many
elderly
citizens
in
the
audience.
They
were
very
moved.

They
must
have
swooned
on
seeing
their
screen
queen
in
person?

I
have
never
thought
of
myself
as
someone
special.

When
I
started,
I
just
wanted
to
be
a
competent
actress.
I
hope
I
am
that.