Faced toxic director while working in daily soaps: Srabanti Chatterjee

Bengali film actress Srabanti Chatterjee played a key role in Nandita Roy-Shiboprosad Mukherjee's Aamar Boss, which marked veteran Rakhee Gulzar's return to the regional movie circuit after 22 years. In an interview with IBNS correspondent Aaheli Chakraborty, Srabanti talks about working with Rakhee Gulzar, toxic bosses as shown in Shiboprosad's role in Aamar Boss and more... Excerpts...
Q. What was your first response when you heard you would be sharing screen-space with Rakhee Gulzar?
A. Obviously I was very beatific. I have seen many of her films. Basically my parents were very content, my father is a huge fan of Rakhee Gulzar. Knowing that I'll share a screen with such a legendary actress, I was really pleased. Everyone has a dream of working with such actors and I got a chance. It was really amazing.

Q. Share your experience of working with her?
A. She is such a sweet person and still so beautiful at her age. It was really a great experience.
Q. Tell us something about your character in this film.
A. My character's name is Mousumi, a self confident woman. She has a lot of dreams in her life. In this film how she gets involved with Animesh, her love life, her marriage and everything that comes to her path is really something to watch.

Q. Shiboprosad Mukherjee is shown as a toxic boss in the film. How different is he on the set as a director?
A. He was really sweet with us. His character might be toxic but otherwise he was almost like family to us.
Q. Have you ever experienced any bossy attitude or irrational tantrums from any director before?
A. Yes I had a toxic director long ago, when I was doing serials. But I always tried to avoid it and get out of those situations.

Q. Which side of Shiboprosad Mukherjee is your favourite, actor or director?
A. Both, as an actor and director. I considered myself fortunate that on my first Windows project, I got Shibu-da as an actor and director.
(Images by Arpita Das)