How did the actor in you evolve?
I have directed 17 movies. Working with stars I had to get them out of commercial moulds, showing them in my unlearnt way. Since then I’ve actually acted through my actors.
For instance?
I would show Aishwarya (Rai) how to lower her voice during the dubbing of Chokher Bali. She tends to use a high-pitched voice.
So moving from behind the camera to in front of it was a natural progression?
Certainly.
Both roles you play represent the ‘other’....
It reflects a sensitivity towards understanding and being non-judgemental.
But in your own movies you tend to delineate mainstream romantic relationships.
Non-traditional relationships such as extramarital affairs have also played a part in my films such as Doshor and Antarmahal.
The popular notion is that both characters have been tailor-made for you.
On the contrary, Kaushik (Ganguly) doubted if I’d be able to play Chapal Bhadhuri in Arekti Premer Golpo. He asked, “Rituda, would you be able to shed your sophistication?”
Did you think you could do the roles?
I thought I was a misfit for both. If I had directed the film I wouldn’t have cast myself.
Why?
One of the characters was much younger. For the other I would need to be able to converse credibly in Hindi, which I am not fluent in.
What made you ultimately agree?
I justified the roles to myself. That neither of the characters was actually me helped.
But isn’t it easier to portray a character more like oneself?
It is difficult to portray yourself because in that performance you are constantly trying to hide your flaws, make yourself seem presentable.