Because of your political commitment, have you detached yourself from cinema?Yes, almost. Politics and films both are full-time jobs and can be very demanding. Both need a lot of planning and thinking. So, it’s really hard to continue with my film career while I am into full-time politics. I frequently travel to Delhi and Birbhum and it’s hard to pull off a perfect balancing act. It’s true that I miss working in films, but when I see that my present work is bringing smile on people’s faces, I feel happy. I am working for people and I think what I am doing now is very important.
Would you want a film made on your life as an actress/politician?(Laughs) That would never happen. But if it does, then I would want a film on
Satabdi Roy as a human being.
Being a member of the film industry, do you have any concrete plans to help the single screen theatres in Bengal, as their numbers are fast going down?A few years ago, I took some initiatives. But one thing we all have to understand that theatres mean business and if the business is down, then I don’t know how to keep the single screens going. For example, now we are all using AC cars and smart phones instead of non-AC cars and basic phones. It all depends on the need of people. And single screens are closing down the world over.
Last month, when Mimi and Nusrat
joined politics, there were memes and personal attacks on social media. How did you react?Today, trolling and bullying are rampant on social media. I have seen jokes on a person, who died recently. This is unacceptable. Sharing opinion is one thing and targeting others quite another. People are free to express their political thoughts, but no one has the right to attack others.
Why do actresses have to make an effort to be simpletons during campaigns? Isn’t the Indian voter mature enough to accept a star the way he or she is?It’s not just actors, but whoever joins politics has to maintain certain decorum. When I came into politics, many asked me to stay away from lipsticks, wear light-coloured saris and not to use AC Cars. It’s true that I followed some of these, but that was to change the notion people had about me. I wanted to make people understand that they were looking at a
politician
and not an actor. Otherwise, even at a political rally, people would go with the image they had about me and ask me to deliver film dialogues on stage! When that changed, I resorted to comfort clothes.
How do you keep yourself stress-free during the election
time?I don’t take any extra pressure. I go with the flow. For instance, on Sunday, I went to Rajdanga. It was extremely hot and humid. I was exhausted even before reaching the spot. But when I saw those people and the way they welcomed me,
my stress was gone. It happens every time. When you file the nomination, don’t you ever feel that the declared assets would also be scrutinised?
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