Rituparno used to call me his chironabagata nayika: Mamata Shankar

Mamata Shankar talks about aspirations, apprehensions and starting her second innings on TV in Bhalobasha.com
She is an acclaimed actress, an acclaimed danseuse, an acclaimed orator. She has worked with the best of the industry and has churned out classics of Bengali screen. But it was the small screen that brough Mamata Shankar to the drawing rooms of the Bengali households.With megas like Janmobhumi, Tithir Atithi and Khela, Mamata Shankar added another facet to her already glorious career as an actress.
That same Mamodi is back on the small screen. Yes, Mamata Shankar will be seen playing the role of Anno Ma, in Star Jalsha���s hit mega Bhalobasha.com.
When asked about the character she is playing, she said, ���I could relate to the character. That is the primary reason I took up this offer. She has strong principles, but at the same time is very affectionate towards members of her family.���
Her character, Anno ma, is a very important part of Tithi���s life. She is a strong willed woman, who never compromises with the truth and in the Bannerjee family, her wish is the command.
When asked about her decision to come back to the small screen after such a long hiatus, the actress voiced her apprehensions. ���Initially, I was very scared. The first day of shoot, I felt like a kid going to school for the first time.��� It was the team of the mega that helped her get into the skin of her character and she couldn���t stop praising them. ���The whole team, including Snehasish (the director) are so caring and supportive that I didn���t feel feel like an outsider at all,��� she gushed.
Talking about her stage fright, she shyly admitted, ���In fact, I still don't feel confident enough while facing the camera, even after working for over 4 decades in this industry.��� She recounted how late director Rituparno Ghosh would pull her leg and added, ���I remember Ritu (Rituparno) used to call me his ���Chironabagatanayika���. I would walk into the sets and he would tease me saying, ���Ei shobai aste kotha bolo. Jore kotha bollei aamar nayika kende felbe!������
The episodes featuring Mamata Shankar will go on air from next Monday. The first sequence she shot for is a wedding sequence and Shankar hopes, she will be able to do justice to her character and people will shower her with the same kind of love that she had once garnered.