Shibu is my soulmate; a part of me: Nandita Roy

One is a celebrated director whose boxoffice conquests can give contemporary filmmakers a run for their money and the other is one of the most sought-after actordirectors in the industry, who juggles filmmaking and acting with equal elan. But what distinguishes Nandita Roy and Churni Ganguly from the crowd is the fact that they wear their achievements nonchalantly on their shoulders.In a tellall mood, the duo sat for a freewheeling chat with us ahead of the release of Nandita Roy-Shiboprosad Mukherjee’s Haami. Excerpts:
How difficult is it to break the glass ceiling and find a foothold in a predominantly maleoriented industry?
Nandita: I don’t think it’s difficult at all. If you have the grit and the determination to do something, you just get it done. I’ve had no problems whatsoever. A person blocking me from doing what I want just because I’m a woman is something that has never happened with me.
Churni: I have never distinguished myself as a woman in the industry — I’m always a person. Even in my acting career, it has never really posed a hurdle. As a director, having worked all by myself, I have sometimes had reservations. Things like calling someone at night to get something done or to let your command be accepted — I’ve had problems exerting that power at times.
N: I believe it’s been relatively easier because both of us started off working very late in our lives. It might have been difficult had we started in our teens. I directed my first film when I was
50. By then I knew how the industry worked.