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’ Photo: R.V. Moorthy

Comfort zone Konkona Sen: ‘I do tend to work with some directors over and over again

“‘Traffic Signal’ was this year?” Konkona asks sounding incredulous. “It seems like so long ago! See, these things are not in my hands. While things have been a bit more hectic, there are many other factors in a film being released at a particular time. You could sign a film, then the schedules have to be matched, then you shoot. Some films finish post production quickly while other films may take more time.” Konkona, who plays the local tomboy, Anokhi, in “Aaja…”, says: “The character is a funny and sweet one. Anokhi is very enthusiastic and eager to dance at the show that Madhuri’s character is choreographing. Through the course of the film Anokhi grows up.”

While the Patiala salwars in “Laaga…” were all the rage, Konkona says: “for ‘Aaja…’ designer Mandira Shukla made simple clothes for me in the beginning when I am a tomboy, and later on there are more dressy clothes for my character.” Konkona signed on for the project “after reading the script. We had a blast. You know during the shooting, we would look forward to coming to work. It was great fun and even under the scorching heat, we would play games like dumb charades, get our lunch boxes from home… it was great.” Konkona, who in an earlier interview said she does not think dancing is part of acting, is now matching steps with the dancing diva, Madhuri Dixit. So how does that feel?

“Okay first let me clarify. What I meant was good dancing does not reflect on one’s acting prowess. And about dancing beside Madhuri, of course I was nervous. But then everyone would be looking at her so it will be okay.”

Konkona joins the chorus of praise for la Dixit when she describes Madhuri as being “very down to earth and very funny.”

Konkona who created tidal waves of appreciation with her National Award winning turn as Meenakshi Iyer in “Mr and Mrs Iyer” seems to be moving away from her favoured small, intimate movies, to the big banners.

“I don’t think the size of the banner affects the quality of the film. It is like cooking, you know. The taste of the food does not depend on whether it was cooked in a big, high tech kitchen or in a small little makeshift one.”

Konkona’s next release is Rituparno Ghosh’s “Sunglass”, which will mark the actor’s third collaboration with Ghosh after “Titli” and “Dohar”.

“Yeah, I do tend to work with some directors over and over again. They bring out the best in me. The director I like to work with best? My mum, she knows the right buttons to press to get the best out of me,” says Konkona of her mother, Aparna Sen.

Konkona has her birthday coming up on December 3 but she says there are no special plans. “Last year, we were in Benares for the shooting of ‘Laaga…’. We cut a cake and all. I don’t know what I would be doing this year. Come on, I am not nine or something to plan a birthday party,” the 28-year-old Methuselah signs off with a laugh.

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