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Tough talk Nandana Sen

Nandana Sen has a way with words. The way she narrates her character reflects her understanding of her role.

You won’t get clichéd statements such as ‘It’s a different role’ from her. Instead, she’ll tell you that her character, Preity, in “Strangers”, is “a girl from London who’s used to getting constant attention from men, but is swept off her feet by the unconventional advances of a cynical writer (Jimmy).”

The actor, earlier seen in films such as “My Wife’s Murder”, “Tango Charlie” and “Black”, divides her time between Indian and international films.

She admits choosing films is an emotional decision for her. She says, “I need to fall in love with a story to say ‘yes’ to a role.”

Nandana is also starring in “Forest”. This is Ashvin Kumar’s first feature film after his short film “Little Terrorist” was nominated in the Live Action Short Film category for the Oscars.

About “Forest”, Nandana says, “Here, my character Radha is uncompromisingly real. She is a cerebral, tough-talking girl who hides a tender heart.” The plum offer on her hand is the role of Sugandha, Raja Ravi Varma’s muse in Shaji Karun’s film “Rang Rasiya”.

“It’s the love-story of Raja Ravi Varma and his muse, Sugandha. I loved preparing for this role. Sugandha’s life mirrors the ordeals faced by our classical heroines,” she says. “Sugandha is the eternal child-woman.”

2008 will see Nandana in diverse roles.

“You will see me as a rifle-wielding tough chick, a heartbroken city girl, a beguiling Devadasi, an Islamic pacifist, a South- African rebel and even a Mexican activist.”

Ask her if she regrets films such as “Marigold” or her miniscule role in “Black” and she retorts, “What for? ‘Black’ was the only film in which I played a non-lead role since I was keen to work with Sanjay Leela Bhansali. I’ve got a lot of work because of ‘Black’. Regrets are senseless.”

So far, films haven’t been a cakewalk.

Having studied and worked in theatre in the U.S. and the U.K. and dealing with expectations that arise from being the daughter of economist Amartya Sen and writer Nabaneeta Dev Sen, she admits, “My goal is not to be number one and I’ve never played it safe. Since my first release here in 2005, I’ve played lead roles in eight films in India and abroad. But don’t get me wrong. Am I praying that Mani Ratnam will cast me? Every day!”

SANGEETHA DEVI DUNDOO

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