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Sen speaks sense

Next Innings Riya Sen

Dressed in a purple strapless gown with a slit going right up to her thigh, starlet Riya Sen has always kept herself in the news.

While aam janta may or may not remember her films, her roles in various multi-starrers, the memory of MMS scandal, on-screen lip-locks with ex-boyfriend Ashmit Patel, semi-nude photograph on a calendar and the latest being her growing familiarity with “Salman Rushdie” – all this is unlikely to fade away from public’s mind. While the elder sister Raima has established herself as a serious actor, the younger daughter of Moon Moon Sen and granddaughter of Suchitra Sen, Ria is walking on a different path and has no qualms about it. “When I entered the world of showbiz, I was just 15. Raima joined films much later. I am very happy with my image. I get to travel so much. Popularity levels of actors doing commercial cinema are better. Raima gets creative satisfaction out of roles she plays and as a sister I feel great for her,” says Riya.

The actor took the plunge as a child artiste in “Vishkanya” in 1991 but she was noticed in the music video of famous Phalguni Pathak’s song “Yaad piya ki aane lagi”. When Ria was all of 15, she was cast in a major role in Bharathiraja’s Tamil film, “Taj Mahal” (2000) which failed at the box office. Her first commercial success was N. Chandra’s sex comedy “Style” opposite Sharman Joshi.

“Acting was just a hobby then. I wasn’t serious about it. Unlike earlier, today I am planning my career. I am not in a hurry,” says Riya. And well, it kind of shows. The actor is doing two Rituparno Ghosh’s films. In one, which is yet untitled, is based on Satyajit Ray’s life. Riya will portray the role of her rebellious daughter-in-law. That will be a debut Bengali film for Riya. In yet another Ghosh’s film, the two sisters will be seen together for the first time. Riya, is also donning the hat of producer with this film. She is co-producing the film with Mukta arts.

“After ‘Apna Sapna Money Money’ I had this thought and idea. On the sets of “Paying Guest” when I found out that Mukta arts is venturing into regional films, I gave them suggestions and it worked out,” says Riya. The newly-turned producer also has an idea involving her mother, sister and herself. “I am clear about the fact that whenever three of us decide to come together, it will be something special. I have a story, a few scenes in mind. And if it works out then I will get a friend of mine to do the script. As of now, mom is not interested in doing films,” clarifies Riya.

She dismisses all the rumours of doing a Kannada film opposite Diganth to be directed by Hemant Hegde. “Yes, I have been approached but I am having date problems. othing is confirmed as yet,” clarifies Riya, who is also learning belly dancing these days. All this certainly sounds hopeful.

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