On what would have been Rituparno Ghosh’s 62nd birth anniversary, veteran actress Rituparna Sengupta opened up about a significant moment in her career. The acclaimed actress revealed that she was originally offered the iconic role in Chokher Bali before Aishwarya Rai, shedding light on a missed opportunity that could have changed the course of her cinematic journey. Sengupta’s candid revelation comes as a heartfelt tribute to the legendary filmmaker, whose work continues to leave an indelible mark on Bengali and Indian cinema.
Rituparno Ghosh, with whom you worked extensively, would have been 62 on August 31?
We discussed many issues, since we stayed very close by. Rituda and I often had breakfast together. On my birthdays, he was the first one to call early, as 7 am…. Then on my wedding day, he dressed me up, wrote poems on my invitation card, and also did the chandan work on my face, done by him according to my Benarasi saree border. It was so mindful of him.
My phone used to get confused about you two?
Ha ha, and the interesting part, since we shared common names, often his mail or phone calls used to come to me or mine to him!! And we often laughed about it.
He had so much more to do?
We lost him too early!! Dahan and Utsab are two landmark films of mine with him. He lived for a short span but gave the longest lease of life to Bengali films and definitely to Indian cinema. He was an enigma. Rituparno Ghosh is one of the greatest of greats, who has been a huge influence on world cinema, just absolutely different from the usual fare in the commercial set up. Rituparno introduced me to a new vista, led me into new pastures where cinema and life meet and blend uncannily and beautifully. I was privileged to receive the National Award for Rituparno’s Dahan, and I was over the moon then… never thought of getting a National Award. Do you know Rituparno first offered me two of his most acclaimed films, which I couldn’t do.
Which ones?
I missed doing Chokher Bali and Dosor due to some personal problems. Thus, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan filled in there for Chokher Bali and Konkona Sengupta for Dosor. They were offered to me first and then to them.
Why didn’t you do them?
At that time I was not working with Prosenjit Chatterjee (the male lead in Chokher Bali and Dosor). It was my decision. Rituda was really sad I couldn’t do these films.Rituparno Ghosh, with whom you worked extensively, would have been 62 on August 31?
We discussed many issues, since we stayed very close by. Rituda and I often had breakfast together. On my birthdays, he was the first one to call early, as 7 am…. Then on my wedding day, he dressed me up, wrote poems on my invitation card, and also did the chandan work on my face, done by him according to my Benarasi saree border. It was so mindful of him.
My phone used to get confused about you two?
Ha ha, and the interesting part, since we shared common names, often his mail or phone calls used to come to me or mine to him!! And we often laughed about it.
He had so much more to do?
We lost him too early!! Dahan and Utsab are two landmark films of mine with him. He lived for a short span but gave the longest lease of life to Bengali films and definitely to Indian cinema. He was an enigma. Rituparno Ghosh is one of the greatest of greats, who has been a huge influence on world cinema, just absolutely different from the usual fare in the commercial set up. Rituparno introduced me to a new vista, led me into new pastures where cinema and life meet and blend uncannily and beautifully. I was privileged to receive the National Award for Rituparno’s Dahan, and I was over the moon then… never thought of getting a National Award. Do you know Rituparno first offered me two of his most acclaimed films, which I couldn’t do.
Which ones?
I missed doing Chokher Bali and Dosor due to some personal problems. Thus, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan filled in there for Chokher Bali and Konkona Sengupta for Dosor. They were offered to me first and then to them.
Why didn’t you do them?
At that time I was not working with Prosenjit Chatterjee (the male lead in Chokher Bali and Dosor). It was my decision. Rituda was really sad I couldn’t do these films.
