Jyotee Khaitan puts Arpita in a monsoon lookbook, only for t2

She talks straight and from the heart. Post a t2 fashion shoot in designer Jyotee Khaitan’s monsoon collection, Arpita chatted with The Telegraph on a rainy Wednesday afternoon on being Arpita and juggling acting, entrepreneurship and being a mother to a teenager.

Your personal style is quite a mixed bag. How has it evolved over the years?

Fashion is something which reflects your personality. In general, I prefer to wear clothes which enhance my personality. Beyond that it depends on the occasion and the season.

Can you decode your personality?

As stated in my Instagram profile: ‘Liberated & opinionated. Believing in dogmatism. Answerable to my conscience only’. I am a complete woman. I am an entrepreneur, actress, singer, dancer and related to almost all sorts of performing arts and I am also a housewife and a mother.

Have you always been like this or have circumstances shaped you?

The fundamentals never change. I don’t feel scared easily and have always had a practical, logical and rational mind. Which is why it is difficult to fool me. In a word, I am rebellious. I have always done things I wanted to do.
With experience and exposure, you evolve. Of course, I have evolved and my Delhi episode taught me a lot. Those learnings were priceless and helped me grow.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of being ‘you’?

I am basically an honest person. My mind, heart and what I say are always aligned. Life is all about balance. I think I am a balanced person. I don’t regret the way I am. I am flexible, adjusting and gel well with everyone… from kids to seniors. I love talking to people, observing them and learn things hands-on. I love travelling and have a keen interest in culture and food. I love interacting with the locals. I am moody and that is a disadvantage. At times, I am stubborn. These are flaws.

Are the flaws slowly changing with age and experience?

That’s my intention. Knowing your problems is half the cure. I am constantly working on these things. I have a very special person in my life. He is a mentor to me and he constantly tells me to work on these. He tries to make me understand what needs to be done.

Would you like to share the name of your mentor?

I would love to share his name and much more with you over a cup of coffee! (Laughs)

How is your mood treating you this lockdown?

Well, it was difficult to cope with at the beginning. After my marriage (to actor Prosenjit Chatterjee) in 2003, I became a housewife. I didn’t work for seven years. So, it was a similar kind of a lockdown situation for me. I know all cleaning, cooking and other household work. Name anything and I have done it. So, it wasn’t new to me. The difficult part was to be stable mentally, which is related to the financial uncertainty. That’s still there.

Were you glad that you were in Calcutta?

For the last three-four years I have been in Calcutta. I have been shooting back to back (before lockdown came calling). Four of them released and the rest were scheduled. In fact, I was travelling for an outdoor shoot to Bagdogra and had checked in as well when I got a message that the shooting had to be called off. It would have been terrible if I had got stuck out of the city indefinitely.
The most relieving thing is that my son who studies in the UK (Class X; Millfield, Glastonbury, UK) is here. It was a last-minute arrangement and tough, but luckily, I managed to get him back. Had that not happened, I would have landed in the hospital. He has been in a boarding school for the past eight years and this is the first time he has been able to spend so much time with me at a stretch.

How are you making the most of it?

We are spending quality time, watching content, watching football games because he loves it. I learn a lot of things from him every day. The new generation, digital kids are so smart. It’s not as if they are asking you questions all the time. For that they have Google and hundreds of apps. He is particular about his workout as he is a part of his school’s football team and is conscious about what he eats. Sundays are cheat days. We order online or I cook for him.

How is it being a mother to a teenager?

Don’t even ask. Parenting is the most difficult job and once you are a mother, you are a mother forever. Teenage years are worst. I am dealing with it.

And, you have gone back to your Shab haircut…
I

think it suits me the best. I thought of giving myself a new look as we went into unlock mode. Also, I have started travelling to Delhi again (for her digital venture). Maintaining long hair with all the safety protocols is really difficult. So, given the situation, this was the right time to chop it off.

You had once told us that films were no longer a priority. Has the focused shifted back to films?

For the last two years, the way it has panned out, I have shifted my focus back to acting, which was not the case earlier. I was busy with my company and anything new needs your attention. With it up and running, I have shifted a significant amount of my attention to films. My connection with entrepreneurship and Delhi will always be there.

The audience really missed you…

I am fortunate. A lot of my films are by new directors and producers, which is a good sign for the industry that a lot of new talents are coming up who will take the industry forward. And, they depend on me. When I do a film, I own it. I am just not an actress who will switch off after pack-up. I am equally involved in pre-production and post-production, giving my inputs from my two-decade experience. The OTT platforms have also opened a new window for these talents in every sector.

Are you enjoying the OTT platforms, like all of us?

I have always enjoyed OTT. You have the world’s best content, which is not possible in theatres. The sparkling Indian content is also fabulous. I would love to be part of a web project.

What is next for you?

I have two projects in the pipeline. Both are outdoor based.
On the other hand, our Delhi-based start-up has just got acquired. Being a serial entrepreneur, I am exploring some new opportunities in Delhi.