It was a magical beginning for them when Ankush and Oindrila paired up for the first time for the film Magic. Two years later, they are back again in the film Love Marriage. “I believe in destiny. I knew if it has to happen it’ll happen at the right time,” smiles Ankush. “It is a special moment for us that we worked together again in Love Marriage. We really wanted to work together for a long time and our friends and family members also wanted to see us work together. It happened with Magic and now there is Love Marriage,” says Oindrila. A t2 chat with the real-life couple….
Both of you travelled across Bengal to promote Love Marriage. How was your experience?
Oindrila: It was very important to reach out to the people.Ankush: The subject of Love Marriage paved the way for unique ideas for promotions. Initially, we started off by taking quotes from a number of celebrities on why we were not getting married. We met many elderly people through a contest... we wanted to know about their lives, and their hopes... we wanted to connect with the middle class across Bengal... I am from a middle-class family, and I know the values. The contest was a memorable experience. We went to Durgapur. The elderly people there blessed us. They whipped up a delicious spread. It was a huge takeaway for us.
Oindrila: We went to College Street to select wedding cards.
Ankush: We enjoyed some amazing lemon tea and sherbet there.
Oindrila: I went back to College Street after many years. I had been to College Street as a child but I don’t have memories of that.
Ankush: I was in Burdwan till Class XII. And then I started acting in films in my second year in college. Life changed after that... so it was a lovely experience for me to soak in the sights and sounds of College Street. Overall, the vibe was tremendous.
After Magic, when did you decide to pair up for another film? Why did you feel Love Marriage was the right film for both of you?
Ankush: We were offered the film separately. Initially, we didn’t know that we were offered the same film. Oindrila was offered the film first. Then Chakida (Premendu Bikash Chaki) called me up one day, and we decided to meet. When I told Oindrila about the meeting, and the call from Chakida, she asked whether the concept was about love marriage. Then I knew we were approached for the same film. It was completely Chakida’s decision to cast us as a pair.
Why did you say ‘yes’ to this film?
Ankush: Because of the script. It was so funny. Then I got to know about the rest of the cast comprising Ranjit Mallick and Aparajita Adhya, and I was really excited.
Oindrila: Chakida had told me to get into films many years ago... when I was doing serials. I was really happy when Chakida called for Love Marriage. I figured that people really liked our pairing in Magic, and that’s why wanted us in another film. I loved the story. Also, Ankush and I wanted to do a rom-com after Magic, and Love Marriage was perfect for that.
What did you discover about each other as actors?
Ankush: Her homework is really strong. She is a natural actor. And she is high on confidence. It reflects on the screen.
Oindrila: His homework... he can easily become or be what the director wants him to do. He can perfectly do the mainstream thing as well as the serious role. He is very cool and calm.
Ankush: I was watching Abhimanyu recently, and realised she was such a brilliant child artiste in that film. Then she ventured into television and delivered superhits. She was amazing in a web series also.
Oindrila: We understand each other really well. We discuss the script at home.
How do you approach a romantic scene?
Oindrila: Initially, Ankush would become shy while enacting a romantic scene with me.
Ankush: It was a bit awkward for me... doing the artificial romance or the fake romance that one acts for the screen. Why would I ‘fake’ a romantic scene with Oindrila?! With other heroines, it is a professional thing. And this initial awkward screen romance phase with Oindrila would not have happened if we had started working soon after we got into a relationship. But we worked together for the first time 10 years into our relationship! So in those 10 years, I did not see her as my co-star. We are very different at home.
Oindrila: Now we have got past that phase, and our romantic scenes have come out really well.
How was your experience working with Ranjit Mallick?
Ankush: It was outstanding. As a child, I would buy DVDs of his films. And now, I got to share screen space with him in Love Marriage. It says a lot about my journey too. He is such a natural actor. He is just amazing.
Oindrila: I worked with Ranjit Uncle as a child actor in Raju Uncle. And I had worked with Apadi in Atanu Ghosh’s telefilm. Ranjit Uncle gave me his blessings. I told him that I had worked with him in Raju Uncle. It was an amazing experience.
Arindam Chatterjee Pictures: Rashbehari Das