The moment Break Up Story actress Sohini Sarkar stepped out of her car with a book (Arekta Kolkata by Supriyo Choudhury) in hand for this shoot at The Brewhive, the newly renovated pub in Sector V, we fell in love with her. And, through the course of the shoot, that admiration only deepened. Relatable and rooted, Sohini shared her happiness quotient with us.

Do you have Kali Puja and Diwali rituals?

Till recently, friends would come over and I would cook for them. I decorate my house with pradip laid out on an earthen platter. I deck up my entire building in warm lights. I don’t like white lights. In fact, selfies look amazing in warm lights. From last year, I usually go to my best friend’s house in Sodepur. I just have to arrange for my pet, Beral.
We used to have Kali Puja once upon a time in my house and then in my chotto pishi’s house. I don’t like the noise of crackers. I had gone to Dakshineswar once during Kali Puja. That was memorable.

Though I am not a meat lover, if I have to choose, it’ll always be mutton. Kali Puja is incomplete without bhaat and mangsher jhol.

What is festive fashion for you?

That has to be saris and a fabulous blouse. Once I wore saris with spaghetti tops and I got trolled too (laughs). Last year I had ligament surgery and couldn’t wear saris. I wore skirts and Fabindia kurtis, of which I have a collection, and paired it with an elaborate Fabindia dupatta. I love chunky watches. I usually don’t wear jewellery, but if I am wearing one, I prefer to go for elaborate earrings in gold and silver.

Diwali is all about happiness and lights. Who is the brightest spot in your life?

My pet, Beral, a she-cat, but has the attitude of a tomcat. Tumi oke dhore ador korte parbe na. She is not at all fond of that. The other day, she perched herself on my chest after about four months.

The brightest or the happiest things to have happened in your life till now…
There are many such moments. I am not a morning person but on days I wake up early, I love it. Discipline makes me happy (laughs). Small moments make me happy. Say, I return home, make myself a cup of tea, Beral comes and sits beside me and I pick up a nice book or I invite someone home and the preparations are perfect. Such moments give me a lot of tripti. And, of course, when I am in the mountains.

This orange-and-red shaded crepe sari with “intricate and delicate kantha embroidery” from Malika’s Kantha Collection gave Sohini Sarkar a certain radiance. We paired it with a matching blouse from V-Cut. A brown tint, semi-nude brown lipstick, textured pony and statement jewellery from Amrapali Jaipur later, Sohini was camera-ready. Think orange, think Malta orange, smiled Sohini.

Fusion fab underlined this jacket-sari combination. We paired a Telia tussore from Kanishka’s with a black jacket from H&M. Amrapali Jaipur’s maangtika made the look and the belt clinched it. Sohini’s eyes wore a smudged look with black extended eyeliner and a coat of thick mascara. Make-up pro Abhijit Paul gave her bronzer, brown blush-on and semi-nude brown lipstick. The messy volume curls added to the drama. A nature lover, blue meant “sky and butterfly” for Sohini.

This look captures minimal charm. A printed tussore from Kanishka’s was teamed with a white top from H&M. The casual braid, the kajal and the bindi added to the romance. The nath from Amrapali Jaipur was like the cherry on the cake.

Sohini channelled casual and fresh in this Label Earthen (available at Bombaim) pista salwar suit. Abhijit gave her a light brown eyeshadow and a flick of an eyeliner. Pink blush-on and semi-nude lipstick added to the subtlety of the look. Gini Halder gave Sohini soft curls and braids. What does pista remind Sohini of? “Dry fruits!” smiled the talented actress. Amrapali Jaipur jewels completed the look.

Like a lot of us, was childhood the happiest phase of your life?

That is very apekhikh. During childhood, no matter what happened, we were happy. I draw a picture and become happy or I go play with my friends or spend time on my own on the terrace... it wasn’t dependent on anyone.

During the lockdown, I walked all the way to Lord’s (More) and beyond from my house in east Jadavpur. I love walking.

Which are the happiest places you have been to?

My home! A lot of people have told me why I haven’t shifted to a bigger flat, but my cosy, little flat gives me a lot of tripti. It might sound spiritual but I saw a lot of birds in the lockdown and clear skies. I lay on a bamboo mat on my terrace for a long time one day.

Travelling brightens up your day…

I had gone for a 15-day solo trip to Arunachal Pradesh. Though I have stayed at five-star hotels, they don’t give me that happiness because I feel you get entangled in a lot of protocols. Aamar ma ke niye aami jokhon trip korechhi, bideshe gechhi, five-star e ma ke rakhbo bole thekechhi. I had put up in a home stay in Arunachal Pradesh and once in the middle of the night, my sleep broke and I happened to steal a glance of the sky. I had tears in my eyes. Aakashe shudhu ulka paat hochhe and it felt, if there is heaven and God, this is it. I have grown up in Khardah and went to school and college in Barrackpore, surrounded by nature. I can spend endless time in nature even now.

The happiest book you have read…

Recently I read Manindra Gupta’s Akshay Mulberry. It is a non-linear narrative where he is talking about his desher bari. That book left me in a happy space. I am fond of Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay’s Aranyak. Banjyotsnay Sabuj Andhakare by Buddhadeb Guha is a favourite book of mine. Nature is God for me. It will always surprise you.

The happiest films you have watched…

I like watching Govinda films. Andaz Apna Apna and Dil Chahta Hai are films I always like watching. Then there are classics like Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne and more....

So, the key to a happy life is…

There is no faith left it seems. People have stopped spending time with themselves. You must look within, analyse your weaknesses and admit it. Say if someone lands a film and I feel a little jealous, I must admit that and then may be try to overcome that, but you can’t be in denial.

Pictures: Pabitra Das
Styling: Srijani Chakraborty
Make-up: Abhijit Paul
Hair: Gini Halder
Location courtesy: The Brewhive
Bombaim: 218 AJC Bose Road
H&M: 5A Woodburn Park
Malika’s Kantha Collection: 4/1 Alipore Park Road
Kanishka’s: 2/1 Hindusthan Road;
Amrapali Jaipur: 1st Floor, Forum Courtyard Mall, 03340235011, @amrapalijewels, @forumcourtyard