Travel is actress Tnusree C’s “oxygen” in life and for her birthday this year, she plans to travel and spend time in the warm company of her family. But ahead of the celebrations with family and friends, and before blowing the extra candle on her cake tomorrow, Tnusree decided to celebrate with t2 with a heart-to-heart chat on life, love and films. Besides the adda with us, Tnusree planned a birthday-special lookbook with stylist Poulami Gupta and make-up pro Abhijit Paul and decked up in outfits that define her personality best — smart silhouettes in white, with a hint of vibrant hues.

What does ‘birthday’ mean to you now?

Birthdays make me realise that I am maturing day by day. I need to do a lot of work. I need to take life seriously and not too seriously also. Not too seriously because nothing is in our control. What we want to do is in our control but the outcome of it is not. We can keep dreaming, trying and going ahead.

What do you look forward to most on your birthday?

I look forward to spending time with my parents and friends. I don’t do any diets on that day. Getting calls from college and school friends makes me feel very special. They send me good wishes. My loved ones send me good wishes.

What is a must-do for you on your birthday?

I make it a point to work. Even if I am travelling, I try to do some work online. I also make sure to have payesh made by my mother.

What is your birthday wish this year?

To keep my family happy and try to do more work. I only dream about things but I don’t wish as I know wishes don’t come true always. I dream about something and then work on it.

How are you planning to celebrate your birthday this year?

Usually, I go out for dinner with my family and my friends come over to my place. This year, I am going to Pune. I am going to celebrate my birthday with my niece and my mom is also staying there.

Being in your late 30s, what scares you the most and what makes you feel liberated?

What makes me feel liberated is I am not answerable to anyone except my parents. They have immense faith in me and in whatever I do. They know that I am a very mature person. I don’t think I am scared of anything. One should enjoy life. We are going to experience every phase of our life with each passing day. I think that’s a process one should enjoy. I have achieved many things. I haven’t achieved many things but I have no time to think or feel insecure. I have so many things to experience that I don’t have time to feel sad. There’s a lot left to do in life.

White dominates your wardrobe. What does the colour white mean to you?

It is a combination of seven colours. It is for calmness. For me, white means not letting the world know what I am thinking though so much is on my mind. So, my palette is white.

Though white dominates your wardrobe, your birthday lookbook has a lot of bright hues too. What are things that make your life vibrant?

Good work day by day. Spending time with my family and friends. Being able to take decisions and travel.

You always talk about travel, food and work keeping you busy. What about love?

I think love is important in life. It is not only about the love shared between husband and wife or lovers. The love we get from our parents and friends is the kind of love that we really really need. But on a lighter note, my friend Jyotee (Jyotee Khaitan, designer) is looking for a groom for me. (Laughs)

Your acting career started more than a decade back, are you happy with where you have reached?

I am never happy. I still feel that I need to do a lot. I did movies and web films for the national audience. I don’t plan. We plan something and something else happens. I started differently and ended up differently.

If not an actor what would you be?

A chef or a teacher.

What did your 30s teach you and did your 30s bring you any closer to the person you had wished to become?

Life is full of lessons every day. We are changing, our circumstances are changing. We are standing in a world of AI. Things have changed. It is not totally in our control. We don’t know what will happen tomorrow. Circumstances are changing and every time something changes, one must be aware. That is what I have learnt. It is important to be aware of what is happening inside us and outside us. As the outside keeps changing, we keep changing inside, too.

I am still in the process of being that person but now I am sure of who I want to be. Going forward, I want to be with the people, I want to do something that connects people.

What keeps you motivated in life?

I realise I am changing as a person and that keeps me motivated and helps me to go forward in life. People also motivate me. People who are around me motivate me, be it my house help and family or the directors and producers I work with.

Styling: Poulami Gupta
Make-up: Abhijit Paul
Hair: Sananda Mondal Laha
Outfits: Richa Khemka
Jewellery: Aadikara
Location: Hyatt Regency Kolkata