Bohurupi brought Ritabhari Chakraborty the opportunity to be directed by Nandita Roy and Shiboprosad Mukherjee, which she had been dreaming of for a long time. The Fatafati actress talks about the film and the challenges of celebrityhood.

What made you take up Bohurupi?

Ritabhari Chakraborty: When the film came to me, I couldn’t be more excited. I have wanted to work with Nanditadi (Roy) and Shibuda (Shiboprosad Mukherjee) for a while. I have worked on two films under their production but not with them as directors. Bohurupi is set on a larger scale and has all the elements that aren’t there in Bengali cinema. I was very emotional about my character Pori.

Tell us about your character Pori…

Ritabhari Chakraborty: The character of Pori was a difficult one. I was really surprised when Nanditadi and Shibuda trusted me with it. I didn’t do any workshops as they wanted me to prepare on my own. I had to impress my directors. I gave my everything to Pori. She is nothing like me but I felt empathy for Pori on so many levels. Being a police officer’s wife is one of the hardest things to be. Society will always be their priority and that’s not an easy bargain. Women who go through that and settle for it, I have huge respect for them.

The film was shot in Bolpur and Murshidabad. Do you remember some of the fun moments on set?

Ritabhari Chakraborty: I have worked with Windows Production a couple of times, and with Abir Chatterjee this was my second film. They are like family. I have known Abirda for a long time and there is a different level of comfort with him. Aritra, my director from Fatafati and Brahma Janen Gopon Kommoti, would be on the set to help the directors. He tends to tease me all the time because we have a great rapport.

How was it to reunite with Abir Chatterjee after Fatafati?

Ritabhari Chakraborty: He is such a well-groomed man. He has all the things that a woman wants in a man. We are so comfortable with each other that building chemistry on-screen is a fun collaboration. There are so many people around us when we are shooting a romantic scene but it doesn’t feel challenging when he is there.

How was it to work with Nandita and Shiboprosad as directors?

Ritabhari Chakraborty: The best thing is that their vision is original. It is so inspired by its own culture, Bengal and Bengali language. And as an actor, I get the space to build my character in my way.

What has changed about how a woman actor is perceived and the challenges she faces?

Ritabhari Chakraborty: I have been in the industry for a long time now and the only transition I have seen in my journey is that as you keep growing, things keep changing too. I started making my own rules. I had my team, my manager even before the concept of having a celebrity manager came into the scene.

There are things you still have to fight for. There are basic things the industry does not have for women. I have seen women who are not part of the major cast using the same bathrooms as men. There should be respect for women.

What do you find most challenging about being an actor?

Ritabhari Chakraborty: I think the most challenging thing is always being in front of the public eye. I am an extroverted introvert, so a part of me always wants to run away from people. Sometimes the trolling, antagonising and grilling to be perfect is annoying. I am a human being. I am not perfect. I am not striving for perfection. I am just striving to be the best that I can be. I tend to isolate when it becomes burdensome. It gets challenging when my personal life and what I say is highlighted more than my acting.

What is next for you?

Ritabhari Chakraborty: It was quite an experience to work on the Malayalam film Papa Buka by four-time National Award-winning director Bijukumar Damodaran. And I finished shooting Grihosto by Mainak Bhaumik.