From Arindam Sil’s Aborto in 2013 to Kaushik Ganguly’s Ardhangini in 2023, Jaya Ahsan has come a long way in Tollywood. The actress who has a flourishing career in her homeland Bangladesh talks about her experience of working with Ganguly and Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury in whose upcoming film Kadak Singh she’s all set to make her debut in Hindi.

What drew you to the story of Ardhangini, which takes a stark look at man-woman relationships?

Jaya Ahsan: The first reason I said yes to the film is the fact that it is directed by Kaushik Ganguly. The script is very progressive. While I was shooting for the film, I felt that not everyone would like the film. After it released, I could see that everyone was able to relate to it. This proves that the subject is universal. Kaushik Ganguly deals with his subjects from different angles and through different perspectives. His biggest strength is that he shows everything very positively.

A man’s current wife and ex-wife may consider each other as rivals. Kaushik Ganguly teaches us to think in a different way. This was very much there in the script. My character is very beautifully crafted. The film has a lot of honesty in it.

How did you prepare to play a character who has to turn to her husband’s ex-wife in a time of crisis? What was Kaushik Ganguly’s brief to you?

Jaya Ahsan: He actually did not give any brief. After working with him in Bijoya and Bishorjon, I understand him very well. I know exactly what he wants from a character. For this script, I had to feel the character and perform the scenes with conviction and honesty. My process as an actor is to portray the character honestly. I don’t try to act. I try to live the situation.

This is the first time you and Churni Ganguly shared screen space. How was the experience?

Jaya Ahsan: I have known her as a person for a long time. I love her very much. But I never had the opportunity to work with her, either as co-actors or under her direction. I have immense respect for her and I consider her a very sensible director, especially because of the subjects she works with.

In Ardhangini, she has done two hundred per cent justice to the role. We have a great relationship, but during the shoot we maintained a distance from each other because the script demanded that. We are not supposed to be friends in the film. We wanted to feel that way.

Is there a particular scene from Ardhangini that was tough to perform?

Jaya Ahsan: There are many scenes where I was emotionally exhausted. These were extremely tough to perform.

You have quite a few Tollywood releases lined up, like OCD and Bhootpori. Are you consciously choosing to work more in Tollywood than in Bangladesh?

Jaya Ahsan: I have done quite a lot of work in Bangladesh recently. Unfortunately, not all of them have been released in Bengal. Peyarar Subash is travelling to film festivals. I have also done an Iranian film called Farishtey. It, too, is having a festival run.

With Ardhangini, I completed 10 years as an actor in Tollywood. I started with Arindam Sil’s Aborto in 2013. The work that I have done in Bengal satisfies me as an artist. But I want to do more dynamic work.

What do you consider to be your biggest strength as an actor?

Jaya Ahsan: The fact that I am hundred per cent honest. I worship my work. That reflects on screen.

People love the pictures you put up on Instagram.

Jaya Ahsan: (Laughs) You should not measure me by my pictures. I am a very simple person. Of course, I do post pictures of my glamorous shoots. But if one looks behind these glamorous images, they will see a different me for sure. Social media has actually become very important in terms of film releases. I also post on personal moments, work commitments and brand endorsements.

You are all set to make your Hindi film debut with Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury’s next, Kadak Singh. Tell us about your experience of working with him…

Jaya Ahsan: Tonyda (Aniruddha) is an amazing person. I have never seen him with a script during the shoot. He has everything in his mind. He tells us various stories which are not there in the script and gives us various clues about our characters. This is how he interacts with every actor and brings out the best in them. He has done workshops with me since the film is in a different language. He creates various situations during the shoot, which helps any actor to understand the character and perform better. He can portray the little moments of life in his stories.

It was a lovely experience working with the cast. I never felt that I was working in a Hindi film or a different industry. We created a good bond with each other on the set. Pankaj Tripathi is an exceptional actor. But he has delivered his acting the way Tonyda wanted it. After watching the film, you will get a different flavour.

Any other Indian directors you want to work with?

Jaya Ahsan: I want to work with new film directors. Recently a lot of youngsters are making good projects for OTT, especially for the Chorki app. I am planning to do an OTT project with them soon. I am okay with working with a new director if it is a good script and the director is honest and can convince me.