In the film Flyover, Koel Mallick plays Bidisha, a journalist working on a story revolving around a series of accidents taking place on a flyover. Full of drama, mystery, suspense and intrigue, Flyover — which releases today in theatres — promises to be a roller-coaster ride. A candid chat with Koel...

Flyover is an official remake of the film U-Turn. What’s your take on the trend of making remakes?

See, Flyover is a thriller and I like this genre. Maybe because I have not really explored this genre. And Flyover happened before I did thrillers like Mitin Mashi and Rawkto Rawhoshyo. So I was really excited. At that point of time I definitely wanted to get into the thriller genre. Secondly, there’s an emotional side to the story which resonated with me. It really hit me. Flyover has a very strong social message... it shows the consequences of what can happen if some people lack basic civic sense. Because of someone’s negligence another person might meet with an accident. Some might face the consequences of someone else’s actions.

Coming to remakes, The Girl On The Train is such a popular film and it has happened in Hindi. For an actor, it is a great role. When you have a good film, why not show it to the world in your own way, if you have the liberty to do it. Since Abhimanyu (Mukherjee) has directed Flyover, he has put Bangaliana in the right places. We wanted to tell our story in our own Bangali way.

A remake cannot be a trend. It is always nice to make original films. But there are a few films which you can make in your own way. For example, I would love to be a part of a film like Datta, if it were to be remade or adapted now. It is also about the nostalgia that hits you somewhere.

Are there other Bengali films that you feel can be remade again?

I think Mouchak can be remade again! I have seen it so many, many times on television. And even now, whenever it comes on television, I leave everything else and watch it. The same goes for the film Sharey Chuattar.

Would you like to be a part of a remake of a Bengali classic?

I would love to be a part of Mouchak 2.0 playing Mithu Mukherjee’s role. Also, Suchitra Sen’s role in Uttar Phalguni.

Nispal Singh, Koel Mallick and Kabir

Tell us about the U-turn in your life?

Motherhood definitely is the U-turn. It has taken me to a beautiful direction. There is a part of me that is always thinking about him (Kabir). The feeling is so overwhelming. He is a very happy child, always giggling. He is very obedient. He is generally always entertaining himself and wants people to entertain him. You interact with him and keep him as a part of the conversation. One day at 3.45am he was comfortably and cheerfully crawling on to the bed from the cot, which is right next to my bed. I am a light sleeper and I woke up. And Rane is very interesting. One side of him can sleep and the other side can stay awake. As he sleeps, he also entertains Kabir with a toy! I was trying to make him (Kabir) see reason and trying to put him to sleep! Then I gave him the pacifier and he went off to sleep.

How does a day in your life begin now?

I wake up with my child. With breakfast over, he is in a happy mood. Then it is his play time... I am there with him, talking to him... and he listens to everything very carefully. In the evening, it is time to play in the swing. And then it is dinner time.

I see Kabir growing up to be a wise, extremely responsible human being. He should be a virtuous man. That is something that is extremely important.

When are you planning on getting back to the sets and facing the camera?

There has to be something worthwhile now for me to be outside my home. If a good offer comes my way, I’ll definitely do it.

Are you missing the camera?

Not really... even during the time I took a break for two years... I was merrily in my own world of meditation then... I didn’t miss the camera. I know.... it sounds very funny. In my nature there is this attachment detachment thing. I think that is the thing that keeps me going. When I am working, I am working, but at the end of the day I am a family person.

But for many years you were also doing back-to-back films. What was driving you then?

See, Baba had given me a very serious tutorial before I embarked on my journey. He had told me to be committed to cinema absolutely, completely. He had told me about work commitment, people’s involvement, the emotions and money invested in a film. Then people spend their money to watch your films. I got it completely ingrained in my head and heart, which is why I never take my place nor my work for granted.

It is a huge responsibility which comes from my deepest commitment towards my profession. I feel extremely fortunate to be getting so much of love because of the profession I am in. Then again I took a break because nothing was exciting me too much at that point of time. And I don’t believe in the concept of out of sight is out of mind. If you feel like doing something, get back and do it.

I started working very early, I was in college then. So when people would be having a fun time, I would actually be working.

During that break (of two years) I was enjoying life in the best way possible, travelling, meditating, watching a lot of films.

I have a great time facing the camera and I have a great time at home. I am an absolute family person. I get my oxygen from that... and I give out all my energy at work. Now the responsibility is even higher.

Koel during the shoot

During the Flyover shoot, you had to do many scenes on the Lake Gardens flyover during peak hours in busy traffic. In the past you had done a lot of risky stunts in films. With new responsibilities, are you up for that now?

I had my responsibilities even then, in the past, as a daughter. With stunts, I would always think whether I could go to that extent. I don’t want to take a risk for the sake of taking a risk. Now, we can do many things through technology. And for a particular shot, I have to be comfortable. When things are under my control, then only I do it. It remains the same now.

As an actor, you always want to explore and experiment and challenge yourself with newer roles. I want to do something that takes me out of my comfort zone.

In Flyover, Bidisha realises her own strength when she faces a challenge, when she gets into trouble. We have to be challenged every time in our lives to understand ourselves better.

Pictures: Rashbehari Das