Koel Mallick rushed down the stairs of her cousin Robin Mallick’s house in Bhowanipore, adjacent to the famous Mallick Bari, which would soon twinkle with festive lights to welcome Goddess Durga for the 99th time and bring all of the Mallick clan together, their laughter and cheer echoing across Jadubabu’s Bazar. Her three-year-old adorable munchkin, Kabir, whose hilarious anecdotes filled up most of our conversation, would return from school and Koel couldn’t wait to catch up with him about his day. Family. Priorities. A golden rule that the beautiful actress has lived by as much as she is passionate about her work, that has seen her rule the silver screen for two successful decades.

We loved the pretty block print on the achkan with zari detailing. Koel teamed it with a Kalamkari dhoti and a kantha shawl

For t2’s annual Durga Puja shoot, Koel chose to celebrate her family ties, dressing up in her late aunt Swapna Mallick’s label House of Swapna’s, which is now spearheaded by her son Robin Mallick. Looking radiant with minimal makeup, Koel styled herself in two looks. We loved how effortlessly unisex the collection was.

Post-shoot, the Mitin Mashi star sat down with t2 for a leisurely chat on her closely-knit family, what has it taught her and the lessons she is passing down to Kabir. Excerpts.

Koel oozed regal vibes in a silk kurta with zari work, complemented by a kantha shawl

This was a very different shoot for you...

Yeah, this indeed was. Generally, there is a makeup artist and a stylist at a photoshoot, but this one was all about my family. Swapna khurima (Koel’s late paternal aunt) started House of Swapna’s and I have seen my parents pick up kurtas from her. From the time I got married, Rane (husband and film producer Nispal Singh) has been wearing her creations and now Kabir (son) also wears designs from the House of Swapna’s. I love the designs and they are my kind of clothes, things that I feel most comfortable in. I loved both the looks I tried today.

On-screen, you have to dress according to the character. In real life, I have never followed trends and have always worn things which enhance my personality and complement who I am. I love colours. During Puja, I only see myself in a sari. I know how to drape a sari from a very young age. My chhordidi would drape one on me and I had the responsibility of fixing her lipstick, which would invariably get smudged.

You have grown up in a big joint family, which means the world to you...

Koel Mallick with husband-producer Nispal Singh (Rane) and their adorable son Kabir Picture: Instagram

I have.... Shobar shonge katha bole monta halka hoye jeto. The support system has always been very strong and to date everyone is closely knit. I remember my father (Ranjit Mallick) would be at work the whole year except Sundays and Pujas. I also don’t work on Sundays and during the Pujas. Puja is the only time in the year when the entire family comes together and we catch up on each other’s life. Rane’s family is also a very large joint family. So, growing up with nieces and nephews, having fun.... My mother keeps reminding me of the special occasions and that keeps me connected to the family. I do that with Kabir now because I always want him to be connected to everyone in the family.

Kabir is growing up fast...

I was told ‘once a mother, always a mother’ and I used to think I would ace it just like I have the different roles... those of a daughter, wife, and daughter-in-law. Hundred on hundred! I love marking myself and my father keeps saying let the others mark you! (Laughs) Once Kabir was born, I understood the real meaning of ‘once a mother, always a mother’. No matter what I am doing, he is the priority. I want to wrap up quickly and go back to him. There is an invisible thread that always connects me to him and he knows that.

Bringing up a child is about mindfulness and responsibility. How you behave and talk and your actions, everything has an impact. So, it is a big responsibility.

I am revisiting my childhood through him. It is also about instilling that discipline in him. It’s a different matter that I feed him vegetables and his father chocolates! (Laughs) His papa is his buddy and I have to be strict for his own good. He is allowed chocolates on Sundays and when he goes to birthday parties. That day my father-in-law sent a video of him chewing bitter gourd and I was thrilled to bits! (Laughs)

He has his eating time, sleeping time, nap time and study time. Discipline takes a person a long way. I would take him along with me when I used to go to the gym and he would try to lift 2kg dumbbells! (Laughs) It’s a lot of fun and it’s great to see him enjoy every moment of his life and absorb it all in, like a sponge. He is exploring a lot of things for the first time.

As a mother of a son, I feel it’s an extra responsibility (to teach him) how to respect women and how he should behave with them.

I shot for Mahalaya this time and Kabir accompanied me. This was his first time on a set. He knows papa goes to the office and mama to shoot, but he doesn’t know what it is about. He was intrigued by the third eye. When he couldn’t find it on me when I came back, he was curious about its whereabouts! Our househelp said the third eye had gone on a holiday and he just wasn’t happy! (Laughs) With Kabir, you have to give him proper reasoning.

He is a chatterbox and you have to answer his every query. Aami shara jibon eto kotha bolini jotota aur shathe aamai bolte hochhe. That day he asked me why there were bubbles in the water! (Laughs) There is no end to his ‘whys’! He speaks fluent Bengali, Hindi and English and speaks Punjabi in bits and pieces.