After a 20-year acting career, Manasi Sinha has turned to filmmaking. Her directorial debut Eta Amader Golpo, starring Saswata Chatterjee and Aparajita Adhya as a Punjabi bachelor and a Bengali widow who fall in love after meeting at a laughing club, completed 75 days at the theatres today. We caught up with Manasi to know about her takeaways.

Your directorial debut Eta Amader Golpo completed 75 days at the theatres today. What do you think has clicked with the audience from the feedback you’ve got?

Manasi Sinha: I wanted to tell some of the truths of life, wanted to show reality. I didn’t want to make people dream. I have seen many husbands and wives who are lonely. Aparajita (Addha) and Saswata’s (Chatterjee’s) characters could have become a lonely elderly couple but it doesn’t happen because of the love they get from their families. This is something the audience could relate to as most of us are separated from someone or the other who is close to us.

A lot of people also told me that they didn’t like the film as they found it overdramatic. I have become more confident since a lot of people have loved the film but those who didn’t like the film are also important to me as this is my first film.

What made you choose the story of Eta Amader Golpo as your debut?

Manasi Sinha: I am almost 55 years old. I used to feel that I had reached an age where people start to feel lonely, mentally. People around us are busy with their lives. As I’m ageing I’m entering a phase of loneliness. I felt I could relate to the situation. That is when I decided to write the film.

Aparajita Adhya and Saswata Chatterjee have been your co-actors. How was it for you to be their director?

Manasi Sinha: As a colleague, I understand their pulse. They also know me very well. Moreover, they are very strong actors. If there was any creative difference on the set, they would ask me to act their bits out. They have immense respect for me. It was quite easy to guide them.

You have worked as an actor for a long time. How long have you been planning to get into direction?

Manasi Sinha: I have been in the industry for 20 years. When I am an actor I don’t dominate a director, and when I am the director no actor dominates me. We started shooting Eta Amader Golpo in 2019. It was my mother who motivated me to become a director. My mother thought the story was so good that I needed to direct it. But unfortunately, my mother couldn’t see the film as she passed away in 2020.

I have directed stage productions but I never thought I could direct films. I want to tell a lot of stories through films. I think films are a medium to share my thoughts. I will do my next film with the same producer but I am yet to decide on the story.

Which filmmakers have inspired you?

Manasi Sinha: As a film director, I am one of the youngest in this industry. I am learning from all the directors around me.