Be it on home ground or in Bollywood, actor Swastika Mukherjee has consistently made her presence felt through powerhouse performances in projects like Qala, Paatal Lok, and Nikhoj. The recently released Tekka, alongside Dev and Rukmini, is no different. We caught up with Swastika to chat about acting in the Srijit Mukherji-directed hostage film, her experience of reuniting with the director, being Dev’s ‘bhokto’ and what keeps her career going strong.

Do you recall how or when you first heard about Tekka?

Swastika Mukherjee: Srijit first sent me the script in 2021–22, when we were still in Covid mode. He told me to read it and tell him which role I would want to play. I’d wanted to play the cop (Maya) since I hadn’t played a police officer back then. But Srijit kept pestering me to play Ira (the mother) because he felt I would be the best at it. Then in 2023, he said that he was finally doing the film and that Dev and Rukmini were part of it. He just said, “Play Ira and don’t tell me no.” By then, I had already done Nikhoj, where I had played a DCP, so my obsession with playing a cop was gone. I admitted that I had originally read the script thinking I was Maya, so needed to read it again keeping Ira in mind. After reading, I told Srijit that since you’ve given me Ira, I don’t have to work much to get into the character.

How did you approach Ira’s character?

Swastika Mukherjee: By the time Ira comes into the narrative, her world is already shaken. The sadness and anxiety are at a peak and the panic, desperation, and despair only grow with the film. So, I had to switch on “mother mode” to the fullest. This comes very naturally to us, moms. Usually, while working we park away our real self at home and reach the set as the character, but here I reached the set as my actual self. The emotions are always there. I simply had to create a mind space and navigate the scene through Ira.

You are a huge Dev fan…

Swastika Mukherjee: (Laughs) I want to make a T-shirt of “Shiraye shiraye gorom rokto, Ami Dev er chorom bhokto” and wear it to the Khadaan premiere. Firstly, let me say that he is a star producer! There were a lot of women on set, so we had a vanity and washrooms with proper hygienic arrangements. There have been many times during shoots that these necessities are not given. In 2024, we still have to ask for it. But his production has taken care of it. As an actor, Dev is very dedicated. When you work with a superstar, there are lots of rumours doing the rounds – they have tantrums, they are always late. But he doesn’t do that. In fact, I did not get much of Dev on set, he came prepared with his lines and his emotions as Iqlakh.

How was it working with Srijit after six years?

Swastika Mukherjee: Srijit is a director who knows what he wants from an actor. This is my fourth film with him, so I know his pattern by now. There are scenes in which he is very rigid about the dialogue and wants you to say exactly what is written. Then, there are scenes where he gives you a free hand. I know for a fact that he expects his actors to come to set ready with their lines. He doesn’t appreciate people forgetting lines. I know what kind of acting, accent, and reaction he wants in any scene. Srijit will do everything in his power to extract the best out of everybody by hook or by crook.

How do you prepare for your roles?

Swastika Mukherjee: I am very old school and like to be prepared. I read the script at least 10 to 25 times before I reach the set. First, I read the script as a story, not focussing on my role. Then, I read it again to understand what my character is contributing to the narrative and whether it excites me. Finally, I read it multiple times and make my notes. I am not an actor who talks a lot on set, I have all the conversations before the shoot starts. I give my suggestions to the directors. I am very thorough about everything.

What do you look for in your projects?

Swastika Mukherjee: If you see my career, I have worked with a lot of first-time directors and producers. For me, the script is very important. Just having a great character can never yield a good film, the script has to be superlative. The second consideration is what I am contributing to the film. People should remember the role I play. Also, I have to understand the vision of the director and have clarity. Even if I am working with a first-timer, they must know what they want and have their ideas. This has been my go-to mantra while choosing a script.

What roles draw you in?

Swastika Mukherjee: I started my career in television. I wasn’t going to get a launchpad where people would see a new face on the big screen. They had already seen me every day, sitting in their drawing room. So I had to think about how to make a mark and get people to register me. It had to be through my performance. And this has remained my go-to thinking for 22 years now.

I used to do more work before, but now I want to focus on projects that will remain in people’s minds. I don’t want to repeat characters – not that I won’t play a mother, but I don't want to play another Ira from Tekka or Urmila from Qala. I don’t care if the character is older than me. I have played a 55-year-old in Guldasta and in Anubrata Bhalo Achho? I played a woman over 65 at age 30. I have stopped paying heed to how I look in front of the camera. I just want to project the character.

What’s up next?

Swastika Mukherjee: I am doing Mon O Bhromon, a film with Srabanti Chatterjee and Nusrat Jahan. Other than that, I am reading a lot of scripts and have yet to decide what my next project will be.