Ritabhari Chakraborty’s annual calendar with Club Salon, which was shot in Phuket in December, was launched at a cosy gathering last Friday at Downtown Kitchen & Bar (Kasba). The Telegraph caught up with the Fatafati actress on why she’s come to love intimate gatherings, her V-Day memories and special dates this year.
How did the launch go?
The calendar has come out very well this year and those who showed up were actually people pretty close to me. They have been there with me for the last two difficult years of my life. Now that I am back and have resumed things I would do before, I wanted those people by my side. It was a lot of fun. A lot of Team Fatafati was there. So, it felt like a soft launch of the film! I had that Marilyn Monroe outfit going. At times it felt like a mini birthday party because it was so much about me... my pictures, my calendar, I cut the cake! (Laughs) It was a homely, closed-door gathering for me.
Do you think now when you invite people, in this post pandemic era, you really call the close ones?
I do, I do. It is a conscious decision. There are enough gatherings where I get to meet everyone irrespective of the fact whether they are close to me or not, which is great because it reminds me how great the fraternity is. When, however, I am doing something, I choose people who I want to be there in the room, who’d be genuinely happy for me. Every event is a lot of effort and I am a very good host, trying to cater to every single person and take care of them and spend time with them.
I would feel that to get the buzz going, I used to literally call everyone, but now I have come to that point where I don’t think it is necessary any more. The virtual world is enough for people to know what I am up to. I don’t want to be super conscious when I am in a gathering. For the pictures, I was wearing silver heels and once it was done, I was back in my sneakers so that I could dance around. Comfort does matter. I know I’d be at places where I won’t be at my comfortable best, but where I can choose, I won’t add more eyes where I’d feel these eyes would constantly judge me.
What are the important dates on the calendar this year?
First and foremost, May 12, because Fatafati is releasing. June 26 is always special because it’s my birthday and I am a birthday person! Given a chance, I would celebrate everyone’s birthday! (Laughs) I think the first day I go back to shoot my next Hindi project, which I can’t really talk about right now, is going to be special because there’s been a gap of a year and a half since I did something in Hindi.
Since Valentine’s Day is around the corner, we must ask you about dates! What’s been your most memorable and most outrageous date ever?
I am a big V-Day person (laughs). I enjoy celebrating different things. The best one was back in school. It’s silly but sweet. I went to Pizza Hut with this guy and there was another friend too... on my way back, I held the guy’s hand and it was the first time I had held someone’s hand in public and it was special. I was in Class VIII.
The worst one has to be at my single’s Valentine’s Day party in my house and getting inspired from F.R.I.E.N.D.S we lit up a bonfire with things from our exes and it did not go well! A fire in your house is never a good idea! Please don’t try this at home.
What are your plans this year?
I haven’t really thought about it, but I am excited about the day is all I can say!
Would you like to be surprised?
I would always like to be surprised but not in a way that shocks me. No gigantic teddy bears that I can’t fit in my house. I am looking forward to all the special dates because after getting my health back, I don’t want to miss out on anything. Thezeal is important. It’s a newfound love for life. Let’s see how long that lasts.