Nusrat Jahan

The beginning: She started as a model and was crowned the winner of Fair One Miss Kolkata 2010, in association with t2. The next step was movies as Nusrat Jahan made her debut with Shatru opposite Jeet. But her career took time to gain momentum. “Before Shatru, I was clueless. Back then I was too lazy. I was a rebellious, carefree soul. I was 19 and I felt whatever I thought was right. I was really outspoken then. Now I know what I am gonna do five years down the line. My life is planned,” Nusrat had told t2.

Film fame: Nusrat knew “doing good movies was important” and was selective with her roles. Gradually, she became motivated and disciplined and soon started seeing the results. Having worked with both Dev and Jeet, Nusrat had told t2 that both were inspiring in their own ways. “Jeetda used to guide me a lot. He is like a mentor. Dev is more like a friend. Both are unique in their own way,” she had said.

The change: Arindam Sil’s Har Har Byomkesh presented Nusrat in a new light and Srijit Mukherji’s 2016 film Zulfiqar was one of the more important films of her career, her character Rani Talapatra by far the most challenging role she has played till date.

One of the high points of Nusrat’s career was the 2018 movie Crisscross. Her takeaway from the film? “The subject. Women know how to live; the film is saying, do not judge women. Respect us the way we are. When we say we are quiet and calm, don’t take advantage of that. Don’t think I am weak. I am thoughtful and strong, and I know what I am doing. As human beings we break down… and what it takes to build ourselves up is what Crisscross is all about,” she had told t2.

The connect: In a 2016 interview to t2, Nusrat had said that her 3am friend was Mimi Chakraborty. Both are close friends.

Birthday: January 8

Studied: BCom at The Bhawanipur Education Society College

Guilty pleasures: Desserts, especially Mississippi Mudpie

Dream selfie: Bradley Cooper and Robert Pattinson

Loves to: Cook, from pulao-mangsho to rice, dal, posto and fish

Mimi Chakraborty after a special t2 shoot half an hour before the announcement. Arindam Chatterjee

Mimi Chakraborty

The beginning: Mimi Chakraborty started her career with the TV serial Champion in 2008 and shot into the limelight as Pupe in the serial Gaaner Oparey two years later. The show changed her life.

Film fame: The success of the serial and the household appeal of her character launched a career in films with Bapi Bari Ja. A bunch of mainstream movies followed. “I enjoy doing commercial movies... the singing, dancing, romancing. I really look up to those movies. At the same time, I want to do films with author-backed roles,” Mimi had told t2 earlier.

The 2012 superhit road movie Bojhena Shey Bojhena, directed by Raj Chakraborty and starring Mimi, Soham and Abir Chatterjee among others, was the kind of film that bridged the gap between the urban and the rural audiences. Next up was the socially relevant Proloy, set in the interiors of Purulia, which saw Mimi playing the only female lead Durga. “My character Durga will be an inspiration to many women who want to protest wrongdoings. It’s indeed a very challenging role,” Mimi, the Jalpaiguri girl, had told t2. Mimi emerged as a star in her own right with one hit after another, like Shudhu Tomari Jonyo, Gangster.

The connect: The first film Dev started working on after his name was announced as Trinamul Congress candidate from Ghatal five years ago, was Raj Chakraborty’s Yoddha, which also starred Mimi. Later, Dev and Mimi also starred in the 2015 film Shudhu Tomari Jonyo.

Champion of equal rights: Mimi is a champion of equal rights for men and women. “We are fighting for ourselves to be protected in all the ways we can. We are supporting ourselves. A hero and heroine should get the same remuneration,” she had said.

Mimi summed up 2018 to t2 with these words: “God has been very kind. I am very happy. I learnt a lot of things and embraced positivity. I believe that when I think positive, everything around me will be positive. And it has happened to me. I want to carry it forward to 2019. Let’s see what it has in store for me. I am really hopeful. Work-wise 2018 was good for me.”

Coming up: Mimi hit the studio recently to record an unplugged version of the song Keno je toke from the film Mon Jaane Na, which releases on Holi. She also shot for a reprised music video of Keno je toke.

Birthday: February 11

Studied: English honours at Asutosh College

Inspiration: Mother Tapashi Chakraborty