Bong with the best

NOTED BENGALI ACTRESS SUBHASHREE GANGULY TAKES SRIJANI ROY CHOWDHURY THROUGH HER LIFE AND CAREER JOURNEY

In Bengal, it is customary for younger people to address their elders with terms like 'di' or 'da' to show respect.

So when I address her respectfully as di, she bursts out laughing. She immediately adds that she sees me as a younger sister and can't wait to know more about me. If TikToker Jools Lebron were from India, she might describe Subhashree as "very demure and very mindful," a fitting description given how quickly we bond over our shared love for Bengali cinema.

Subhashree, who identifies herself as a 'daka buko' (fearless girl), approaches the conversation with the ease an old friend. Our conversation veers from her humble beginnings to her becoming a leading figure in the Bengali industry, as she recounts her early career challenges, which include familial scepticism and financial difficulties. Despite her father's initial resistance, she persisted, motivated by a desire to prove herself. Ask her about the situation at home when she told them about her acting ambitions and her nervous laughter gives away the stress she faced at home initially.

"They were completely against it, especially my father," she reveals. "My father did not support me but my mother and sister did." Growing up in a joint family, everyone's opinions counted. "No one encouraged me to pursue acting." Even when her films did well, her father's scepticism persisted. This, she says, gave her extra impetus to work even harder.

Financial independence was another important factor in her journey. "I initially accepted financial help from my father," she admits, "But once he objected to my career choice, I stopped asking him. It was emotionally challenging but I was adamant about my career choice." Relocating from Bardhaman to Kolkata was difficult but her perseverance paid off.