I Would Love To Carry The Bequest Of My Dida, But With My Own Persona

In a freewheeling interview, Raima Sen looks back at her journey as an actress, her memorable roles in Hindi and Bengali cinema, sibling rivalry at home with Riya Sen, her mother’s foray into politics and, above all, her legendary grandmother’s decision to turn a recluse at the height of her fame.

- Giridhar Jha

Comparisons with her iconic maternal grandmother Suchitra Sen (1931-2014) were perhaps inevitable when Raima Sen ­impressed critics with Chokher Bali (2003) at the very outset of her career. Undaunted by the heft of huge expectations, Raima gradually evolved on her own as a “thinking” actress, doing an array of meaningful movies in both Hindi and Bengali cinema over the years. In conversation with Giridhar Jha, she talks about her career, family, her ­actress-mother Moon Moon Sen’s foray into politics and, above all, why her legendary grandmother chose to turn into a ­recluse at the height of her popularity. Excerpts from the interview:

How has your journey in Hindi films been since your debut inGodmother (1999)? Many believe you should have been in the ‘top league’ with the kind of promise you showed quite early in your career withChokher Bali?

As a person and as an actor, I am satisfied with my journey so far in Hindi cinema. I feel that I am blessed. I do not do everything that comes my way. I have experienced all kinds of ups and downs. I started my career with Hindi films before making my debut in Bengali cinema, but those films didn’t take me anywhere. No one noticed my work until Rituparno Ghosh gave me Chokher Bali. That film changed the course of my entire career; and suddenly everyone took notice of me.

I am a director’s actor and have been learning every day. I feel that working with the crew and cast that I was for­tunate to work with helped me grow from strength to strength. I have no regrets of having done anything differently back then and I take every day as if it were a new opportunity for me.

You have earned a lot of critical acclaim for your performances. Which are the roles you look back at with pride and satisfaction?