Tolly actor Rukmini Maitra all set to play a dark role in Puja release, Network

As her new movie Kidnap is set to hit theatres, the gorgeous model-turned-actor Rukmini Maitra speaks about playing characters that she believes in
Rukmini
Rukmini

THERE’S never a dull moment around the effervescent model-actor Rukmini Maitra. Only two years and three films old in the industry, the chirpy actor, who took the ramp for Lakmé Fashion Week when she was barely 13 years old, says she believes in experimenting with each role that she can lay her hands on. Be it playing a terrorist in Kabir or an air hostess in Cockpit or the girl-next-door in Champ, Rukmini — who confesses to being an accidental heroine — has impressed everyone with her acting skills, despite no formal training. The tall and sexy actor, who loves scribbling poetry during her free time, sat with us for a heart-to-heart chat just ahead of the release of Kidnap, in which she stars opposite Tolly star Dev. Excerpts from the conversation:

Your last three films — Champ, Cockpit and Kabir — were all with Dev, and produced by his production house. This fourth film is also with him. Do you plan to ever work with anybody else?

It’s just pure coincidence that my last three films were with Dev, and also from the same production house. But for all of them, I had been approached by the respective directors. For me, the film has to bring some substance to my table, and the character has to entice me. While choosing my films, I always make sure that I can relate to the character I will be playing. Since I have been a model, I always ensure that I don’t fall into the trap of playing a glam doll. But Raja Chanda (the director of Kidnap) had been persuading me to do a glamorous, larger-than-life role for a long time. In fact, NK Salil wrote the script keeping me in mind, and so I said yes to Kidnap. I was also offered Jeet’s movie Sesh Theke Shuru that’s releasing on the same day as Kidnap. But unfortunately, I had already given my dates for Kidnap by then.

Tell us a bit about your role in Kidnap.

I’m playing Meghna Chatterjee, a photojournalist, who is both glamorous and gutsy at the same time. Born and brought up in Kolkata, work takes her all the way to Dubai, where she busts a trafficking racket single-handedly. The movie revolves around how she falls prey to various social norms, and gets vulnerable and broken down and helpless, and she finds it difficult to accept the situation she gets into. This role is very glamorous and larger than life, and I thoroughly enjoyed dancing around trees and romancing for a change.

You manage to look so convincing in all the roles you play. How do you do that?

I had no formal training in acting, and I think that works to my advantage. I go with the flow of the character, which takes shape in my head long before I hit the shooting floor. I believe, if I can convince myself about the role, chances are that my audience too will be convinced. I guess, I have discovered my passion for being somebody else — it’s great to act as someone totally different.

What other movies will you be seen in?

I have already finished shooting the first phase of Kamaleswar Mukherjee’s next, Password, opposite Parambrata Chatterjee and Dev, and I will be playing Nisha Chatterjee, a hacker and a cracker at the same time. It’s a dangerously enticing character, very dark and sexy. The movie deals with cyber- crime, and will have a Puja release.

Any particular filmmakers you hope to work with soon?

Beggars can’t be choosers (laughs). But I would definitely love to work with all of the talented Tolly filmmakers, including Aniruddha Roy Choudhury, with whom I worked recently for a sports channel, and Kaushik Ganguly, who praised my acting in Champ. Srijit Mukherji too offered me roles many a time. So yes, probably all of them (smiles).

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