She had a sensational debut with Raj Chakraborty's super hit movie Chirodini Tumi Je Amar in 2008 when she was only 17. She is one of the very few actors, who have worked with almost all the renowned filmmakers in Tollywood, including Srijit Mukherji, Kaushik Ganguly, Kamaleswar Mukherjee, Aparna Sen, Anjan Dutt and Arindam Sil among others. Ten years down the line, Priyanka Sarkar has not only grown as an actor but has also toughened as an individual.
Leaving behind a failed marriage with actor Rahul Banerjee, and as the mother of a five-year-old son, she now straddles work and motherhood with equal elan. She impressed the audience with her performances in Crisscross and Byomkesh Gotro last year. In the web series Hello, she plays Nina, a woman who is in love with her married best friend (played by Raima Sen). Priyanka, who will be seen in Hello 3 and Mainak Bhaumik's film Borno Porichoy, is ready to embrace 2019 with higher spirits and better work. In between a busy schedule, the 28-year-old sat down with us for a quick chat. Excerpts:
Growing as an actor
Priyanka had a fabulous 2018 with Arindam Sil's Byomkesh Gotro being one of the top Puja grossers. Her role was the meatiest and sexiest in that film among all the female actors. In Birsa Dasgupta'sCrisscross, too, her character Suzy earned accolades despite the film not doing so well. In Bengali web series Hello her reprisal of Nina, a lesbian in love with her married best friend was also a class act. What's next, we ask. "It's feels wonderful to get appreciated for all the hard work. I am relishing the fruits of labour. Moving forward, this year, too, the audience will get to see a better Priyanka. BesidesBorno Porichoy, I will also be acting in third season of Hello. It’s great to play such an uninhibited and layered character as Nina’s and having co actors like Raima and Joy Sengupta made my job a little easier".
Turning over a new leaf
The actor has indeed become better with time. A promising artiste, she has never looked better. “I have learnt it the hard way that keeping oneself fit and glamorous is really important besides acting. I had ignored myself a lot for a few years when I was going through a low phase in my life. And for that I also could explore many opportunities. But now it’s my target is to make up for all the lost time and give my best. I am lucky that I have got the chance to work with great directors, who have repeated me,” she says.
Keeping work before love
The actor went through a much publicised divorce with actor Rahul Banerjee, who also debuted with her in 2008. The sole custodian of their only son Sohoj, Priyanka rues about ignoring work and letting down her family and friends. “I wasted myself and have let gone many good offers. My failed marriage has taught me to never ignore work, since only that will remain with you. I will always give work priority over anything else in life. I have also learnt how to live in the moment, be a better judge of people and to speak out if you are not respected,” she reflects.
Being a single mom
But Priyanka feels victorious in her journey as a single mother/ “I moved out when my son was two and with the help of my family and friends I feel I am doing a pretty good job as a mom,” says the bubbly actor, who ensures her phone battery is always charged since, “My son now asks me about solar system and the galaxies and I am not always ready with the answers”. Is she sceptical about marriage again, we prod. “Not really. I don’t dwell on past. Mistakes happen and you learn from them. I cherish the good times and learn from the bad times. I am open to a fresh start but not in a hurry either,” she stresses
Going forward
After working with Mainak Bhaumik in Aami vs Tumi, Priyanka will be seen in his next Borno Porichoyalong with actors Abir Chatterjee and Jisshu Sengupta. What’s her role in the film, we enquire. “I am playing Malini, who is a bored housewife, whose life revolves around her husband, Dhananjoy (Jisshu Sengupta), who is a very busy man. Life takes an unexpected turn when she takes a crucial decision,” she reveals.
Pictures: Tathagata Ghosh
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