Whenever anyone would ask what she wanted to achieve in life, she would always reply, she will be a Miss India. Quite naturally, she was geared towards a popular beauty contest. Although she didn’t win, it gave her modelling career a jumpstart.
Following successful stints as a model and veejay, she soon found her calling in acting. We are talking about the beautiful and vivacious Bibriti Chatterjee. After playing the second lead in the popular Hindi TV series, Chandrakanta, this pretty young woman debuted as the seductive Meera in Arindam Sil’s superhit Puja release, Byomkesh Gotro, last year.
Today, she is known in Tollywood not just for her smouldering looks, but also for her acting skills. Soon after her much-acclaimed web debut in Oh! Mother, a series by filmmaker Shaket Banerjee, Bibriti will be back on the silver screen in the upcoming movie, Bhotbhoti, directed by Tathagata Mukherjee. After a fun fashion shoot, Bibriti had an honest chat with us, about her baby steps in the industry, and how she plans to chart her course in Tollywood...
You’ve had a dynamic career in a short span of time — as a model, a veejay and as an actor. How has the experience been, so far?
It’s a mixed bag. I took a break for a couple of months and went to Mumbai to party with friends, but I never returned, since I got an offer to act in the TV series, Chandrakanta. But the serial format didn’t appeal to me and after Chandrakanta, when I was shooting in Rajasthan, I got the offer to play Meera in Byomkesh Gotro. This was followed by two seasons of the web series Oh! Mother, and now, I am shooting for my upcoming film, Bhotbhoti. I will also begin work for Rohan Sen’s Ebhabei Golpo Hok soon. So, yes, it has been quite a rollercoaster ride so far!
Tell us about the character you play in Bhotbhoti.
It’s a magic-realism film, so there’s a mix of fantasy and reality, and I play a mermaid. But that’s all I can reveal about my character, for now.
How much of your acting career has been a struggle, and how much of it, a cakewalk?
It’s a good mix of both. My only plus was that I knew acting, and I was presentable. The rest, I had to figure out. I have a few set principles in life, and I am hard working. It has not been an easy path, but I always believe that slow and steady wins the race.
Could you share some of your learning experiences?
I have learnt to keep my friends, rather than enemies closer because people are really lonely out here. Workwise, I have been really lucky to have taken part in so many acting workshops — that helped me immensely as an actor. But I still feel nervous, since all the three characters that I have played so far are completely different from each other. So, it’s a new learning experience every time.
What do you love most about acting?
That I can see myself on the 70 mm screen. Star or an actor? A star who can act.
How do you handle fame?
I have anchors in life that keep me grounded. Nothing has changed, except that I now wear fancier clothes.
Your first experience of acting?
Well, when I had to act in front of my favourite star Abir Chatterjee, along with actors Sohini Sarkar and Rahul Banerjee, I was so nervous, I could have fainted.
Any dream role?
Elizabeth in Pride And Prejudice.
Anyone’s social feed that you envy?
Deepika Padukone’s and Priyanka Chopra’s.
What would you wish changes in Tollywood?
I feel a lot more women-centric work should be done.
Fashion, fitness & diet
‘I like wearing comfortable and casual clothes in weather-friendly fabrics, mainly cotton, linen and khadi apart from jeans and tees. When it comes to accessories, it depends on my mood and the season. Right now, I am into earrings and I wear chunky ornamental ear studs or ‘kaan pashas’ that are traditional and classic. I love bags in all shapes and sizes, especially slings and totes.’
‘I work out at the gym six days a week, for 2-3 hours daily. I do a mix of cardio, weights and freehand. When it comes to food, I almost starve myself at times, and I fear that I might gain weight even if I drink water (laughs). I usually have a lot of fruits, and kiwi is my favourite. My comfort food is dal, bhaat and aloo bhaja (rice pulses and potato fritters), and pizza.’
Make-up & more
‘When it comes to make-up, I don’t want to look very done up, if I am not working. It’s only a hint of blush and facial mist for me. But I love to do my eyes and eyebrows. I like applying kajal and when it gets smudged while applying, that’s my perfect look. I drink a lot of water to keep my skin hydrated and flawless.’
One overhyped piece of make-up:
Concealers, they don’t conceal much!
Favourite make-up hacks: Blush, eyebrow make-up, and mascara.
Five vital make-up must-haves: Mascara, blush, lipstick in pastel shades, kajal and facial mist.
Clothes: Bohurupi by Abhishek Roy Pictures: Debarshi Sarkar Hair & make-up: Abhijit Paul Location courtesy: Ivy House, Karma Kettle
sharmishtha.g@newindianexpress.com
@sharmidas