Actor Ishaa Saha opens up about her role in 'Paashbalish'
Actor Ishaa Saha is currently seen playing the role of Anchal in a unique Bengali web series Paashbalish. Described as a romantic thriller, the series explores, love, friendship, thrill, investigation, and more and takes the audience on a roller coaster ride of emotion and adventure.
Directed by Korok Murmu, it is streaming on a leading OTT platform and stars Suhotra Mukhopadhyay, Saurav Das and Rishi Kaushik other than her. Indulge caught up with the leading lady on her role, camaraderie with her co-stars, future works, and donning the investigator's hat.
Excerpts…
How excited are you for Paashbalish?
Whenever a project releases definitely we are very excited as actors or whoever is involved with the project. For me, it’s double the excitement because in the last two-three years I have had many releases together, especially in 2021-22. I did not want so much to release together because I think the attention gets divided and I got bored looking at myself. I felt maybe the audience would also be bored. Then I felt it was better to take a gap for some days and take a break. That period was on for some time and I spent the days the way I wanted. After quite a while Paashbalish is streaming and that is why the excitement level is quite high. Finally, there’s a web series release and promotions will be on and I’ll get to meet everyone and people will get to see my work, I will receive feedback.
Tell us about your character.
My character is Anchal Mullick and my father is Mahadeb Mullick played by Shankar da. He’s an influential personality from Pathorkuchi. Anchal studied in Kolkata, was a topper in Journalism, left bigger job prospects and comes back to Pathorkuchi because she loves the place and its people. She is back to her roots and starts crime journalism there. She starts a YouTube channel and tries to help the local police with some information or takes help from them too. There’s a beautiful bond that she shares with her father. Her father is very strict but there exists a friendly relationship between the two. She meets Chandu [ Suhotra Mukhopadhyay] because she keeps going to the police station.
How do you interpret the name of the series?
Paashbalish is a comfort zone. It doesn’t judge us. If I don’t have anyone to say my feelings to, I know I have my Paashbalish with me to share my thoughts with and it will listen. Today there are hardly any listeners. Here, it means someone who is beside you, your comfort zone, and one you can trust, someone who will always be there for you even if not loved.
How’s the camaraderie that you share with Saurav and Suhotra considering you have worked with both of them earlier?
Since we have worked with each other, we know how the person in front will react. I already have a place of bonding with the main characters. It’s a very comfortable zone. They are such good actors, and they always help on the floor. For me, it’s an advantage.
What is that one ‘naughty crime’ that you have done as a person that Anchal would have asked you about?
Nothing. I’m a very boring person. I was always sorted, never bunked classes, and was very punctual. Yes, I have done one thing as a child. My father knew I used to go to a tuition class, but it was not necessary for me. I saved that tuition money and bought lots of books. If that’s a crime then yes I have done that [Laughs]!
Since Paashbalish is a romantic thriller, how would you define romance?
Romance doesn’t mean you have to typically roam around with a partner. Even a long-distance relationship has a space for romance. The person whom I can trust, I can easily romance that person. It can be a friend, a lover, family member also.
You have played the lead in Indu, Guptodhon series, and even Paashbalish where we see you investigate. Do you think you are ready to play a lady detective?
I am already considering Indu as a lady detective. The way she is solving mysteries, even though not in a professional way, she has her own style! If you come to Indu with a case, I think she’ll be able to solve it. Jhinuk [ Guptodhon series] has also grown up. She can also solve riddles. It’s not that if Sona Da [ Abir Chatterjee] isn’t there she can’t solve a riddle, then what did he teach her all this while?
When can we expect Indu 3?
We were all very excited and the shoot was supposed to begin in January but there has been a delay. I have retained that excitement.
Upcoming works
Aparichito with Ritwick Chakraborty and Anirban Chakrabarty and there are more projects in the pipeline.
Paashbalish is streaming on Zee5