JOIN USReshmi Ghosh, beauty queen and actress, started her television career with the hit Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, where she played the character of Bhoomi Virani.
She followed this up with a string of sitcoms like Kahe Naa Kahe, Karam Apnaa Apnaa, Kayamath, Maan Rahe Tera Pitaah, Tere Liye, Mata Ki Chowki and Shobha Somnath Ki, among others. She currently plays the role of Urmila in Sahara One’s Piya Ka Ghar Pyaara Lage. Since being crowned Miss India Earth 2002, she has made appearances in several Bollywood films as well as television serials and advertisements, apart from being a ramp model. She has also been part of reality shows like Nach Baliye and Kaun Jeetega Bollywood Ka Ticket as well as reality shows in Bengali television.
With a huge body of work to her credit, she is candid when she says that although she wanted to be a heroine like every other girl, she never imagined it would become a reality. “One of my friends in my group, he had seen me compering on stage, when I was in high school, and he complimented me and coaxed me to get a portfolio done. At that stage, I had never imagined that I would be in front of the camera one day. I started my career as a model and have done several movies in Bengali and have been part of theatre. I have also done telefilms with top names like Raja Sen and Kaushik Ganguly. In Bollywood, I have had several cameos in movies but somehow I have not found the right foothold in that industry. So I do a lot of television in Mumbai and movies in Bengali. It is important for me to do roles that I choose. Each year, I do at least one Bengali movie which is the way I like to work.” Incidentally she continues to model and has also done photo shoots with top designers like Sabyasachi Mukherjee.
Quiz her on how she has managed to work in television consistently for over six years and she has an honest answer. “This is my 16th or 17th show on television and it has all happened because I have not been rigid, about my money or my role. Also since I have been cast in negative roles in the past, I have never shied away from doing them again. I have done several negative roles but I can tell you they have all been varied. Again as far as reality shows are concerned, they are very different from daily soaps as there is competition, and with that comes pressure to perform,” she says. She also has no regrets about not being part of mainstream Bollywood cinema. “I feel that I have not been able to fit into a conventional role of a Hindi film heroine mainly because of my own conditions. Again I am not saying it is right or wrong,” she explains. “Also, as far as movies are concerned, I get my creative satisfaction by working as the main lead in Bengali movies,” she says.
Today, Reshmi is in a space that many aspire for. Being much sought after, she remains grounded and is looking forward to doing things differently on another level. “After working so hard, I do want to settle down and continue doing what I like. I am happy doing films and television but I still have to grow. I am not sure how soon that will happen but am sure god has planned it for me and it will happen. I would like to explore other creative angles; I love to sing as well as to cook. I hope to be able to channelise them properly, but of course, this is in a very nascent stage at the moment and if it does materialise, I will be very happy,” she says. With her Bengali movie Aborto lined up for release later this year, a small role in the recently released From Sydney With Love, a flourishing television career as well as several ramp shows, she is certainly riding high. Here’s wishing her luck for more to come.