<p>As an actress her choice of roles have been atypical and Konkona Sensharma says she wants to continue telling unconventional stories even as a director.<br /><br />The 37-year-old actress, who has turned director with "A Death in the Gunj", says she will probably never make a Bollywood potboiler as it does not come naturally to her.<br /><br />"It seems quite unlikely that I'll make a masala film. Even as an actor, I haven't done those kinds of films and it is largely out of choice.<br /><br />"It is also true that I haven't been offered the gamut of roles. I've tried a few roles here and there. But when I have, I feel most comfortable in the other kinds of films," Konkona told PTI in an interview here.<br /><br />She, however, understands that choosing not to do a mainstream movie may not be as profitable as a project is expected to be, but says it is a "conscious choice".<br /><br />"'A Death in the Gunj' is slightly off-beat in part, not financially lucrative as one would want. But that is a conscious choice that I have made. It's the person that I am. I don't know how long I'll be able to do it for. Let's see."<br /><br />It is generally a norm to take a more secure route and romantic comedies are considered a safe bet for new directors.<br /><br />But Konkona says she chose to bring "A Death in the Gunj" on the celluloid as she felt "compelled" to tell the story of this place lost in time.<br /><br />Set in late 1970s, the movie is about a Bengali upper middle class family who travel to McCluskieganj for a vacation that goes wrong.<br /><br />"The film is based on some true events. My parents used to own a place in McCluskieganj back in the time, which they had to sell off.<br /><br />"I had heard many family anecdotes about that place. But there were some stories which weren't funny; they were chilling, eerie and of a forgotten time."<br /><br />Konkona says she loved the "specific atmosphere" of the remote hilly town in Jharkhand and this is why she decided to set the story there.<br /><br />"Set in 1933, the place was found by ET McCluskie. It used to be a haven for Anglo-Indians. After Independence, most of them went off to Canada and Australia due to lack of economic prospects. They used to call it the 'Ganj', which started dying out soon after."<br /><br />In the 1980s, a lot of the Anglo-Indian population had left McCluskieganj and their houses were in shambles in the absence of governance and infrastructure.<br /><br />Konkona says poverty was so deep-rooted in the place that the Adivasis would come out of the jungles and steal the pristine doors and windows of the cottages.<br /><br />"But you don't steal the doors and windows, unless you have to," she says.<br /><br />The actress-turned-director is more relaxed about its reception in India as the film was well-received in international film festivals.Starring Vikrant Massey, Kalki Koechlin, Tillotama Shome, Ranvir Shorey, Tanuja, Jim Sarbh and late actor Om Puri, the film releases tomorrow. PTI RDS BK BK 06011624<br /></p>
<p>As an actress her choice of roles have been atypical and Konkona Sensharma says she wants to continue telling unconventional stories even as a director.<br /><br />The 37-year-old actress, who has turned director with "A Death in the Gunj", says she will probably never make a Bollywood potboiler as it does not come naturally to her.<br /><br />"It seems quite unlikely that I'll make a masala film. Even as an actor, I haven't done those kinds of films and it is largely out of choice.<br /><br />"It is also true that I haven't been offered the gamut of roles. I've tried a few roles here and there. But when I have, I feel most comfortable in the other kinds of films," Konkona told PTI in an interview here.<br /><br />She, however, understands that choosing not to do a mainstream movie may not be as profitable as a project is expected to be, but says it is a "conscious choice".<br /><br />"'A Death in the Gunj' is slightly off-beat in part, not financially lucrative as one would want. But that is a conscious choice that I have made. It's the person that I am. I don't know how long I'll be able to do it for. Let's see."<br /><br />It is generally a norm to take a more secure route and romantic comedies are considered a safe bet for new directors.<br /><br />But Konkona says she chose to bring "A Death in the Gunj" on the celluloid as she felt "compelled" to tell the story of this place lost in time.<br /><br />Set in late 1970s, the movie is about a Bengali upper middle class family who travel to McCluskieganj for a vacation that goes wrong.<br /><br />"The film is based on some true events. My parents used to own a place in McCluskieganj back in the time, which they had to sell off.<br /><br />"I had heard many family anecdotes about that place. But there were some stories which weren't funny; they were chilling, eerie and of a forgotten time."<br /><br />Konkona says she loved the "specific atmosphere" of the remote hilly town in Jharkhand and this is why she decided to set the story there.<br /><br />"Set in 1933, the place was found by ET McCluskie. It used to be a haven for Anglo-Indians. After Independence, most of them went off to Canada and Australia due to lack of economic prospects. They used to call it the 'Ganj', which started dying out soon after."<br /><br />In the 1980s, a lot of the Anglo-Indian population had left McCluskieganj and their houses were in shambles in the absence of governance and infrastructure.<br /><br />Konkona says poverty was so deep-rooted in the place that the Adivasis would come out of the jungles and steal the pristine doors and windows of the cottages.<br /><br />"But you don't steal the doors and windows, unless you have to," she says.<br /><br />The actress-turned-director is more relaxed about its reception in India as the film was well-received in international film festivals.Starring Vikrant Massey, Kalki Koechlin, Tillotama Shome, Ranvir Shorey, Tanuja, Jim Sarbh and late actor Om Puri, the film releases tomorrow. PTI RDS BK BK 06011624<br /></p>