She is synonymous with unconventional roles and flawless performances. Actor Konkona Sen Sharma made her acting debut as a child artist in the film ‘Indira’ in 1983. It has been a long and fulfilling journey since then, and her roles in movies like ‘Mr and Mrs Iyer’, ‘Page 3’, ‘Life in a... Metro’ and ‘Wake Up Sid’ among others, have garnered commercial and critical acclaim.
The actor was at Inox Garuda Mall on Wednesday to promote her directorial
debut ‘A death in the Gunj’.
In a conversation with Surupasree Sarmmah, Konkona talks about her experience as a director, her favourite food and more.
‘A death in the Gunj’ is your directorial debut... How is the experience of stepping into the shoes of a director?
I hadn’t really planned on making a film or being a director. These are stories that I have heard in my childhood. My parents owned a house in McCluskieganj, where my grandparents lived for a while. I have heard many stories from that time, some of them quite spooky. This movie is based on one such tale.
What interested you about such stories?
These stories always interested me as they are from a specific time and place and have a particular culture and milieu that we don’t get to see a lot nowadays. I had been to this place when I was six or seven years old and now when I went back to shoot the film, it still looked and felt the same, with dilapidated, old crumbling houses.
How did your rendezvous with acting begin?
I did a few films and plays as a child. When I was in college, I got an offer and I decided to give it a try. And I did well. I still didn’t take it that seriously until ‘Mr and Mrs Iyer’ won a National Award. After that, I was excited and started liking it and here I am today — acting.
Your mother Aparna Sen is a noted figure in the Bengali film industry — was it she who inspired you to take up acting?
Yes, she has inspired me a lot. My mother has been a great influence and is a great
example of someone who
has done it all.
Your all time favourite movie...
I don’t have an all-time favourite. I may have had one when I was a teenager, but now, I have become mature and my taste in movies has become more complex. It keeps changing.
A book that inspires you...
I just finished reading the ‘Neopolitan Novels’ by Elena Ferrante and I really enjoyed it.
A favourite corner in your house...
I have several nice little nooks and corners in my house. Right now my particular favourite is my study, which is where the film was written, planned and conceived.
Are you a foodie or an adventurous person?
I am definitely a foodie, but both these options are not mutually exclusive. I can be both.
A recent movie that became your instant favourite...
There’s a film called ‘Get Out’, which I liked.
