You worked repeatedly with Partho Ghosh, your impressions on him?
Firstly, I can say that Partho was a wonderful person. He had a great soul. He was very amiable, very soft-spoken, and always used to understand others’ problems. You know, whenever something would happen, he didn’t arbitrarily try to snub it. He would say, okay, sit down, let’s talk. If there is any problem, I’ll solve it out. That thing was there in him, that sympathetic person, that empathy, that loveliness in him.
How did he decide to cast you?
He identified me as his potential actor when I was in Chennai. I was doing a Bengali film that time. And then they were shooting for, I think, Dalaal over there with Mithunda and Ayesha Jhulka and others. I think at that time I had just started out and I was doing a Bengali film over there. And then Parthoda saw me. We were shooting in the AVM studios and then he spoke to me. And of course, I was a fan of his 100 Days and all those films. So, when I came back to Kolkata from his company, from his people, he sent me a message that he would love to see me in Mumbai when I come and that maybe he has a project for me.
That’s how you worked with him for the first time?
That’s how Teesra Kaun happened. I’m so indebted to Dada that he actually introduced me to such a big production. And the producers N.N Sippyji, and Pravesh Sippyji, they were such lovely people to accept me in their film. And so, that was my debut film. And so, I still remember that I was paired against Chunky Pandey. Mithunda was also there as a guest appearance. And then Amol Palekar, Somy Ali, Rakesh Bedi, Himaniii, it’s a huge cast. Gautamiji did a guest appearance in it. So, that was my debut. And of course, I had songs with Javed Jaffrey and also Chanky Pandey. And so, I was a dubtante in Hindi cinema, who was sort of introduced in that film. I was the heroine of the film. And it was such a great introduction for a new girl. And everybody treated me so warmly during the shooting.
What was he like when not shooting?
To know Partho da was a joy. He always had this Bengali twang in his conversations, or when he used to speak. But that came out very sweetly.
You went on to work with him in other projects?
Yes, that movie Rehmat Ali he remade in Bengali with me, again with Mithunda. And that was again a hit. And then I did another film with Partho da called Sindoor Khela in Bengali. That was a big hit. And it was from a very big production. Me, Prosenjit Chatterjee all the big actors in the industry were together. I think that was one of the most expensive films also in Kolkata, what we did that Bengali film, we shot in Nepal and Pokhara.
Were you in touch with him?
Lately, I lost touch with him. But then, yeah, earlier we were often in touch. He also talked to me about another film. He was always very, very fond of me. But suddenly I got this news and Partho da. His wife and he had no children. I wish Partho da, wherever he is, he is in a good space with a lot of peace of mind. Such a good human being, such a beautiful soul, such a smiling person. I wish Partho da all the goodness in heaven. And of course, sometime when he is born again, he will create such great plethora of films.
