Raima Sen reveals she had a crush on Sanjay Dutt, blushed in a scene with him in Parineeta: 'That came very naturally...'

Twenty years on, Parineeta continues to enchant audiences with its nostalgic portrayal of 1962 Calcutta. While Vidya Balan, Saif Ali Khan, and Sanjay Dutt led the love triangle, Raima Sen’s spirited performance as Lalita’s lively cousin Koel brought charm and lightness to the film, making her scenes unforgettable for fans.

A natural performance on screen

In conversation with NDTV, Raima recalled feeling completely natural in a scene where she opened the door for Girish, blushing as her character Koel was meant to have a crush on him. She revealed that her genuine childhood admiration for Sanjay Dutt made portraying those fluttering emotions effortless on screen.Parineeta marked Vidya Balan’s big Bollywood debut, though she had already appeared in Bengali cinema with Gautam Halder’s Bhalo Theko in 2003.

She had also been signed for a Malayalam film, Chakram, around 1999–2000, but it was shelved due to production issues.

A supportive co-star and lasting friendship

Sen highlighted Vidya’s comfort and confidence on set, noting that despite being close in age, Vidya treated her like a younger sister, giving her guidance and support. Far from being a nervous newcomer, Vidya was self-assured and poised right from the start.Raima also shared that Vidya made it easy for her to connect on set, and their bond grew into a lasting friendship.

Even after the recent Parineeta event, Vidya reached out, expressing that she missed her. Raima reflected on a full-circle moment, recalling her first trip to Shirdi with Vidya 20 years ago and visiting again during the recent event.

Fun moments with Saif Ali Khan

Although the actress' character Koel had limited scenes with Saif Ali Khan’s Shekhar, she enjoyed every moment on set. She recalls that Saif’s infectious sense of humor and playful energy made the shoot lively and fun, ensuring that no day felt dull or monotonous.