I never felt like an outsider in Kolkata: Jaya

An actor who belongs to no single industry or identity, Jaya Ahsan has a body of work shaped by instinct, honesty, and deep artistic integrity. Though she comes from Bangladesh, her bond with Kolkata began over a decade ago and soon evolved into something far more personal than professional.

Over the years, the city has become her second home – a place that welcomed her with warmth, trusted her craft, and offered fertile ground for creativity. In this candid conversation, Jaya reflects on belonging beyond borders, her resistance to repetition, her belief in serving the story over image, and why disappearing into a character matters more to her than being recognised on screen.Twelve years ago, you first visited Kolkata for the Bengali film Aborto. You often say the city welcomed you with open arms. How has that experience been?Kolkata has truly been my second home – a place where I feel safe and at ease.

From my very first film here, I felt welcomed, comfortable and supported. What I love about this city is that I have never felt like an outsider, and that is the beauty of Kolkata. The warmth and openness of the people made a new place feel like home much faster than I expected, and that feeling has stayed with me ever since.

After your first film in Kolkata, there was a gap before your next project.Yes, there was a gap, but not a very long one in terms of years.

After the first film, I did two more projects, but during that time I was careful about my choices. Even though the response was encouraging, I wanted to understand the space, the people and the storytelling style here before committing fully. That phase helped me build trust and comfort with the industry.What is Jaya’s USP as an actor?That’s a difficult question for me. I don’t think about myself in that way. I simply work.

I don’t want the audience to see me when I’m on screen – I want them to see the character. My aim is to blend completely into the role I am playing rather than stand apart from it.

There’s a belief that the best acting is actually reacting. Do you agree?In many cases, yes. Non-acting is really about action and reaction, and it requires effort – but that effort should never be visible. When audiences begin to notice the effort, they feel disconnected. For me, the biggest mistake an actor can make is showing effort insteadof emotion.

As an actor, my job is not to protect an image but to serve the story: JayaHow instinctive is your acting process?Instinct is the foundation of my process. But instinct alone is not enough – it has to be supported by technical discipline. Otherwise instinct can easily turn into chaos.Directors often say you are a first-take actor.(Laughs) Yes, they do say that. Often my first take is the most honest one because it is raw and uncalculated.

Once I start thinking too much, that spontaneity can disappear. Ultimately, every actor is a director’s actor because the film belongs to the director.

Jaya’s roots beyond bordersRoots matter deeply to me. I often carry plants between Bangladesh and Kolkata, nurturing them across borders as quiet symbols of connection. Sometimes I even bring a little soil from Bangladesh for people living here. When they hold it, the emotion in their eyes is unforgettable. It reminds me that borders may divide countries, but they cannot divide people who share the same land, memories and history.As an actor, I’m always searching for something new in a character – emotionally, psychologically, even in silence. That discovery keeps the craft alive : JayaKolkata has always felt like a comforting city to me. From the beginning, I never felt like an outsider here, and that sense of belonging has stayed with me : JayaPix: Anindya Saha