Rituda helped me rediscover myself: Rituparna Sengupta

Rituparna Sengupta didn’t just share a professional relationship with filmmaker Rituparno Ghosh, they shared a deep creative bond that quietly shaped her creative journey. Together, they created films that went on to define an era of Bengali cinema – stories that explored emotional fragility, inner conflicts, & unspoken layers of womanhood.

From Dahan, which earned them National Awards, to Utsab, their collaborations were rooted in trust and an unspoken understanding. “Rituda saw something in me – an intensity, a depth – that even I didn’t know I had. He helped me to discover a new version of myself as an actor,” said Rituparna, adding, “He left us too soon.” As Calcutta Times celebrates its 25th anniversary, the actress remembers her relationship with the maverick filmmaker, who not only redefined Bengali cinema but also gave her acting career a new direction. She also speaks to us about her own cinematic journey. Excerpts:

Early association and first meeting with Rituparno Rituparna first met the filmmaker at the NT1 Studios during the shoot of a Swapan Saha film in 1996. “I still remember what he told me: ‘Ritu, I feel your capability as an artiste is beyond commercial films and you should explore it.’ He went on to cast me as Romita in Dahan. That introduced me to a new kind of cinema, and it was quite a revelation for me as an artiste. Rituda’s advice to me was that acting is the art of believably embodying a character, and making the audience forget that they are watching a performance; it should look effortless on screen.”

Personal care, pampering and intimate gestures Revealing that Rituparno didn’t like his characters wearing makeup at all, the actress said, “He was extremely fussy about my makeup. He used to erase everything on my face and say, ‘I just want that clear, raw skin of yours.’ That’s why in all my films with Rituda one won’t find even an iota of makeup on my face.” She added that he used to get angry about her always arriving late on set. “Koto je boka kheyechi deri korar jonney,” she said with a smile. Rituparna told us that the filmmaker applied the chandan she wore on her wedding day. “He also wrote my wedding card in both Bengali and English,” she added.

‘I’m still learning as an actor’ Asserting that all the phases of her life are important as an actor, Rituparna said, “Every phase has taught me something extraordinary. When I started off as an actress in commercial films, I learned so much! I still consider myself a product of commercial cinema.

Then, with the films of Rituparno Ghosh, Aparna Sen, Buddhadeb Dasgupta, and Tarun Majumdar, I rediscovered myself as an actor of depth and substance. In the later phase, and even today, after being in the industry for 30 years, I’m still learning as an actor.

The new-age directors are also making this learning curve beautiful and substantial. I am glad to be chosen for complicated and complex roles. I believe I’m doing meaningful work in my own capacity with meaningful roles.”

‘For me, it has always been about hard work’ Revealing that she still feels the same excitement, the same tension and pressure of making a character believable in front of the camera, the actress said, “The characters continue to challenge me. I still feel the weight of the role on my head, and I feel deeply committed and vulnerable while performing. I don’t use any shortcuts – it has always been about hard work and dedication. In that way, despite changing times, I remain quite conservative about my process.

” ‘I never cheated my audience’ Speaking about her connection with the audience, Rituparna said, “A long inning is the result of patience, resilience, confidence and courage, and also fearlessness. I’ve never cheated my audience; I have always tried to give them everything I have to offer. Reinvention is also a continuous process. I’m instinctive and keep working with hope and aspiration. I’m still hungry for meaningful and rare roles. That’s why I never feel too satisfied or complacent.

I always try to live up to the expectations of my audience.”