Raima Sen likes to stay out of big picture

Raima Sen is a busy actress today — busy warding off rumours about her so-called ‘incredible performance’ in Slumdog Millionaire.

And, her mobile hasn’t stopped ringing ever since the film has been making waves the world over. “I just can’t figure out what fuelled these rumours! I mean, I’m flooded with messages congratulating me about my great performance in Slumdog.... And I’m like ‘which shot did you possibly see me in the film?’ For the last time, I am NOT in Slumdog Millionaire!”

Well, that’s one film less on the cards for Raima, who has never been keen on staying in the limelight. “I don’t really see the point of making statements to stay in the headlines. If I have a film coming along, then I’ll go all out of my way to promote it. Otherwise, I like to stay out of the big picture.”

Is that why she picks up unusual roles like Milly Sen in Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd or Maya in her upcoming film? She laughs as she brushes away the notion, “Well, it’s just my kind of luck that I have only got roles like that. It’s an art to look good while you run around the trees too, you know! But I’m content with the kind of roles that I do and it works for me.”

Raima’s kitty is filled with projects of all kinds. “My next film is being directed by Madhureeta Anand. I play the role of this girl who has many aspirations but has never really done much about it. She feels tied down by her marriage. She keeps getting into situations and imagines Jai, the character played by Randeep Hooda, comes and rescues her every time.”

The actor is also working on Teen Patti, which has Amitabh Bachchan playing the main lead. “But, as of now, it’s too soon to talk about it,” she informs.

Flirting with Bollywood does not mean that Raima has forgotten her first love, Bengali cinema. “I am just wrapping up shooting for this film called The Japanese Wife which is directed by Aparna Sen. It has Rahul Bose in it along with the Japanese actor, Chigasu Takaku. I play a widowed girl from the Sunderbans who is forced to take refuge in his house. It’s an amazingly sweet and improbable love story. It was the first time I worked with Aparna Sen and she is a fantastic director to work with.” Balancing commercial cinema with meaningful cinema is an art and Raima Sen has managed to tread the thin line with success.

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Women don't Usually Appreciate other Women: Raima Sen

Raima Sen has often been compared to grandma Suchitra Sen. But Raima has not just acquired her looks; she has also acquired tips of gaining a fan following from grandma Sen.

Her next movie 'Mere Khwabon Mein Jo Aaye', focuses on how a woman who’s tied down with her daily routine and household chores, dreams of making it big. Raima says, “It is a woman-oriented subject, but it would cater to everyone, especially people who are fighting their fears. I can say that because the movie has given me the inspiration to fight my own phobias, which frankly I’m still trying! Also I feel it will gain me a lot of female fan following.”

Female fan following? Shouldn’t she be concentrating on the men instead? “If my grandma is to be believed, men anyways would swoon over you, but if you get appreciations from a woman, it means you’ve truly proved your competency, as women wouldn’t easily appreciate another woman!”

What are the phobias she which she’s trying to fight? Raima, who sheds all inhibitions when she is in front of the camera, confesses that she is petrified of the camera but only when it comes to giving a screen test. “I don’t know why, but this has been a case with me forever. That’s one of the reasons why I don’t even try for foreign films... they all follow the process of undergoing a screen test. That has also been the reason for my missing out on some great films. However, fortunately for me, whatever roles I’ve done so far have been offered to me and have been appreciated by people.” she says.

Speaking about this phobia of hers, she says, “Back in school, I was once playing Cinderella on stage and I still remember; when I went on stage, suddenly I couldn’t speak and I just went blank. Another girl was called then to say the dialogues back stage while I lip-synced. Maybe that has still remained in my mind somewhere.”

Another critical role for now that she has bagged “without a screen test” is Aparna Sen’s 'Japanese Wife' where she plays a widow. In a scene she had to interact with the Japanese actress and Raima recalls, “It was a bit difficult conversing at first as we had to communicate with the help of an interpreter. But slowly, we somehow managed to strike a conversation without the interpreter and it was fun understanding the context in spite of not understanding the language!” she laughs. Looks like Raima is doing her best to woo everyone, and language doesn’t seem to be a problem for her!

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