Ramayana was highest point of my career

Debina Bonerjee, the lead actress in the TV show ‘Ramayana’ talks about her career aspects and her relationship with actor hubby Gurmeet

Excerpts:

Tell us about your stint in television?

The journey is good and exciting. Whether the period of struggle, which I believe I did not struggle much. It is a smooth ride so far.

The show ‘Ramayana’ completely changed your life professionally and personally too. Share about it?

‘Ramayana’ happened just by chance. The auditions for the show were happening in Mumbai. Gurmeet went for the auditions and said try-outs for the role of Sita are still on and he is the one who pushed me to do the show and I gave the auditions and was selected for the role. This show helped me a lot because people started acknowledging me and I started to get the due venerate for my work. So definitely it was highest point of my career.

How easy is it to switch on and off between different roles?

It is difficult at times. For instance, while doing ‘Ramayana’ it is difficult because it is a serious character. I have to show lot of emotions and those emotions are so real. As I said sometimes it is hard but most of time it is easy because as an actor we do different shades so every time we don’t get into the skin of the character and it is not possible, in my point of view. So for me comedy is very easy because I can go with my instincts.

Gurmeet always states that because of you he got selected in the show ‘Mayavi’. What is the actual story behind it?

I was doing films in south and at that point they were making ‘Mayavi’. They wanted a handsome young man as villain for the show and obviously Gurmeet is my boyfriend, though I did not reveal this at that time. So I told production house that I have a friend who is very good looking (Laughs). And I asked them to just meet him and take an audition and they liked him and he got through.

When Gurmeet made debut in Bollywood, there were rumours that he promised you that he will have a role for you in his every movie. Is it true?

I won’t say it’s either true or false. Because in ‘Khamoshiyaan’ it just happened. There the director himself offered the role. It was not Gurmeet, who said please take my wife. He was rather surprised when the director said we have small cameo and we want Debina to do it. At that time I was doing ‘Chidiya Ghar’ and I also thought I will do it. Gurmeet believes I’m his lucky charm so he wants me to do one passing shot or scene in the movie.

Till what extent can you do intimate scenes? And what is the reaction of Gurmeet?

For us first comes our work. If our work demands anything we won’t pressurise our relationship. If the script demands certain things I would do it. Well, I don’t cross certain limits and I don’t do shots in which I’m not comfortable.

Every person feels they have to be someone peculiar. When did you think to become an actor?

I think after seeing Sushmita Sen winning the Miss World title at that moment I thought to be an actress. Although I did not voice out my feelings but my mother said if I study well then I can do anything. So then from a back-bencher I became one of the rank holders in the school and college. One fine day I told my mom I want to be a model, then mom gave me time to think. When I said yes. She shared it with my father and he was very much happy and he supported my decision and that is how I stepped into the world of entertainment.

What changes did you undergo post marriage?

I think I’m very much patient now. Before wedding I was very hyper and peevish. I started to trade-off in relation. For instance if Gurmeet wants to eat continental and I like to eat Chinese, then I also choose continental. These types of tailoring I learnt in life post wedding.

Who is the strong decision maker in the marriage?

I think both of us. None of us will take any decision without each other’s consent. If I have to take decision then I would wait for Gurmeet’s endorsement.

By:Abhyudaya Karamchetu