I was nervous but on-set vibe helped me: Nusrat Jahan on dance item in Raktabeej 2 | Indiablooms

Bengali actress Nusrat Jahan performed on a solo dance number- titled Order Chhara Border– in Nandita Roy-Shiboprosad Mukherjee’s upcoming Durga Puja release, Raktabeej 2. IBNS correspondent Souvik Ghosh speaks to Nusrat on the dance number and more…

Q. This was your first collaboration of any form with Windows Production. How did it go?

A. It’s a special appearance that I made in the film. Though it might not be completely my film, it is also my film. So, I’m very happy with the way the whole song has turned out to be. I have been a part of the song since its inception. Shibu-da, myself and Zinia (Zinia Sen, screenplay writer) would sit, hear the song and try to find ways to enhance it.

The song has turned out to be very catchy and a different vibe altogether. It’s very rooted, has a rustic flavour yet glamorous. There is a good amount of dancing so overall, I think the song has a potential to make Bengal dance on it. So I would only say that I’m extremely grateful that I performed in this song and it was a good choice that I made.

Q. What kind of reactions did you receive from personal quarters for the song?

A. It is being loved by people. They like the song, my work, and are excited about Raktabeej 2. This song brings in a complete due, a different outlook to the entire perception of the film.

Q. We had seen the dancer number performed by Ankush Hazra in the first part linked to the story. We may or may not assume a similar thing in the sequel. Was there any brief from the directors for the dance number?

A. They’ve been really sweet. I was busy with the release of my previous film when we were about to shoot this dance number. So I think I rehearsed for about an hour late at night, in my building’s gym and I had to perform on the following day. I was extremely nervous but the whole team made me feel very comfortable. I walked onto the site, saw the vibe was completely different and everybody’s so energetic and their energy was so infectious that I just enjoyed every take. Shibu-da, Nandita-di and Zinia were appreciating my work sitting in front of the monitor and that was really motivating for me. So yes, it’s been a lovely experience.

Q. You have always maintained your fitness. Was there any special preparation for this song?

A. When one has to focus on one project and then change her body accordingly for the role or the performance, she has to be prepared from way long back. So one doesn’t have to suddenly if she maintains herself on a regular basis. One doesn’t have to suddenly start going on a crash diet or start doing more workout to change because that’s not going to work. It’s a process and it takes time. So gladly I have been in shape and I maintain this regularly through all the regimes that I follow. It wasn’t much of a problem for me.

Q. Did you get the ‘commercial heroine’ vibe, as we do not come across commercial films so often now?

A. I’ve been dancing all through. I think I have. But this song was completely on me and the pressure was a lot because I had to perform the song solo from top to bottom, along with my beautiful dancers who were very well versed with what they do. So I was the nervous one there. But being a product of commercial cinema, I love it when my hair is blown out of with the blowers and I have to give beauty shots. So, yes, there was never a lull moment during the shoot of this dance number.

Q. How different is your approach as a performer when you are only shooting for a particular song in a film as compared to being a part of a film entirely?

A. We don’t see it like that. We’re artists and products of our work. So every work is quite special to us. Be it working on an entire film or a song or give an interview, we put in all our effort in whatever we do. We put all our hearts and minds into it. So we don’t see it as any different. It is our work. So a song or a film or an ad shoot, it has the same importance in our lives.

Q. How have you always viewed dance numbers or item songs that have often earned criticisms?

A. People will always have an opinion about everything, and everybody has a different narrative to give. But, I’m sure the filmmakers know what they’re doing. To like it or not is up to the audience and maybe there’ll always be a rift of opinions that people will come up with. So, I don’t think it makes much of a difference.

The massively hit songs having controversies over it really doesn’t matter. I’ve heard something like women are objectified but I don’t think women, who are performing, think like that. I think men and women, who are thinking like that, probably don’t understand our way of work or the worth of our work. So we’ll continue to do what we feel like doing. Filmmakers who are making and the audience who are turning the dance numbers hit know it better, let alone the judgemental people.

Q. Do you think the tendency to cast women actors of a particular shape in dance numbers is fading, considering the songs featuring Tamannaah Bhatia in recent times?

A. Yes, I think it’s a good thing. I think it’s a great thing that people are thinking beyond a certain preconceived notion about how women are supposed to be. So I think women and their beauty are way beyond that. They can be beautiful in their own ways so those shackles have been broken and it’s a good thing. It’s a new progressive India and I think the song was great. It was a huge hit and Tamannaah has been on a roll after that.

Q. How do you see the pay-parity issue here?

A. I’m not very aware of it. I think actors should get paid for the amount of effort that they have to put in. So I don’t see a comparison that should come. One should demand as per his/her worth. My remuneration for 40 days and four days can’t be the same. So why should we fight for it? We should just fight for our own worth. I will be hired anyway if I am worth it.

Q. How was your reunion with Ankush Hazra and Mimi Chakraborty after a long time?

A. Not really, because I’m not sharing the screen with either of them, other than Mimi who is shown entering the location while I am performing and a lot happens after that by the end of the song, which will be revealed eventually. It’s always a good experience to be a part of the same project with people, whom I have known for ages now, even though we’re not sharing the screenspace.

Q. You and Yash (Yash Dasgupta, actor and Nusrat’s husband) made a herculean task of bringing back Moushumi Chatterjee in Bengali films. How was that exploration in Aari? 

A. It’s a good experience. She’s a legendary actor, and having her on board was an experience for all of us. It’s an honour to have worked in my career with a person and an actor like hers. So I think we should sometimes pat our backs so that it motivates us to do better work in the new future.

Q. Was it a cakewalk for you two to bring her back?

A. It wasn’t a cakewalk, but not tough either. We had good content and she agreed to do it upon hearing the story.

(Photos: Nusrat Jahan/Instagram)

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