Tanushree Dutta

A free-wheeling conversation with Tanushree Dutta reveals a lot about the pretty lass’ likes and choices.

Your new look really suits you. How did you think of shortening your hair?

I had been to Kolkata for the opening of a salon. The salon had tied up with an international stylist Guy Kremer. He asked the people there whether I should change my hairstyle and get into a new look. Everybody thought that would be a great idea and I myself was looking for a change.

You often change your hairstyles, I’ve noticed. You come across as someone who loves to experiment.

Yes. After four to six months, I get bored of the same hairstyle. So, I go in for a change. The advantage here is that not only do I get a new look but also that I feel more fresh and rejuvenated when I look at myself in the mirror.

Who is your favorite hairstylist in Mumbai?

There’s no one person as such. I often change my hairstyles and go in for a new hairstylist every time I do that. If I would want to have the hairstyle that I had two years ago, I would go to the same hairstylist who would had done my hairstyle back then.

How do you take care of your hair?

I used to wash my hair at home itself using eggs and beer among other things for nourishment and then shampoo them. But it seemed to be quite inconvenient and time-consuming. Now, I visit salons for various hair treatments for a quick fix. As a healthy and nutritious diet is important for good hair and skin, I see to it that I have an ideal diet too.

According to you, which Bollywood actress has the most beautiful hair?

Undoubtedly, Shilpa Shetty.

Wasn’t there a problem while shooting Jagmohan Mundra’s Apartment because of your sudden change of hairstyle?

I was a bit worried for the same reason, but when I met Jagmohanji on the set, he was very happy to see me in a new look and even complimented me for the same. He thought that the look matched my character in the film. So, I’ll be seen in the same look in the film.

Any preparation you had done to get into the skin of the character?

Not really. I’m playing the role of a working woman. I’m an airhostess in the film but, the story is centred around room sharing. Neetu Chandra and I are room-mates and the story revolves around the incidents happening in our lives.

Did you ever experience room sharing in real life?

Yes. While in junior college in Pune, I used to share my room in the hostel. But after 12th grade, I took a room on rent with my friend. Even after my graduation when I came to Mumbai, I used to share a room. But the cherry on the cake is that all my room-mates have been very helpful and nice people. I never had a problem with any of them.

What about your film Rama-the savior? It’s already completed, isn’t it?

Yes. The film is very special to me. I worked hard for it. I play the character of Samara, which is inspired by Lara Croft played by Angelina Jolie in Tomb Raiders series. I hope the film releases soon.

You have done action scenes in the film….

Yes. I’ve done all those scenes myself. No body doubles were used. I got injured while shooting some scenes too. A month before the shooting started, I took special training in Taekwondo.

Rama-the savior is a kid’s film. Were you mischievous in your childhood?

Oh, I used to play a lot of mischief and make chaos. My mom used to scold me but dad used to help me out. My sister Ishita and I fought a lot. We would lock each other in our bedrooms or even in the bathroom. We.fought silently when Mom would come towards our bedroom. Still, I was an obedient student in the school.

Who is your favorite animation character?

Spiderman. I love to watch Spiderman movies or read his comics. Tom and Jerry are my favorite too.

You are a Bengali. But during the start of your career, you worked in a Punjabi video, then came your Hindi movies and later you were also seen in a Telugu film. Wasn’t there a language problem?

Before I participated in the Miss India pageant, I had done a Punjabi video for Balkar Sidhu. But I didn’t have to speak any dialogues or sing the song. In my Telugu film Virbhadra, the director and the crew helped me a lot with the language. And that really helped to pull it off.

You have not signed any Bengali film as yet….

I’m eagerly waiting to work in a Bengali film. If there’s an offer of a good script, I’ll definitely work on it.

With whom do you wish to work in a Bengali film?

I’m a great fan of Aparna Sen. I’ll always be ready to work with a talented director like her.

After your graduation you had also worked with an Event Management company called Oracle institute.

Oh, you know about that? Yes, I had worked there for a couple of months. You definitely get an experience with whatever work you do. One more thing I would like you to know is that the salary I earned by working there for two months is what I used to make my portfolio.

You had already decided to set your career in Bollywood as an actress, hadn’t you?

Yup. I used to participate in fashion shows held in my college in Pune. A choreographer named Nikita had seen me over there. She was really impressed and gave me a break in a fashion show. There was no turning back after that.

You also worked as a host in a Bengali T.V. show Hoi Hullod.

(Laughs) Yes, I accepted that show to survive in Mumbai. It was a Bollywood show. I had to interview Bollywood stars and cover the events. When my Hindi video Saiyaji became a hit, I left the show.

If not an actress, you would have chosen your career as….

A chef. I love to cook.

Who taught how you to cook?

When I was in Pune, my room-mate was a Gujarati girl. She was a fabulous cook. My mouth used to water while simply smelling the dishes she cooked. This was the reason I got interested in cooking. The first few dishes I made were all from Gujarati cuisine. Theplas, dhoklas, and the like. But then I made a lot of dishes with the help of cooking books. When I shifted to Mumbai, mom used to stay with me, I learned a lot of things from her too.

Which dish you can make the best?

In vegetarian, mushroom mutter and in non-vegetarian food, it has to be butter chicken.

Your favorite Bengali sweet?

Rasgullas.

And Sandesh?

Only Malai Sandesh; flavored Sandesh can be avoided.

You just went on a trip to Goa with all your friends, Did you enjoy it?

Very much. It was planned on the spur of a moment. My friends forced me to join them. Lunches were at Brittos and we partied all night long. I tried almost all types of sea foods available in Goa. This was my wildest tour ever.

Where do you like to hang around in Jamshedpur-Kolkata?

I was born in Jamshedpur. But I was a kid then, so I’m not aware of many places over there. Even in Kolkata, all my relatives live in a particular area – Dumdum. So, I’ve not seen many places over there too.

Favorite destination abroad?

London

Interviewd by :: VS ::