Bengali actor Angana Roy, who had earned fame working in web series Shei Je Holud Pakhi, Tansener Tanpura, Srikanto, recently starred alongside Raima Sen-Vikram Chatterjee in Roktokorobi and Subhashree Ganguly in Indubala Bhaater Hotel. In the backdrop of her two recent OTT releases, Angana speaks to IBNS correspondent Souvik Ghosh at Daydreamer cafe in Kolkata. Excerpts...

Q. How do you evaluate getting recognition with recent works?

A. I am grateful to get recognised by the kind of work I have done post Srikanto in the last one year precisely. I just want to keep on working for good projects. I am nowhere close to the position which I aspire to be in. It will definitely take time but I don’t mind waiting. I don’t want to do any work which I might regret in future while looking back. I am grateful to the directors who are reworking with me for different projects. I am really grateful for the kind of recognition I have received so far, considering the fewer number of people here watching the web medium as compared to Mumbai or other cities. I have always tried to evolve with every project. I am slowly looking forward to working in films which are my ultimate aspirations.

Q. How difficult is it to choose a script as you don’t rush for projects?

A. I am not choosy or selective but just try to ensure I don't repeat myself in the kind of character I played in Srikanto because there is always a tendency to get typecast in a film industry. I have turned down a number of offers just not to get typecast. I have no problem playing the roles which I do the best but I avoid them to not get typecast. I have to take some extra steps to reach my goal or the way I look at my career considering the fact that I don’t have the massive fame which comes with television.

Q. But the characters you have played so far are de-glamourised. Don’t you think of getting typecast in that respect?

A. It will be broken in Khelaghor, the series which I am working for right now. My look in Khelaghor will be completely different from the ones I have played so far. Moreover, what I have understood is directors nowadays want a girl-next-door or relatable look. In Roktokorobi particularly, my makeup went darker with every death shown in the series. I wanted to play that role because I have never played a character with so much raw look. In web series, the aim is to get the characters closest to reality unlike in films.

Featuring Angana Roy at Daydreamers Cafe | Location and food courtesy: Daydreamer Cafe | Makeup courtesy: Rajdeep | Costume courtesy: Aala by Deep | Image Credit: Avishek Mitra/IBNS

Q. So that’s why you chose Khelaghor?

A. I have never worked with any female director and I wanted to do that. Aditi-di (Aditi Roy) as a director has a very clear vision. She knows what she wants exactly. Moreover, my character is strong and vulnerable. My look in the web series is completely different from the ones I have played so far.

Q. How much your exposure to Mumbai (Angana has worked with Radhika Apte in the film Mrs. Undercover and Ranveer Singh for a commercial in Mumbai) helped you back home in Kolkata?

A. I don’t think I am in a position to compare the two industries. But as far as I have been exposed to the Hindi film industry, my work ethics are in sync with the ones prevalent in Mumbai. I am very punctual which syncs with the Mumbai culture. But Kolkata as a city is slow-paced. However, the kind of work I have associated myself with so far in Kolkata matches my work ethics. I am very particular and organised with what I do exactly like the work culture in Mumbai.

Q. Do you feel you are a misfit in Kolkata?

A. I feel that sometimes. However, not everyone is slow-paced in the city. Moreover, there are various factors in West Bengal like the weak monetary situation which are responsible for the constraints which we face here. It would be injustice to blame anyone for the situation. But me being a part of the young generation is hopeful that the situation will change and we won’t feel the urge to shift to Mumbai for work. But I want to work also in Hindi since I am comfortable in the language.

Q. How difficult was it to navigate through your character in Roktokorobi?

A. I had to prepare harder for this role than usual because I am completely opposite to it. Her mannerisms are completely unlike mine. I liked the way Sahana-di (Sahana Dutta, writer) constructed this character who is soft but not weak, rather courageous. The shoot was fun yet taxing because of the tight schedule. I loved to work with so many veteran actors and of course Vikram-da and Raima-di (Vikram Chatterjee and Raima Sen, actors). Raima-di is a fantastic funny person (smile).

Q. Did your onscreen chemistry with Subhashree in Indubala Bhaater Hotel remind you of your bonding with your late grandmother who was extremely close to you?

A. Yes absolutely. Even Subhashree-di too felt the same way during the shoot. Both of us recollected our individual memories through our characters and their chemistry. We had good moments both on and off screen.

Q. Your character speaks of social media and its trends in Indubala Bhaater Hotel. How much social media impacts you?

A. I don’t think of social media a lot. I am not at all consistent on it unless we have promotions for any project. I need to learn to be consistent on social media. I am lagging behind (laughs). I am a very lazy social media person basically. I don’t follow trends because they keep on changing. I am not an influencer or capable of influencing people much. I stick to my acting self mostly.

Q. Tell us about Pariah a bit.

A. I wanted to act with Tatha-da (Tathagata Mukherjee, filmmaker) since Bhotbhoti. I was really interested to work with this man. I was really excited to be a part of Pariah. Tatha-da used to conduct intense rehearsals. It’s a story about street dogs. The story is based on the dog slaughter cases which have been reported in Kolkata. Pariah is basically a strong statement against dog slaughter.

(Images by Avishek Mitra/IBNS)

Location and food courtesy: Daydreamer Cafe
Makeup courtesy: Rajdeep
Costume courtesy: Aala by Deep