Memories of her mother Suchitra Sen’s birthday…
Her birthday in her later years was all about family gatherings. She liked me to be dressed up. So I would take a bath in the morning, dress up and go over. My aunts used to come and my aunt’s daughter. She would get involved in what would be served with tea — singara or roll or everyone’s favourite Chinese food. She liked rosogolla. I have no idea what she did on her birthday when she was at her prime as I was away in boarding school. But I came back to do my last few years at Loreto. When I was young I was not taken to the sets but she would ring up twice a day to find out if I was back, had eaten, if anyone had come home.
She was always on the phone between takes to find out how I was doing. She would find a landline and call. I think she was immersed in me. She was a single mother. She had no time for anyone else. If someone came to read her a script or a friend came along, that was different.
On her own poster collection...
I have got about 13 of her film posters at home. I started collecting much after she passed away, that too quite by accident. I was at the Asiad Village in Delhi and there was this shop where the man told me: “I have some posters of your mother. Why don’t you buy them?” I got them quite cheap. After that, sourcing them became difficult and expensive. Now I am looking for her things to give to her house in Pabna where they have opened a museum in her name. I plan to give some saris, some books she would read... I had thought of giving them her spectacles, but then I thought I would have nothing left.
On whether she plans to visit the museum in Pabna...
If I go to Bangladesh, it will be for them, not the house. They have been doing this for many years. After Ma passed away, so many people came from Dhaka Club. Till then, I had not opened up her flat. She left us three. She stayed in one. Then I opened up the flat for a few people like them, some photographers.... The people from the club came to Ma’s house, took a look around, saw her photographs...
On her mother’s flat...
She had kept it bare when she was there — just minimum furniture. Now it is overflowing with things. I have put up the posters on the wall going up to the terrace. I have one directed by Debaki Bose with Basanta Chowdhury (Bhagaban Srikrishna Chaitanya). My favourite film of hers is Bipasha. I like the songs from Harano Sur. They (exhibition organiser Sudipta Chanda) told me that I am allowed to ask for one poster. So I have asked them for the poster of Pathe Holo Deri, not just because of the film but because it is an antique and very valuable.
On whether her mother preserved anything...
She never gave autographs. “Ki dorkar, kalkei toh chhire phele debe!” she used to say. I used to beg her: “Ma, diye dao.” But she was right in a way.
People used to say she was temperamental. But artistes are like that. I knew Rajesh Khanna very well. He was exactly like my mother. He loved to feed people, very polite and nice. But suddenly they would go off — have a fit of bad temper.
