The joint family I grew up in was almost a neighbourhood in itself. With so many cousins, aunts and uncles, it seemed like many homes within a house. And it was great fun. There were rooms within rooms, where we loved playing hide and seek. Because our terrace was huge, we made full use of it to play all sorts of games there. But my favourite pastime was to assist my father in flying kites. Often, we would play in the blazing sun till noon, have lunch and then head straight back to the terrace, where we spent most of the afternoon.

Being the youngest child, I was cared for and pampered by all. At the same time, I also had to oblige my playmates and do all sorts of odd jobs like stealing pickle from my grandmother. I was often caught red-handed, but would never disclose who sent me on the errand. All the while, the culprits roamed free, wearing innocent expressions — as if they had no interest in pickles!

Dida, my mom’s mother, was my best friend, patiently hearing me out and answering my questions. My paternal grandmother hailed from the Agradwip zamindar family of Burdwan. She would tell us interesting stories from her experiences. My grandfather’s elder sister, Sailabala, was married to someone close to Rabindranath Tagore. She visited Santiniketan many times, especially during Poush Mela and other occasions. It was fascinating to hear her recount those days.

I was and still am very much attached to my father. He had to spend long hours in studios and outdoor locations for shooting, and I used to wait for him all day. But he played pranks with me. For example, on Holi, when I used to hide myself, he would say to my friends: ‘‘Koel is not here.’’ At the same time, he would silently point to where I was!

One of the best times we had as kids was during the Durga Puja season, when our family would swell. Relatives from far and near used to congregate at our home days before the puja actually began and preparations would begin in earnest — from arranging offerings to buying new clothes to decorating the house with bright lights. It was a fortnight of food, fun, new clothes and rituals, and we enjoyed every minute of it.