I would love Harman to see Kolkata's Durga Puja: Bipasha Basu

Bipasha Basu was in town on Saturday to be part of Jai Ho, the annual cultural event of Kolkata Police that was held at a city stadium. On her way to the airport on Sunday morning, the actress spoke to CT about Durga Puja, her love for Bengali food, the state's film industry and lots more.
Excerpts: Do we speak in Bengali or English?
(Laughs) Ja icche...whichever is convenient. Ami duto bhashai bolte pari.
So many actors actresses from Tollywood performed at the event. What do you feel about the industry?
I always love to come back to Kolkata, my very own city . The police force, which serves us selflessly all year round, should be applauded and I am happy to be part of it. I also enjoyed the performances by the actors and actresses here. I feel Tollywood has come a long way and has become a lot more commercial and professional. There is so much of talent here. In fact, there were loads of pretty faces at the event that looked confident as well as intelligent. I loved Anupam's (Roy) performance. He is really a good performer. I heard he writes, composes and sings all by himself; marvellous! I was just mesmerized by the way Anupam sang Aami aami jani jani. Brilliant song! Ankush's ode to Mithun Chakraborty's songs was also fascinating! He's a really good dancer. In fact, every one was good in their own way. The show itself was quite entertaining. That apart, I met Prosenjit (Chatterjee), Jisshu (Sengupta), with whom I shared the screen in Rituparno Ghosh's Shob Charitro Kalponik. So, it Kalponik. So, i was lovely catching up with them after years. And it is always lovely to catch up w i t h Mamata didi (CM Mamata Banerjee) and we had a heart-to-heart chat.
Did you try Bengali food in Kolkata this time?
O God, I ate so much! From mochar ghonto, chholar dal, postor bora, rui machher kalia, chingir malaikari I had all! Sob Bangali khabar kheyechi, khub moja korechi, aneker shonge dekha holo, adda holo.
People of this city are always warm. Just that I couldn't visit my house in Ekdalia this time, as my father is in Odisha for work.
Otherwise, I love to stay in my house here. There are so many memo ries of my grow ing-up years there.
Sushmita Sen just completed shooting for Srijit Mukherji's Nirbak. Will the audience get to see you again in a Bengali film, as it has been years since Shob Charitro Kalponik?
Srijit offered me the role in Nirbak, but I couldn't do it, as I am shooting for Bhushan Patel's Alone, in Mumbai. So, adjusting dates was a problem. But I do want to work with him in the near future. Moreover, I do one film at a time. I keep reading Bengali scripts, but nothing has caught my fancy as of now. If something meaty comes along, why not?
Durga Puja starts from the end of September and pandals are already being put up in some places. Do you miss Kolkata during Durga Puja, specially the Ekdalia Puja just in front of your house?
Oh yes, I miss Durga Puja a lot. Durga Puja a lot.
The whole fes tive mood starts with the pandals being con structed, the shopping and then Mahalaya and the five big days. I love the energy everyone seems to have during this time. I try to come to Kolkata on Asthami to savour the bhog, the labra, the sweets and what not! But whenever I catch Puja in Kolkata, there is so much food in my stomach that I'm horizontal most of the time! (Laughs out loud)
Has Harman Baweja visited Kolkata? Do you have any plans to bring him to the city during Durga Puja?
No, he hasn't. But I would love Harman to see Kolkata's Durga Puja. But our schedules are so unpredictable and we are always pressed for time. Let's see!
Heard that you want to get married in Bengali style...
I am not getting married today or tomorrow. I have no such plans as of now. Someone asked me how I would want to get married, and I just said I wanted the Bengali look. That's it! Ami Bangali, so I would like to stick to my roots and dress up like a traditional Bengali bride.
Any special tips to the people of this city for the Pujas?
Buy new clothes, dress up, eat merrily and live every moment, as Durga Puja comes once a year. Mother Durga represents Shakti -the divine feminine force that governs all cosmic creations, existence and change. So, it is a tradition that we need to enjoy and teach our next generation. With Devi Paksha knocking on the door, let's all be in our best mood and high spirits.
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