The 'Thinking' Actor

Konkona Sen Sharma is a lady of few words. Or so it seems, considering the way she keeps journalists hanging for months together for interviews. Ask us. For almost two months we have been trying to get Ms Sen to speak with us but with little success. Either it's shoots, shoots and more shoots, or it's travel, travel and endless travel.

Earlier this week, we scented victory on the Get-Ms-Konkona-to Speak-Up front. "Oh! I'm so sorry," she cooed as we finally caught up with her at New Delhi's Dublin, Maurya Sheraton's pub where the fashion house Satya Paul, Omaxe and Amity Humanity Foundation were hosting a press conference to announce a fund-raising event for the victims of last year's tsunami. Konkona was the celebrity guest for the occasion.

"It's just been very hectic," she clarified, even as she managed to smile for the flashbulbs that continuously struck her face.

Point taken. After all, Konkona does have a reason to smile and offer excuses. Her very first film, Mr and Mrs Iyer, directed by her mother Aparna Sen, fetched her a National Award in 2003. She then slipped comfortably into the role of Madhur Bhandarkar's Page 3, which has been very well received, even by box-office standards.

"I wanted to be a journalist too," she admits, "but I wanted to cover arts and entertainment. Nothing too serious."

One wonders what makes Konkona a success, especially in today's Indian cinema.

While the pendulum swings in favour of skin-flick divas like Neha Dhupia, Mallika Sherawat, Ishaa Kopikkar and Udita Goswami despite their films having been labelled as crass by the majority of critics, it also swings in the favour of the likes of seasoned actors like Sushmita Sen, Preity Zinta and Rani Mukherjee who despite their limitations (to skin flicks) and despite intelligent roles, have still strutted around in pretty chiffon sarees and, as the cliché goes, done their share of running around trees.

Konkona doesn't belong to either tribe. At least not until now. She has been the typical girl-next-door who has deftly carried off sarees in her role as the traditional, south Indian girl Meenakshi in Mr and Mrs Iyer.

In Page 3, as Madhavi Sharma, she wore the Fab India look what with kurtas and long, flowing skirts. Here's someone who is saying no to skin flicks, is perfectly at ease with the traditional, de-glamourised roles and doesn't have the chiselled features and the perfect bod so essential for breaking into the industry.

What is making her click with audiences? Rahul Bose, her co-star in Mr and Mrs Iyer and the forthcoming 15, Park Avenue offers an explanation.

"Audiences always react favourably to a good actor, and good actors always get work. Konkona," he says, "has no sense of inflated ego and from what I have observed in 15, Park Avenue she's bone-chillingly convincing in her role."

Mukesh Tyagi, a corporate executive by profession and actor by choice, was part of the film Page 3. He says, "She is definitely getting recognised, though only for certain kinds of roles. Konkona should now start expanding her horizon before she gets caught in the trap of the typical intellectual heroine."

Bose agrees. "Konkona will be very good at comedy. This is the right time for her to step into such roles. If she gets a little lazy or laidback, it'll be sad," he says.

Is Konkona waiting to plunge into a completely commercial venture? "Nah! I don't think I could do that with ease, I'm not consciously working in that direction and, frankly, I'm happy doing my kind of roles," she says.

Do we see a reflection of the real Konkona (or Koko as she's called) in any of her films? Does she identify with the characters she essays in her films? "Oh no! Not at all. I don't think I identify with any of the characters in any of my films," she offers. And what about charity events like a fund-raiser for tsunami victims, where she's in the hot seat as the celeb guest?

"I think it's wrong to think of me as a brand ambassador for something as grave as the tsunami. That's a bit sickening. I'm here to make a small contribution, and from where I am I don't know what else to do and where else to start," she clarifies.

How does she react to accusations hurled against actors when politicians claim that their social work is nothing short of a publicity stunt?

"I think we should stop being judgmental. I don't know how much money from fundraising events and charity shows for tsunami victims will actually reach the site of crisis, I don't know whether the money will eventually be sacrificed at the altar of red-tapism but really, I don't know what else to do or how else to approach the situation."

Point understood. It's time for us to leave and time for Konkona to catch a flight and head to the studios in Mumbai where she'll sink into yet another character from a film and make us wait even longer the next time we decide to meet. Till next time then, adios Konkona.

A WORKING LIFE
Forthcoming films
* 15, Park Avenue directed by Aparna Sen
* Rajat "Raghu Romeo" Kapoor's new film Mixed Doubles
* Rituparno Ghosh's untitled film.
* Also a film with Naseerudin Shah

Between shots: "You'll find me reading books."

After a shoot: "I hang out with friends and listen to music. Don't ask me what kind of music. It's very complicated."

For her role as the schizophrenic Meethi in 15, Park Avenue, she interacted with families, psychiatrists and counsellors to understand the character.

Mukesh Tyagi: "I wonder if she can modulate and handle roles like Rani Mukherjee who plays a glamorous designer in Chalte Chalte and a deaf-mute girl in Black."

Rahul Bose: "Her humility is her strength, especially on the sets. Also, she's the funniest person with a natural flair for comedy."