Getting married not a priority in 2024: Mimi Chakraborty

As curtains fall on 2023, the actress-MP speaks to Calcutta Times about her life, career & more

How are you planning to spend New Year’s Eve?
We’re having a house party with my parents and cousins from Siliguri and Delhi. Homemade Chinese food and a plum cake I’ll bake are on the menu. The best part about this gathering is that I can be myself, speak my heart out, and nothing goes up on social media!

Are there more Hindi projects on the cards?
I’m taking it easy. I won’t accept a film just because it’s in Hindi; my role must have merit. I’m an extremely secure person who knows what I am in Tollywood. People love me here, respect me, so I can’t just step out of my comfort zone just like that. I can’t go to Bollywood and again do what I did in Tollywood 20 years back – go and introduce myself and prove my worth.

You play the character of a lawyer, Pritha Roy, in the web series Jaha Bolibo Shotto Bolibo. Tell us about it.

Pritha Roy, a prosecutor, faces a challenging case, involving the murder of a policeman who intervened in a New Year’s Eve assault. While the series is a thriller, nowhere is the character close to me in real life, except the fact that that we both are upright as human beings and speak the truth.

We haven’t seen you in many projects recently. Have you become choosy or does your political designation scare away the makers?
(Laughs) People who know me are aware that I’m an actor first. If I like a project, I give my nod. And I know how to balance my two avatars well. Now I do hardly one film a year, and that too if I get the right script. One has to offer me good money or a good script. If a project ticks both boxes, it’s a jackpot (laughs). It’s said that your straightforward attitude comes in the way of work. When women are vocal, have opinions and questions, it doesn’t go down well with a lot of people. And I work on my own terms. I’ve also lost many friends in life because I always speak the truth – a trait I inherited from my father. He is ruthlessly straightforward. If situations arise where I can’t speak the truth, I keep quiet. But I’m extremely proud of who I am, what I do, and what my family has taught me.

We’ve heard your family has a new member.
Oh yes! Now I have three sons – Chickoo Junior, Max and Jadu. Jadu is a barely 35-day-old stray I met near Chickoo’s grave. And now, he’s my most obedient child who knows all the commands. But my other two sons are not very friendly with him. Chickoo fears him, and Max hates him.

Who are your friends in the industry at this point of life when you’re successful and powerful?
Just my family.

Many from the film industry found their matches this year. What about you?
Congratulations to all of them but getting married is not my priority in life right now. Moreover, I’m not dating anyone, so how am I supposed to get
married (laughs)?

What’s your way forward in the industry now?
People should be vocal about the problems. No one speaks here, and that’s the saddest part. When it comes to pay parity, everyone needs to unite; I can’t bring a change alone. And most importantly, people need to rise above their insecurities and accept the fact that four Bengali films can hit the theatres
together and do well at the box office. This is our industry; we need to survive together.

MIMI’S TIPS TO GET PARTY READY

Mimi's all glam party looks

• Bling is in, so go all blingy! Wear comfortable shoes that go with your outfit
• Add shine to your makeup and outfit
• Keep the base makeup simple, and don’t forget to moisturise before applying makeup
• Get dramatic with your eye makeup. Use highlighter on your cheekbones to look glam
• Play with your hairstyle as the weather is just perfect for that
• Lastly, don’t forget to wear your favourite fragrance

Pic: Somnath Roy; makeup: Sayanto Dhali; hair: Sharmistha Majhi; styled by: Sumit Sinha
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