It’s time for Jaya Ahsan, the famous actress of both Bengals. She is having a wonderful time. Two movies have been released in theaters across the country on Eid-ul-Aha. A movie is also awaiting release in Kolkata. She is also shooting for a new movie there. She spoke to Cinebuzz Times about all this.
Two of your films have been released on Eid-ul-Adha. Both films have been liked by the audience…
Two diverse types of films. Tandoob is action-oriented, and Utsab is story-based. The audience watch both films. They are praising them. It has overwhelmed me. I act for the audience. It is our success to make them like us. Overall, it is a great feeling.
Tandoob has become piracy…
This is incredibly sad. The good news is that some people have already been arrested. This was very necessary. If we had acted earlier, this might not have happened. All those involved in this must be brought to justice. Then no one will dare to commit piracy again. Piracy is not desirable, and it should not happen. I would like to tell the viewers – you should not watch pirated copies. Watching pirated copies means stealing. Why would you do that?
Are Bangladeshi directors able to use you?
That is my regret. Bangladeshi directors could not use me. I want them to make better stories with me. Bring out the best acting from me. Hopefully, it will happen in the future.
The movie Dear Maa will be released in Kolkata. You played the role of a mother in it. Was there any objection?
No, I am acting. I have acted many times before at that age, which is not my age. I have functioned as a seventy-five-year-old woman, and I have also worked as a twenty-six-year-old girl. I don’t think about all this.
You are shooting for a new film in Kolkata…
I am shooting for the film Ajwo Ardhangini. It is the sequel to Ardhangini. I enjoy working with Kaushik (Ganguly) very much. It will be the same this time too. Every day is a unique experience at work. I am improving myself as an actress. In this, I am getting Churni Ganguly as my co-star again. Getting an actress like her means further development of your character.
You are also a producer now. What kind of films do you think are being made now?
Mother-daughter, mother-son… these relationships are eternal. Films have been made about these stories and will continue to be made. How a director tells the story is important. The way a director has shown the relationship between a mother and son in the past, the new director will show it in a unique way. But I think we want to see the kind of films where the visuals are pleasing to the eye. There is no crime, there is emotion, there is a human aspect. In fact, these are part of our lives, the feeling of seeing them on screen is always remarkably close to home.
You have been working in Kolkata for a long time; you have done Hindi films. What advice would you give to our industry from this experience?
Look, our country is not incredibly old either. During these 54 years, we have also gone through turbulent times. The environment, the situation, depend a lot on the country, politics, everything. Still, every year we have many good films, web series, festival films are doing very well. I have also seen one or two particularly good commercial films a year. In fact, for everything, we need many films, many works coming together. More than that, we need to feel safe as people, so that we can go to the hall and watch the film. We can move freely. Only then will we learn more about entertainment.
How do you see the state of the country’s cinema amidst the political unrest in the country?
The background of the country has changed. The country is in turmoil. There is political unrest. Amidst all this, our industry is doing very well. Everyone is trying. Our artists are trying to do well. Overall, our cinema is doing great.
Does Jaya Ahsan have no desire to get married and have a family?
I do have a family. I do. Does getting married only make a family? I have so many responsibilities, is that less than having a family! I don’t have time for all this. Everyone must believe that getting married doesn’t make a family. I also got married and had a family. I tasted that too. Now I am doing this family. What is wrong with that? It feels good to me. Since I feel better in this, I am successful in this family.
I have four children (Alsatian). My mother, siblings, my family, my plants, everything are my family. They are my family. Even after getting married, many people remain miles apart. In that sense, is that family? Those who remain miles apart mentally even after getting married, are that family? There is no point in making a family of photo frames to show people. If someone really makes a family, let them do that. Let them create an extension of it. Let them do something to give to the world. This is how I make a family in my own way. I will do it.