Marriage is always on the cards: Sushmita Sen

If there has been any actress who has defied the norms to chase her dreams and live life on her own terms, it is Sushmita Sen. From deciding to being a single mother and adopting two girls to now making her debut in Bengali films with National Award-winning director Sreejit Mukherji's Nirbaak, Sushmita has done everything at her own pace. When we met her recently, the extremely excited actress spoke about her film along with discussing everything under the sun. Read on...

Considering you are a Bengali, isn't it surprising it took you so long to do a Bengali film?
That's true. I steered clear of it. The first time I read the script, it went over my head and then I re-read it. I realised that this man was brilliant and the screenplay had so much subtext. I am so used to Hindi commercial cinema where everything is spelt out pretty much. But I got a lot of like-minded people to advice me on the same and everyone was of the opinion that Sreejit was brilliant and that I had to work with him. It's finally releasing in Kolkata on May 1 and in Mumbai on May 15. It helps that my director has made it a habit of winning National Awards, just won it again for Chotushkone. I like his track record, he is such a brilliant guy that I couldn't have asked for a better man to initiate my career in Bengali films.

Has Hollywood never appealed to you?
That's not true. I have had my phases of being excited about something and then thinking that this doesn't excite me anymore. I do multiple things. I run a company, I am a mother, I take off to Maldives to get myself certified. I got my daughter certified under junior paddy. Now these are things in life that are important to me. They are a part of my larger picture. I cannot be a part of a rut. That is something I have consciously chosen not to do. I give 100 percent to everything that I am doing. The four best years of my child's life while growing up, they don't come back, three or four films not being done, is a very small price to pay. That for me, is my choice.

You said you went to Maldives...
I had always heard stories about people telling me that it was a whole, new world underwater. Once you get under 10 metres and you start to look at the world, you realise that you are a nobody there. We went and had four dives, got certified. Did the theory. That was fun because my daughter and I studied from the same book for the exam. It was great fun. My younger daughter Alisah became an ace snorkeller at age 5. She snorkelled in the Indian Ocean and when she grows up, I am going to show her those videos. I swam with white-tip sharks and saw so many creatures that people take years to see. I was lucky enough to have seen it on my fourth dive. I have done 20 metres. Renee has never been more excited about anything else. Diving happens as buddies as two people have to dive together to watch each other. She became my buddy. And once you are underwater, all that you can hear is the sound of your oxygen regulator and you realise that you have never been more free in life. The visuals you see will change you forever. I am beginning to earmark diving spots across the world and I intend to keep taking both the kids so at a certain age, Alisah can also dive.

Renee is 15 now. Does she have an idea as to what she wants to do?
Everyday, I hear new versions of what she wants to do and now the latest thing is Liberal Arts. Her explanation, "That way I can indulge in my music as well. Because I am going to be an actress eventually." She has been clear about that since she was a baby. She is like, 'I love the camera'.

And you are fine with her decision to become an actress?
Oh yeah. I have always supported her but my only condition to her, was to get a degree. Everyone needs a shield that will protect them. And I say that repeatedly because the tendency is that my mother only did Class 12 and she did fine. But everyone has a different story. Films shouldn't be a be-all and end-all. No one should be desperate and really to be a creative person, you cannot let desperation set in. Because then you stop being creative. And she is creative. She has an absolutely fabulous voice and she has trained since she was two and a half. She is very talented. I don't want her to ever be at a stage where she says, 'Ma, I don't have anything else to do.' So that is the deal – you get me a degree and then you can do whatever it is that you want.

What about marriage? Was that never on the cards?
Marriage was always on the cards. I have always been a romantic. Since I was 16, I have had a very lovely notion of it. But like everything else in my life, I have never been in a hurry. I have always believed that it will happen at the right time. I believe that if you are born with a desire, that it will manifest. But don't keep conditions on it. Marriage was always on the cards and will still stay on the cards unless proven otherwise. In the meantime, I think I have led a very exciting life. Not once in my life have I felt, 'Oh god, I didn't get married'. But the truth was that I didn't have a single moment free. To have a relationship, I have had to schedule it because I have a lot of things that I want to do.

But would they be delighted if you choose to get married now?
I have mentally prepared them. I have told them that just because it's not happening, let's not entirely give up on the idea. And don't you dare come to me in three years and say, 'Mum, I have found the guy'. That is just not happening. It is my turn first.