Konkona comes full circle with debut theatre role

In a film industry that thrives on glamour, Konkona Sen Sharma has won critical acclaim for her acting prowess. Films such as Mr and Mrs Iyer, 15 Park Avenue and Page 3 show her ability to get into the skin of a character and connect with the audience. The actress now comes full circle with her first big stage performance in Blue Mug - a play that marks its international premiere in Dubai on April 16. The show is organised by OME-Oberoi (MIddle East) Events.

"I was a regular on stage during my school and college days. I played various roles and loved every bit of it. But yes, this is my first big theatre production,'' says Sharma during an interview with e+ ahead of her Dubai visit.

Bollywood has kept her busy, but Sen Sharma says she has been looking to get into the theatre scene for a while now. "I found the subject of the play very intriguing - the way our memories work - the things we remember or forget, and how it influences our lives," she says.

In the play, Sen Sharma plays the role of a doctor, who is treating a patient suffering from memory loss. She admits the role is both challenging and engrossing. "It's a small part, but powerful enough. I enjoyed myself, particularly the thrill of acting on stage, that is such a part and parcel of theatre,'' she says.

Based on the book, The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat by Oliver Sacks, the story recounts the case histories of patients lost in the complex and frightening world of neurological disorders. The play has won rave reviews from India's theatre aficionados. With a busy career in movies, how does she have time for theatre? "When you want to do something, you will always find time for it. If I'm offered a film and I accept it, it's a commitment that I have to keep. So, when I agree to do a play, I have to find the time for it," says Sen Sharma.

Sen Sharma is also trying different things in Bollywood. Her recent foray into a Bollywood comedy with Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge alongside Ajay Devgn and Paresh Rawal was a revelation. But the actress refuses to be stereotyped. She believes acting is about experimenting and testing one's versatility in challenging roles.

She doesn't take too kindly to labels such as being ‘a leading actress in serious film roles'. "These labels are more present in the minds of other people than they are in an actor's mind. I feel that I can do all sorts of films. Also, most of the films that people have watched of me have been in sad roles so that might be the reason for the label," she says.

Bollywood can sometimes be a trying place for actresses such as Sen Sharma, who don't exactly fit the song-and-dance routine some film-makers bank on. But Sen Sharma's success symbolises the changing trend. For her part, she has no regrets about being portrayed as a serious actress. She says, "Some of my best roles were in serious films." And getting good roles doesn't seem to be much of a problem. "No, I didn't really face any problems. I have done a variety of roles."

After her stage performance, it's back to business as usual. Sharma is looking forward to three releases this year - Rituparno Ghosh's comedy Sunglass, Vinay Shukla's Mirch and her mother Aparna Sen's Iti Mrinalini.

Far from being intimidated by her mother's reputation as a director, Sharma is quite professional about the whole association and comparisons do not bother her. "It's a joy to be working with her. I don't really look at it that way... It's nice to work with someone who really knows what she is doing and that's what makes me very comfortable."

But does the association aid her growth as an actress? "Definitely, my mother really knows what she wants and manages to get it out of me. It's good for me because I tend to work harder," she says.

An outspoken person off-screen, Sen Sharma does not hesitate to voice her opinion on matters close to her heart. She was recently in the news for speaking in defence of painter M.F. Hussain, but she stands firm. "If I want to say something, I will say it. I don't speak my mind very often, but when I feel something is important I do."

The actress is extremely guarded about her personal life and will not entertain any attempts to pry into her relationships or ideas about marriage. Her refusal to clarify means that the rumour mills have a field day churning out all sorts of stories. But Sen Sharma is not one to be bothered with idle gossip when there are more important things to do.

It's been a long and eventful journey in Bollywood for a young woman who never aspired for it in the first place. On the contrary, she planned to report on it. "I was never really ambitious. So I never planned what to do. But after finishing college, I thought I would take up advertising, journalism or something like that," she says.

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