Bidita Bag: Could have fallen into depression but chose to focus on work
How perfect our plans are...doesn’tmatter...Life has its own plan. Now I set short-term goals , says actress Bidita Bag
Bidita Bag is a young actress who is gradually but firmly climbing the steps of success. This actress is a trained singer and a well-known model too. Presently creating waves with the web series ‘Bhaukal’, Bidita Bag talks to Raviraj Sinha about her journey, failures and aspirations:
Tell us about your background.
I was born in Howrah, in a typical Bengali middle class family. My dad has a very big collection of books and gramaphone records. My mom and dad wanted me to become a singer. They even gave me a harmonium, a tanpura... gave my brother a tabla set... They appointed a music teacher who trained us in Hindustani classical. My dad was a voracious reader. He made me a book worm. My parents tried their best to give me a good education.
How did you get into acting?
One day while I was painting some sketches of international models, I saw myself in the mirror- a pleasant face, tall structure and sharp features. So, I thought I should give it a try. I pitched this idea tomy mom. She shot my portfolio with Kodak KB10, she was convinced that I am photogenic. Then she gave me Rs 10,000 to buy clothes and to get a professional portfolio shot. The real struggle started after that.I am not an industry kid. I have come from a small town. My father was against my modelling career. So, in a way, I did not get any support from family. I faced opposition and rejections almost everyday. I gave 5-10 auditions every day. And if you come to think of it, I am still struggling to make a name for myself.
Why did you choose acting?
For me, acting was a gradual progression. I started my career with fashion modelling because I wanted to be an international model but my height was short as per their requirements. All the girls there are 6 feet tall or even taller and I am just 5’7. Then, I slowly graduated to television commercials while doing ad films and commercials. I started learning the basic nuances of acting. For me that was a training ground to finally realisin gmy ambition of becoming an actress.
What are the challenges you faced and how did you overcome them?
There are a lot of challenges for actors like me, from monetary to professional. Today, I have a house, a car, I have some savings. I don’t lead a luxurious life, I lead a basic grounded life. I have faced many rejections and I could have fallen into depression but I chose to focus on my work. I have taken rejections positively and emerged stronger.
How did you get your first break?
Late make-up artist Prabir Kumar De gave me my first break. He introduced me to Sabyasachi and Kiran Uttam Ghosh. The same week I shot for two big designers and became a popular name in the Kolkata modelling circuit. I modelled there for a few years and finished my studies. During graduation, every six months I used to visit Mumbai for the Lakme Fashion Week...I started building contacts in Mumbai and giving auditions for TV commercials.
My first break in Mumbai was when I bagged a TV commercial for Fair and Lovely. Suddenly I featured on almost every TVC on every print on every hoarding.Then people forgot. Second big break I got was after 7 years in the film Babumoshai Bandookbaaz. I have realised in this profession no break is good enough. One needs to keep working or else people will forget you.
What are your future plans and goals?
How perfect our plans are...doesn’t matter...Life has its own plan. Now I set short-term goals. I take one day at a time. I do work out daily. I take care of plants...I practise minimalism. I want to get married in the next 2-3 years and have kids. I want to do content-driven films. And last but not the least, I want to live a simple meaningful life.
What are the projects you are working on and how are these affected by the ongoing situation in the country? And please tell us something about this project
There is a film titled Fauji Calling. Its trailer was about to release but due to this ongoing situation, it wasn’t. This movie has actors like Zareena Wahab, Shishir Sharma, Sharman Joshi. This film revolve saround a family of soldiers, when soldiers are martyred what happens to their family. It has a world-wide connect. It’s not a war movie. Its main focus is the family.
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