‘IT’S ALL ABOUT FIGHTING FOR YOUR DREAMS’

Actor Bidita Bag talks about her journey, struggles, and early days before facing the arc lights

She is making her mainstream Bollywood debut with the film Babumoshai Bandookbaaz opposite Nawazuddin Siddiqui. The Kolkata girl, who began her career as model, says she gave “acting a thought when designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee told her that she would have a great career in acting”.

“I never knew I could act. I took it seriously only when he [Sabyasachi] suggested it. I used to come to Mumbai to give auditions when I was in college. That’s how I bagged a couple of big commercials. Auditions were really helpful because I realised how much I needed to work on my acting skills, and how competitive this industry is. It was not that difficult to bag the first project but going to the next level was difficult,” says Bidita, who has done a few offbeat films earlier.

The actor did go through a phase where she struggled. “I started acting 10 years ago. To get a good break in Bollywood, it took me ten long years,” she says. Elaborating on the struggles she faced, Bidita says, “There was a time when I faced problems. I was flooded with offers before one of my films failed. After that I lost all projects and stopped getting offers from Bengali films as well. That was a really bad stage, and even my health deteriorated. It was quite tough. But that is when I concentrated on savings and controlled my expenditures. I started focusing on my fitness, honing my acting skills, and meeting positive people.”

Her career took a positive turn after she bagged the Nawazuddin-starrer. In fact, the actor came close to working with Nawazuddin in the past as well. “Before he became ‘The Nawazuddin Siddiqui’, I was short listed for a film called Dekh Circus, and I was also short listed for Gangs Of Wasseypur (2012) and Manjhi (2015). Finally we did a film together,” says Bidita, adding, “I appreciate him for his patience, and the way his career has shaped up. He is inspiring. It’s all about fighting for your dreams and never giving up.”

She also admires Akshay Kumar for the kind of cinema that he

has been lately associating with. Talking about scripts that she wants to sign, she says, “Content is king. I want to be part of relevant stories that give out a social message, but I’d also like to balance it with commercial entertainers.”

I never knew I could act. I took it seriously only when he [Sabyasachi] suggested it. BIDITA BAG, ACTOR