Exclusive! Cabaret actress Puja Banerjee: Our industry is patriarchal. OTT gives us the space to make women-oriented content

Puja Banerjee will soon be seen as Miss Elina – a cabaret dancer in Addatimes’ upcoming period drama, Cabaret. Directed by Utsav Mukherjee, the show also features Satyam Bhattacharya, Shantilal Mukherjee, and others. Puja is currently on a promotion spree for the show and in a quick chat with OTTplay, the actress shared her experience in the Bengali OTT space. 

Also read: Puja Banerjee on Cabaret: As an actor, this script demands the best of you 

Talking about the show, Puja said, “When we hear cabaret, a lot of images come to us. It represents a dance form and a period. There was a time when so-called ‘item numbers’ used to be just cabaret. Now nobody dances cabaret anymore. It is a dying art form. One of the reasons I chose this show is because of its subject.”

Puja did thorough research to be able to perform cabaret. “It is true that we don’t get enough time in shooting and preparing here. There are budget constraints. It is also true that it went out of practice. However, I went through all the available references of cabaret in Kolkata. I did my homework,” she said. 

Also read: Puja Banerjee Verma: “I never got launched by Yash Raj Films or Dharma Productions” 

There are other reasons too for Puja to agree to the series. “It is very glamorous and showcases retro looks. Besides, it is also the journey of a girl. The show has a lot of drama, romance, dance and so on. Most importantly, it has given me a scope to act. I don’t get many offers where I get the scope to perform as an actor. This show offers me that,” she said. 

Talking about the director, Puja said her chemistry with the Utsav helped her in the show. “He is a passionate director. It is his story and he was involved. We clicked well from the beginning and that helped. He has a very good team. Even Satyam – the lead actor. He is a good actor and a thorough professional,” the actress said.

Puja started working in the Bengali OTT space in the beginning. She has played the lead in the two seasons of Hoichoi’s Paap. How has her journey been? “Both Paap and Cabaret are women-centric shows. Our industry is indeed patriarchal. The OTT and television give us the scope to make women-centric content. There have been a lot of changes and change is constant. A lot more web shows are being churned out these days and there are competitions,” she said. 

Puja will soon be seen in a Raja Chanda’s film opposite Prosenjit Chatterjee. “We have completed the shooting and I cannot wait for it to be released. It is amazing working with him. Years ago I played his sister in Rakta Bandhan in 2003. Here I play opposite him. He is a legend and I am lucky to be able to work with him,” she said. 

Despite having a robust career in Mumbai, Puja keeps on working in Kolkata. “My father always used to remind me that I am a Bengali girl and I should also work in Bengal,” she signed off.