Sayani Gupta on her Tollywood debut: I waited for the right sort of beginning | Exclusive

In a more than a decade-long career in Mumbai, Sayani Gupta has worked in many acclaimed films, including Fan with Shah Rukh Khan, Margarita with a Straw with Kalki Koechlin, Article 15, Jagga Jasoos, Zwigato, and a lot of others. Big roles or small, the actress has proved her mettle in every character she portrayed. She has also explored the OTT space from the beginning across the platforms. From sports drama Inside Edge at the beginning of the web series trend in India to the glamorous Four More Shots Please! – Sayani impressed her audience with her effortless acting skills. Now, the actress has stepped into the Bengali film industry and completed shooting with Kaushik Ganguly in his upcoming social satire, Asukh Bishukh. In a chat with OTTplay, the actress talked about her Bengali debut, her director Kaushik Ganguly and a lot more.

What took you so long to work in a Bengali film?

I have always waited for the right script, director, and time. KG (Kaushik Ganguly, as he is fondly called by his colleagues) has been on my wish list for a long time. Ever since I was in FTII, I wanted to work with him. He is one of the best filmmakers around.

Tell us about your experience of working with Kaushik Ganguly.

I waited for the right sort of beginning, and I am grateful that I worked with him. His films are not just about the stories he tells but why he chooses a story and how he tells it to his audience also become important. The psychology behind his films, the politics that pans out – everything becomes important. Also, not only is KG one of the best filmmakers, but he is also a stunning human being. I am quite a cynical person, and when I watch him, I learn from him. He is warm and beautiful.

After the shooting was wrapped, we were a tad sad. It was a bitter-sweet feeling for me. We were happy that the shooting was over but a little sad that this time of working with this set of people also got over. From the actors and actresses to the directorial team – everyone was warm and welcoming. I can’t wait to come back again.

Is there any other offer from Tollywood?

There are a couple of offers. But we will have to decide on the days of availability, logistics, and also the scripts. I always believe in quality over quantity. Based on that, I will have to take a call.

You have worked in Mumbai and Bengal. What are the differences that you noticed?

I worked with Bengali teams before. The shooting of Sherdil took place in Bengal. When I am shooting in Bengal, I feel at home. It feels like a familiar environment with people talking in my mother tongue. That always helps. The people are warm, the food is great, and I am calmer. There is a sense of comfort in working with a team from Bengal.

It is often said that Bengali films operate under a shoestring budget. In contrast, that is not always the case for a Bollywood film or a web series. Did you feel any difference vis à vis the production system of these two industries?

There are technical differences in terms of how things happen in these two industries or the day-to-day work. But honestly, I worked both on lavish projects with big budgets and independent films with shoestring budgets. I really don’t work for money. My calls are purely based on a creative point of view. I intend to do more independent films. I have worked in many independent films with very small budgets and wish to work more in such films.