Exclusive! Madhumita Sarcar on Kuler Achaar: Changed my surname once but now I realise it is not necessary

Madhumita Sarcar has paired up with Vikram Chatterjee for the first time in Sudeep Das’ Kuler Achaar. The film that features Indrani Halder after years on the big screen delved into the life of a newlywed couple, played by Vikram and Madhumita. Madhumita, who plays Mithi in the film, doesn’t want to change her surname post-marriage. The family drama revolves around the debate on the social convention of surname change. In a candid chat with OTTplay, Madhumita talked about her character and her opinion on changing the surname in real life.

Explaining her character, the actress said, “She is a sweet little girl who is a bit headstrong. He speaks her mind. She gets married after her courtship and from the beginning, she refuses to change her surname. She thinks her surname to be a legacy of her family. She loves and respects her in-laws. But she also sticks to her ideals.” 

We asked her if she supports the idea of keeping the maiden name. “I got married once and I changed it once before I divorced. I have grown older and understood that it is definitely not a necessary thing to do. With each film and each character, you learn something. I also learnt that it is important to have certain convictions in life. Meanwhile, Kuler Achaar is not just about surname change. It is also about seeking answers to many other social conventions.” Madhumita told us.

Recently, the actress worked in a Telugu film for which she learnt the language. The shooting took place earlier this year. Talking about working outside Bengal, she said, “I like to take up roles that will help me to evolve into a better person. Otherwise, I feel stagnant. If I get an offer to play such characters from outside Bengal, I will grab the chance. If I get it here in Kolkata, I will work here.”