Surangana Bandyopadhyay on Ballabhpurer Roopkotha: I said yes to the film even before knowing my role because of Anirbanda

Surangana Bandyopadhyay is geared up with her upcoming film Ballabhpurer Roopkotha. Billed as a horror comedy, the film is directed by Anirban Bhattacharya and it also features Satyam Bhattacharya. Based on playwright Badal Sircar’s eponymous drama, the film will hit the theatre on October 24. The film is Anirban’s debut feature after his successful directorial web series Mandaar on Hoichoi. Dotted with a number of theatre actors, the songs and trailer of Ballabhpurer Roopkotha have already garnered appreciation and interest among the audience. 

This film will mark Surangana’s first film with a female lead. She admitted that she agreed to work on this project even before knowing her character because she wanted to work with Anirban. “Even before knowing that mine is the lead character of the film, I said yes. I know Anirbanda as an actor and as a person and I was absolutely sure that whatever he would do, it would be fantastic,” she said. 

The actress received a call from one of the ADs, Aritra Pritam. “I was given a few lines to read and record as an audition. I think I was one of the last people to be taken in the film. There were many other contenders for the role before I was selected. And I am definitely the youngest on the team,” she added with a smile.  

Talking about her experience of working with Anirban, Surangana said that the director is a perfectionist. “He is extremely focused on every detail of a frame. And there is no way you can cheat Anirbanda. He himself is a great actor and as a result, he just knows what he wants from his actors. In our workshops, he explained the heart and soul of the character to me. And he also gave me the artistic liberty that I wanted. I could only attend three workshops as I was juggling between my exams and Hamlet (Swapnasandhani play) rehearsals. Finally, my character became a blend of what Anirbanda wanted and my presentation,” said the young actress.