Swastika Dutta enjoyed freedom to portray her character in her debut OTT project Ananda Ashram

Bengali film and television actor Swastika Dutta is pumped up for her first OTT project that has some of the well-known actors from the Bengali film industry. The actor who was seen in Dugga Dugga, Ki Kore Bolbo Tomay, Bhojo Gobindo has been roped in to act in Ananda Ashram.

Speaking to ToI about the project, Swastika said that the ‘gripping story’ drew her to come onboard. She will essay the role of a documentary filmmaker who is ‘creative, smart, and intelligent.’ “The viewers will see me in a completely different avatar,” added the actor.

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Television and film actor Prantik Banerjee, who was seen in Kidnap and Byomkesh Bakshi is cast opposite her. Swastika also revealed to the daily that late acting doyen Soumitra Chatterjee was also supposed to be part of the project but couldn't due to his untimely demise.

The shooting experience has been enjoyable, said the actor, while praising the director Arijit for letting her be free to play Tithi. She said that the director suggested following the script thoroughly. What she loved most was that she could be herself and cast the performance the way she wished to, she said.

She delineated the difference in mediums of TV and OTT through the acting style and target audience. OTT provides the space and scope for actors to be understated in their portrayal while daily soaps are a bit extra on the dramatic tenor. However, she added that she loves both mediums, and said, “Moreover, as an actor, we shouldn’t limit ourselves and keep experimenting.”

Earlier, Prantik had told ToI that Ananda Ashram is a horror story with a lot of emotional twists. The plot is set in an old mansion and narrates about two generations. He had also shared that it was an ‘amazing experience’ to work with Swastika, this being their first project together. And that Arijit, who is donning the director’s hat for the first time with this project, was ‘calm and composed’ and receptive to Prantik’s inputs on the script.

Ananda Ashram has been shot at Howrah, Andul, ghats of the river Ganga, among other locations. More details are awaited.