'If you have to sacrifice yourself for your family, just do it': Actor Madhumitha Sarcar on her upcoming psychological thriller Autobi

Q. What drew you to this psychological thriller?

Madhumitha: The story and the character were very different from anything I had done before. My character appears quite innocent and cute on the surface, but there is a psychological complexity within her. She is protective, but that protectiveness gradually becomes obsessive. There is a grey area to her, and I found that very interesting to explore as an actor.

Q. You play Tania, who shares this complicated relationship with Dimple. What was it like stepping into a character so different from you?

Inaaya: It was definitely challenging because Tania is very different from me as Inaaya. I am very close to my family and personally I don't mind when someone shows that they care about me. But Dimple's love for her sister is much more possessive. Tania is everything to her, and because she loves her so much, she starts controlling her life. That contradiction was difficult to understand and perform. At the same time, I enjoy accepting challenges, so I wanted to take this up and see how much I could do with the character.

Q. Your character is the elder sister who becomes almost a parent to her younger sister. How does that relationship shape her?

Madhumitha: My character loses her parents when she is very young and, as the eldest sister, takes on the responsibility of looking after her younger sister. So, she becomes almost like a parent to her. Her protectiveness comes from a positive place. She genuinely wants to take care of her sister and keep her safe. But that protection gradually turns into control. She starts micromanaging her sister's life, and that is where the problem begins. When love becomes an obsession, it stops allowing the other person to have their own freedom.

Q. Was there a particular scene that pushed you out of your comfort zone?

Inaaya: There is a scene that has already been shown in the trailer, that I was taking drugs. It was, in particular, very difficult because I don't personally believe in or involve myself in such things, and I had never performed anything like that before. I actually watched tutorials on YouTube before doing the scene to understand how it was supposed to be performed. Everyone was laughing at me because I was sitting there watching videos just before the shot. But it was a completely new experience for me, and I hope the scene has come across well because it is an important part of the film.

Photo: Avishek Mitra/IBNS

Q. Was there a particular scene that you found especially interesting as an actor?

Madhumitha: There was a scene of violence that I found very disturbing, but if I describe it, the climax of the story comes out, so I cannot reveal much about it. One of the preparations for that scene involved me hearing different voices. There is a mixture of hallucination and reality, and everything starts blending together. The expressions, the eyes and the character entering a completely different zone were things I really enjoyed portraying.

Q. How challenging was it to portray those hallucinations and the shift between reality and another psychological space?

Madhumitha: It was challenging because I had never done anything like this before. Sometimes, even when the director and everyone else tells me that the performance is good, I still have an insecurity as an actor. I keep wondering whether I should do something differently or try it again. Soumava da (director) kept assuring me that he liked my performance and was very happy with what I was doing. That gave me confidence. In a scene like this, the expressions are often very subtle. It is not simply about delivering an emotional dialogue or reacting to another character's journey. Suddenly, there is a voice, the situation changes and visually, the expression has to change with it.

Q. You were working with Madhumita for the first time. Were you nervous about creating the chemistry between the sisters?

Inaaya: Yes, I was very nervous initially because the relationship between Tania and Dimple is so important to the film. If the chemistry did not feel real, the characters would not work. We had not known each other before this film. But Madhumitha di accepted me from the very beginning. I am still learning, so if I feel I have made a mistake, I don't feel embarrassed about asking someone with more experience. She gave me that space. Even during the poster shoot, I felt that she was accepting me as a co-actor. Gradually, our bonding reached a different level, and that made it much easier for us to create the relationship between the sisters on screen.

Q. How important were the set, lighting and ambience in helping you perform those scenes?

Madhumitha: They were extremely important. In a story like this, the set, the light and the ambience all matter because I have to feel that I am completely alone. For me, the only way to make those reactions natural was not to over-prepare. I wanted to see the situation and react naturally to what was happening in front of me. There were scenes where I would tell Soumava da (director) that I didn't want to completely understand the scene. He would show me the dialogue, explain the positioning and that's it. Sometimes, being a little ambiguous is actually better for a scene like this.

Photo: Avishek Mitra/IBNS

Q. Did you do any preparation for the psychological-thriller aspect of the film?

Inaaya: Yes, definitely. I watched several psychological films to understand how such characters and situations are approached. I tried to observe the different layers in those films and take whatever I could learn from them. At the same time, I had a strong team around me. Our DOP, the director and the entire cast were very supportive. When you have people around you who know exactly what they are doing, it gives you confidence, especially when you are beginning your career.

Q. What was your experience of working with Inaaya as a newcomer?

Madhumitha: Inaaya is very dedicated and humble. Since she was new to the process, I wanted her to have the freedom to play and enjoy her character rather than feel pressured around me. She gave me a lot of respect and space as well, and that created a very comfortable equation between us.

Q. You also had an association with Rahul during the shoot. What did that mean to you as someone beginning her career?

Inaaya: I did not have a scene directly opposite him, but I met him during a song shoot. Seeing him in person was a very special moment because I grew up watching Chirodini Tumi Je Amar. That film and its songs were part of my childhood. So when I saw him, I was genuinely overwhelmed. He was very warm and accepted me beautifully. We had a good conversation, and I remember wishing that I could get another opportunity to work with him on screen.

Q. Was there any particular kind of scene that you found difficult because it was physically outside your comfort zone?

Madhumitha: If it is a difficult composition or a complicated situation, I don't necessarily find it difficult. But when something is completely out of my control, that is difficult for me. For instance, there were scenes where I had to hit someone. My shots would be perfect, but I simply couldn't hit the person in front of me. I also found it difficult to use certain harsh words for someone. I had to be repeatedly told to hit the character, but I struggled with it. That was something I found difficult.

Q. The film also marks the feature directorial debut of your director. What was it like working with someone making his first feature?

Madhumitha: He was very clear about what he wanted. He had references for several scenes and knew exactly how he wanted to approach the character. At the same time, he gave me honest feedback, about my character. He was quite happy with my work. Also Soumava da always had backup, if something went south. He did not get flustered.

Actor Madhumitha Sarcar with Inaaya Chowdhury in a candid moment. Photo: Avishek Mitra/IBNS

Q. You also shared the screen with Rahul Arunoday Banerjee. What is one memory you carry from working with him?

Madhumitha: Rahul da and I had worked together earlier, but this time I got to work with him for a couple of days. He had an extraordinary sense of humour and was extremely friendly. He was senior to me in many ways, but he always gave me the space to talk. We even sat and spoke outside the shoot, and those conversations were very enjoyable. It was a lovely experience working with him, and I will always remember that.

Q. What would you want the audience to take away from the film?

Madhumitha: For me, the central takeaway is that obsession is never right. It does not solve anything, even when it comes from love or concern, and apart from that, if you have to sacrifice yourself for your family, just do it.

Inaaya: I hope the audience enjoys the journey and connects with the characters. For me, this film has been a very important learning experience as my debut, and I hope people support me and give me the opportunity to take on more challenging characters in the future.