Strength of a woman

Manpriya Singh 

Rrupaali Gupta doesn’t play any of the usual woman, let alone the victim card. Discrimination, prejudice, none of it really happened. As a female producer in the Punjabi film industry, she in fact credits a part of the success to being a woman. 

“We are much more instinctive and take decisions based on our gut feeling then men, who are often solely guided by statistics and facts,” she laughs, but is pretty serious and when one takes into account the recent hit from her stable, Uda Aida, there’s no denying she is correct too. That’s not it, she continues, “Women can multi-task and certainly get work done, and handle all sorts of team-mates,” which is why she makes it a point to not only be involved in the project, but also respect the fine line of never interfering. “People on the sets and in the industry often joke and call me a Jack of all trades.”

Big dreams

Hailing from a small town of Nangal, it was a no-brainer that she’d go on to pursue something to do with theatre and drama. “I never left any extra-curricular activity untouched in school and in college as a student of Punjabi University, Patiala; I was actively involved in youth fests and directing plays.” She adds, “When I grew up, I also starred in a couple of music videos. But parents being parents, Punjabi parents all the more, because they were a little apprehensive of this field they told me to first settle down and then pursue my interests.” Herein she credits, her supportive husband next. “In fact, he is one of those hubbies who do not want a wife to sit at home.”

Mother tongue

The first film titled Dream Man, starring Seema Biswas, did take a round or two of the film festivals, but she feels that was a project ahead of its time. “That was off-beat cinema and back in 2008, we were yet not as evolved and accepting of parallel films.” 

After a long hiatus, all thanks to motherhood, she came about with Mr and Mrs 420. “That was the time I was searching for a good subject and that is what I zeroed-in on.”  A subject that highlighted the reality of bachelors not getting accommodation easily. “If as a producer you listen to a story or a script and you sleep on it, then never go ahead with the project; because if something clicks with you, it gets you restless and excited instantly.” Taken seriously in the industry she always was. “Because I came prepared; I always reach the sets before everybody else.” It was the same with Uda Aida, inspired by a news clipping about a couple of years ago that said, as many as 23,000 students flunked in Punjabi. “With our mother tongue? That’s a miserable figure.”