Thought Bandit Queen will be my first, last film: Seema Biswas

Navneet Rathore

Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 17

"I thought Bandit Queen will be my first and last film,"said National Award winning actress Seema Biswas as she went down the memory lane to remember her illustrious career and her journey in the film industry.

Biswas, who came to Shimla to attend the International Film Festival of Shimla in which her movie 'Mrs Tendulkar' was also showcased on the inaugural day, said that back in the days, actors were not offered scripts, rather they were only told about the role they were offered to play. "When I used to ask for the script they used to think that even big stars don't ask for script then how could she," said Biswas.

She said that she had very fond memories of Shimla as she visited Shimla to meet Amala Rai, an NSD alumnus and her batchmate. "Though, I don't remember the place, she took me to an apple orchard which was a one of a kind experience. The mountains, the trees and the scenic beauty of the town was much different back then". However, she also expressed concern over the increase in the number of buildings as well as the number of vehicles and people. "I was like stunned while seeing too many buildings in Shimla," she added

Expressing grief over the brutal rape and murder of a junior resident doctor in Kolkata, she said, "When I did Bandit Queen there was a lot of controversy around it. What happened to Phulan Devi, what happened to Nirbhaya and now this, shows that we have not learnt anything and we are getting worse and it look like animals are much better than us".

"Is respect only limited to our mothers and sisters and do we have no responsibilities towards other women. There is definitely something wrong with the society as on one hand, we pretend to be so religious while on the other hand such heinous crimes are happening across the country," she said.

‘Experienced eve-teasing in Delhi’

I had boarded a bus to Mandi House along with my sister. When I gave ~5 to bus conductor, who was around 22 to 23 years old, and asked for the balance, he gave me a very disgusting look and told me that he would give me ~40 if I would come with him. I was shocked with his audacity and the fact that none of the passengers who had boarded the bus said a thing to him. Later, he told me that if ~40 is less then he would pay ~400. Exhibiting patience, I told him that to keep the change if he needs it for his mother and sister. He kept giving me creepy looks and as I reached my station, I shouted at him and told him to come out of the bus. Though hesitant, he kept arguing with me by saying what will I do to him. The passengers told me and the conductor not to escalate the argument as they were getting late. They were worried if things escalated, they might not reach their home on time but were not bothered to stop him when he tried to tease me.