Sandipta Sen's Exclusive Insights: From Marriage Bliss to Bodhon 2 Challenges

The highly anticipated Bodhon 2 has already begun to receive favorable reviews from viewers, building on the popularity of the Hoichoi web series Bodhon (2022). a t2 conversation with Sandipta Sen, who also makes a return to the second season to play Raka Sen.

Congratulations, Sandipta, on your marriage. What is the experience of being a newlywed?

I'm thrilled. I've only been traveling back and forth between the two houses for a few weeks now. Thus, it appears as though I am currently on shift work (laughs).

How, then, did all of this occur? How did you get to know your spouse, Soumya Mukherjee, and how did you two come to be in love?

We got together in 2021 at a party. He texted me after that, and we had this really fascinating talk. Then, things just kind of happened; it's not like we had anything planned. We finally got married after two years of dating, and it has been amazing getting to know him since then. Both of us are ecstatic and quite happy.

What do you enjoy most about your partner?

He is incredibly straightforward, honest, and has a golden heart. But his smile is what I adore about him the most. (smiles)

What are your plans for your honeymoon?

Making that plan is the hardest. Right now, it's hard to think of a nice honeymoon plan because we are both so busy with our respective schedules. I should be able to tell you something in two or three months, hopefully!

Please tell us about a humorous incident or a truly memorable wedding ceremony moment.

This year, there was only one day of intense rain in December, which also happened to be my wedding day (December 7). We had chosen the date and the location carefully because we intended to have an outdoor wedding. However, due to the rain, we were forced to move everything inside. In order for us to be happy together for the rest of our lives, Soumya had to constantly encourage me by telling me that it was God's way of blessing us. We will always remember this incident, I'm sure of it.

Regarding Bodhon 2, how did you feel when you learned that it was being developed? Were you prepared for it?

It was an amazing sensation. You are all aware of how much everyone adored Bodhon, and on social media, my friends, peers, and fans showered me with praises. The reviews were outstanding as well. Absolutely, the news was unexpected because Bodhon 2 was never intended. I believe that the creators were almost compelled to move forward with season two due to the love of the fans. We sincerely hope that the audience enjoys our work this time around as well, but we are incredibly happy and appreciative of all the love.

Are there any themes that are shared by Bodhon 2 and its predecessor, even though it is not a sequel?

The personalities remain the same. There in Bodhon, you will meet Raka Sen. Now, she is married to her boyfriend Riju (Koushik Roy). However, circumstances have evolved. For several days, the couple stays in a remote village where they come across and become involved in a variety of incidents. While our primary focus in Bodhon was crimes against women, we cover a much wider range of topics here. In addition to fighting for victims of gender-based crimes, we are also fighting against caste discrimination, patriarchy, and other social injustices.

In addition to what viewers witnessed in season one, what fresh facets of her character emerge in season two?

We had only seen Raka's protests against injustice in general and her courage and determination in particular during the previous season. Raka turns into a victim in this situation. Thus, the audience witnesses the weaker side of her personality and learns that it's okay for her to experience fear as well.

Ipilpur, a rural area, serves as the base for Bodhon 2. Is that location fictional? Where was the photo shoot conducted? How did the encounter go?

While it is a fictional setting, the rural scenes were filmed in a real village. It was situated in a distant region of Jharkhand with no phone network. The locals are genuinely quite pleasant and straightforward. Since the village's electrical infrastructure is so inadequate, they don't have televisions there. However, the location is incredibly stunning. Whenever we finished the shoot ahead of schedule, we would go for walks, explore the surroundings, take a ton of photos, create stunning reels, and generally have a great time.

What was even better was that instead of spending all of our time staring at our phones, we actually talked to each other a lot more and relished our time laughing and chatting rather than being glued to them because none of our phones had an Internet connection. I will always cherish that lovely memory and how refreshing that change was for me.

Has working with director Aditi Roy gotten easier for you over the years?

From the first day of my first project with her, we bonded in a special way. We get along great, which is, in my opinion, crucial for a director and actor because it allows me to know exactly what the actress wants and she to gauge my potential. She communicates her goals clearly and has a very clear vision, so working with her has always been easy. I also respect her ability to handle the innumerable issues that come up on set so coolly and collectedly. We have collaborated on projects together for three times, and I consider her to be an exceptional director.

Was playing Raka Sen more difficult in season two? Which new obstacles did you encounter?

My director told me right away that I needed to sharpen my driving abilities for Bodhon 2. I had to operate a vehicle in numerous scenarios, which is why. I had to drive a lot for this series, even though some of the scenes didn't make it into the final cut. I performed all of the chasing scenes without the use of a body double, and some of them were really scary. That proved to be quite difficult. I had to drive through some extremely tight and muddy sections in certain shots, and one incorrect move or turn of the wheel could send my car into a ditch. I'm happy I could perform those scenes effectively. I also had to improvise a lot of the fight scenes I had to perform since there was no fight master. But I generally did as Aditi-di instructed.

Bringing Raka's vulnerability to light was another challenge. Given her strong character, it was crucial to comprehend how fear would affect her and how much of an impact it would have on her words, actions, and body language. It was difficult to keep all of these things in mind while still convincingly expressing the character's fear.

Would you draw a comparison between the build-up to the release of a new movie or television show and the excitement and anxiety that accompany getting married?

(Laughs) Everybody has different needs, and according to American psychologist Maslow, those needs are ranked in order of importance in our minds. Work evokes distinct emotions, and marriage evokes entirely different feelings. Since one is a personal feeling and the other is a professional one, we really cannot compare them. However, the anticipation is very high for both. Now that we are married, our anxiety has passed, and we are both incredibly content. At this point, the team is all fired up about Bodhon 2, and we hope it turns out well. It is as if we have taken a test and are excitedly awaiting the outcome.

What word do you have for your followers in 2024?

I am incredibly appreciative of their warmth and love for me, and I consider myself lucky to have such a strong bond with them. I therefore beg that they continue to love me in the same way that I have, and I swear to return the favor by entertaining and inspiring them through my work.

Regenta Orkos Kolkata is the location.

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