She was the fierce and brash Phoolan Devi of Bandit Queen, a role that got her 1996 National Film Award for the best Actress. And then, in a stark contrast, a progressive widow, Shakuntala of Deepa Mehta’s Water, a role, which got her the 2006 Best Actress Genie Award. It need not be mentioned how many ripples both the movies created in the world of entertainment as well as outside it. A product of National School of Drama, this Bengali actress brought up in Assam, Seema Biswas, who swears by her theatre bond, gets candid in an exclusive talk with Ashok Kumar. When did you first think of becoming an actor?I never really planned to be a part of the showbiz world called Bollywood. But was always fascinated to be an actress, because for me, acting was a passion. Films help you recognise yourself. Earlier I was working for theatre. Shekhar Kapoor noticed me in a play Khoobsoorat Bahu and he decided to cast me for the Bandit Queen. Did you readily accept the offer of playing the character of a dreaded dacoit in the Bandit Queen? I read the script and was not able to make up my mind instantly. But then, Shekhar Kapoor came to me and convinced me about the depth of the role and I agreed to take the plunge. Did you see an impact on your personal life after being part of a powerful movie like Bandit Queen? After Bandit Queen I felt more matured. I felt myself being carried away by my character in that movie. On the basis of the long association with the theatre how can you relate it to the world of cinema? Theatre is like a parent to me. Acting is my love and theatre my work. In theatre plays you can continue polishing your performance and yourself but films don’t give you that opportunity. While doing theatre you are not stamped for doing any particular role and are not bound in any image, but in the movies you find yourself stamped with any particular role. It is sad for me to find myself stereotyped by one particular character. You are not frequently visible in the commercial cinema, why? I feel personally, for myself, that I cannot be a part of the glossy-glossy world. Also, I don’t have any materialistic desires. Given my passion for acting I can call myself a full time actor. What is that dream role which you aspire to do in future? I seriously want to do a role of a ninety-year-old lady.
