Acting Is Imitating Life, So Learn to See Things Differently - Sayantani Guhathakurta (Actor)

I never thought to be an actress. My plan for career was academic and in teaching profession. When I finished my masters degree in political science that time I never thought of acting. Coming to film business was totally coincidental. In 2009, I was offered the first work. 

1. Tell us about your background and journey.

I come from a middle-class family. I always wanted to be a teacher. I was to be very much interested about dancing. But I never thought that I would be an actress. I wanted to open a dance school. I started doing theatre when I was in class 11. 

I was praised for my expressions and performance but I never thought to come in front of a camera. In my college life, I was offered to work in a TV serial but I was not interested. The turning point was a reality show called "Anandalok Nayika r khoje".

After that, I started modelling and my modelling career was in a good shape. But in year 2009, I changed my mind and I started doing my 1st serial "Hero" in zee bangla, it had a really good response. Then I continued doing that until 2013. After some time, I met with an accident and I took a break for a year.

After recovering, I started working as a VJ for dhoom music and then continued for music Bangla and after that did a page 3 show for zee bangla cinema. After that did a couple of TV serials but in 2017 I did my last TV serial called Saat Bhai Champa. After that I devoted my whole time for Cinema.


2. Did you ever think or dream of being an actor?

As I said I never thought to be an actress. My plan for career was academic and in teaching profession. When I finished my masters degree in political science that time I never thought of acting. Coming to film business was totally coincidental. In 2009, I was offered the first work. And I have decided to go ahead with the carrier in the film industry.

3. How can one approach their career and have the confidence and belief to become an actor?

At first believe in yourself, tell yourself that you can do it. Nobody inherits but they acquire the skills by everyday learning. Pursue your dream, work hard, don’t take shortcuts and have a learning attitude. Acting is imitating life, so learn to see things differently. Learn the characters from real life.


4. If not this, what would you be doing?

If I would not be an actress, I would be in teaching profession. I had some other dreams developed during my academic career. I did fashion designing while doing my masters , I want it to be a fashion designer during that time and had a dream of opening a boutique.

5. For a complete outsider with inroads, what advice would you like to give?

If someone is coming to this industry they should remember that is the competition is very high these days. Acting cannot be taught to anyone. But some technical things should be known before you come to this industry. If you have a theatre background that would be an excellent plus point. 

Your features, your capabilities, your plus points are the biggest factors. you need to maintain it but you need to carry yourself with pride. You need to be prepared before coming into this field..

6. What is your mantra of success?

I'm not sure if there is a mantra for success. Believing in myself and having confidence in my capabilities work for me. Loving yourself is the biggest source of confidence. I had that always which pushed me to do better.

7. Which is your favourite book and why? 

I’m a big fan of Rabindranath Thakur. Actually he’s my first love. So my favourite book is shesher kobita. The fluency of pure and free flowing Bengali language, the poetries, and the characters. 

I can feel Rabi thakur was die hard romantic which I’m myself and I can relate to the theme so much. That self less love, intellectualism in thinking touches me. And in that time, that kind of romantic novel was unbelievable.

- Sayantani Guhathakurta

Instagram @sayantaniguhathakurta

- Picture Courtesy

Aditya Narayan Das

- Interview by - Sourish Sinha