“Irrfan Khan says Aparna Sen is jealous of my looks” – Moushumi Chatterjee : Bollywood News

Moushumi Chatterjee who turned 62 in April is undoubtedly a beautiful woman who looks far younger than her age. It's therefore baffling why Aparna Sen cast Moushumi as an 80-plus woman in two back-to-back films.

“Irrfan Khan says Aparna Sen is jealous of my looks” – Moushumi Chatterjee

Laughs Moushumi with girlish glee, "You will have to ask Aparna Sen why I was cast as such old women in her films The Japanese Wife and Goynar Baksho. But Irrfan Khan with whom I just worked in Shoojit Sircar's Piku has an explanation."

In a show of affectionate solidarity Irrfan Khan loudly questioned Aparna for casting Moushumi as older women.

Says the veteran actress, "The incident happened in front of the entire unit. So there's nothing to hide. There was a scene where I had to play badminton in Piku. I was reluctant. I told the unit that Bengalis are by nature laidback, and that they like indoor games like cards, ludo and carom, preferably with a lot of cushions behind their back, 'Iss age mein kahaan phansa rahe ho?' I grumbled. Irrfan Khan loudly screamed back, 'What do you mean by age? Aparna casts you as old woman because she's jealous of your beauty.' In Aparna's defense I must say she gave me a chance to prove my versatility. Both her films took me into a world that I didn't know existed."

She confesses The Japanese Wife came to her after going to other actresses.

"Aparna asked Raakhee Gulzar and Sharmila Tagore before she asked me to do the role. At first I was reluctant since the character was so alien to me. But I am glad I did the role. It gave me a chance to be someone I had to discover from scratch."

Irrfan Khan's remark was in all likelihood made in jest. But Irrfan seems to have fallen prey to Moushumi's girlish beauty. What is the secret of her retarded youth? Laughs the actress, "I think positively and I don't wish anyone ill."

Her birthday on April 26 was filled with flowers, greeting and visitors. "Normally I'd have enjoyed the attention. But this time I had no maid or driver. So it was a very hectic birthday for me," Moushumi sighs.