Rakhee Gulzar on her comeback in Bengali cinema with Aamar Boss, “It is very difficult to get a central role and that too one with so many layers”

By Subhash K. Jha -

May 13, 2025 - 4:03 PM IST

Veteran actress Rakhee Gulzar recently made a comeback to Bengali cinema with Shiboprosad Mukherjee and Nandita Roy’s Aamar Boss. She got talking about the film and other things in an interview with us.

Rakhee Gulzar on her comeback in Bengali cinema with Aamar Boss, “It is very difficult to get a central role and that too one with so many layers”

Your first Bengali film in a long time is a work of joy and beauty forever
You really liked Aamar Boss so much? I am so glad. I know you wouldn’t lie to me. You know when the co-directors (Shiboprosad Mukherjee and Nandita Roy) offered me the film, I wasn’t sure. My last Bengali film is yet to be released. I don’t know what happened to it. But then I saw Shiboprasad and Nandita’s film.

You mean their blockbuster Raktabeej?
No no, not that one. The earlier film Hami about a child’s upbringing. I was immediately excited about working with Shiboprasad and Nandini.

Their past work apart, they have conceived a role for you in Aamar Boss which not many actresses your age are given
I agree. It is very difficult to get a central role, and that too one with so many layers. I am glad the film was made smoothly and released. And I am even more happy that the film is being appreciated not only on Kolkata but other metropolitan cities as well. What is the point in doing a film that doesn’t get properly released?

I agree. I am just so happy to have you back on screen, enough of you sitting in your farmhouse with snakes and fish for company
Don’t raise your hopes too high. I am not in a hurry to get back to doing a film. It has to be something worth my while. I am not playing someone’s mother or grandmother just because a big director is offering a role. Believe me, I have many got such offers. But they don’t persuade me. I would rather be at home doing what you describe as sitting with snakes and fish.

Your grandson is the apple of your eye
Samay is a very important part of my existence. He is only 15 but taller than all of in the family, taller even than his father Govind. I have introduced him to books and nature. He is a very mature boy.

Has to be, after all he is your grandson… Coming back to your film, what was it to be shooting with Shiboprosad Mukherjee and Nandita Roy?
They made me feel so much at home. They looked after me like their own. Kolkata is always a pleasure to shoot in.

Your video devouring gol gappas on the street of Kolkata have gone viral
That is part of the film. We were shooting on the street with a gol gappa vendor by a secret camera. Nobody knew it was a film shooting.

Didn’t the gol gappa vendor recognize you?
No.

Which part of the galaxy does be belong to?
Oh, stop it! He was a young man. Probably a fan of Alia Bhatt. So, anyway, his gol gappa was good, shooting chalta raha, main khati gayee. It had no detrimental effect on my stomach. I enjoyed myself.

So which was more enjoyable, the gol gappa or the shooting?
That is a trick question. But seriously I was overwhelmed. We visited a movie theatre where Aamar Boss was being screened. The lights were turned on mid-screening. There were lots of elderly citizens in the audience. They were very moved.

They must have swooned on seeing their screen queen in person
I have never thought of myself as someone special. When I started, I just wanted to be a competent actress. I hope I am that.

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