'Challenge' was my dream project: Subhashree

Challenge is a big hit. Did you expect it to become this successful?

We all had very high expectations from the film. The film’s success shows that everybody’s hard work has paid off.

How did you prepare for the role of Pooja?

There was a 15-day workshop before shooting began. From the very start, director Raj Chakraborty’s ideas were very clear. He knew exactly what he wanted. So even before shooting commenced, I knew how my character Pooja would look, walk, talk, even how she would respond to Abir (Dev).

There’s a buzz about your hot new look in the film. How did you get into shape?

It’s not that the character I play is hot. Pooja’s is a very soft character, but she completely transforms in the dream song sequence. We wanted to show that even a girl like her can change completely. I worked hard at getting fit for a whole month, and lost up to 6 kg for the song.

Is the real-life Subhashree like the reel-life Pooja?

Well, I’m not soft-spoken. I like to talk a lot, I’m restless. We are very different. But there are similarities on the psychological level.

How was working with Dev?

Dev is now a brand name. But he doesn’t have that starry attitude. He’s still simple and down-to-earth. We are good friends and I can trust him blindly. Professionally speaking, he’s focussed and passionate about his work.

In fact, Challenge has been my dream project. I have always wanted to work with Venkatesh Films. Add to that Raj Chakraborty and Dev, and this is a dream come true. Plus, I had taken up this challenge to prove myself.

What about your experience with director Raj Chakraborty?

If I start singing his praises, I could do so all day. It was fantastic working with him. He truly is a powerhouse and his confidence is amazing. He actually infuses confidence into other people and makes them believe in their abilities.

With its big budget and Bollywood feel, Challenge has broken new ground in Tollywood...

We’ve tried to bring people who don’t watch Bengali films into the theatres. We’ve tried to prove that Bengali films can match up to their Hindi counterparts. Here’s a film that everybody would want to watch. It’s got a modern look, it’s technically sound, even the costumes are contemporary. Now people can compare it other films and ask, ‘Is this as good as Challenge?’.

What lies ahead?

I believe in hard work and want to become No. 1. I have three more films with Venkatesh. Currently I’m shooting for Poran Jaye Jolia Re with Dev. We just completed one schedule in Malaysia. The next schedule will begin soon.


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