I have bumped into Chitrangada Chakraborty a few times over the years. But none of those interactions prepared me for her incredible performance in Tikli and Laxmi Bomb (go watch it on Netflix if you haven’t already) where she plays the protagonist Tikli. She’s someone whose work speaks for itself, and it speaks volumes, and her commitment to acting is inspiring. She talks about the productive year that was 2018 and how it got her closer to her dreams:
What's the nicest thing you did for someone in 2018?
Been an honest friend to my friends
Has 2018 been a good year for you in terms of productivity and creativity? What all did you work on this year?
It was very productive and a lot of ‘first time’ things happened. A Bengali film of mine called Ahare mon released with great feedback and reviews. My first Hindi film Tikli and Laxmi Bomb released on Netflix. I shaved my head for two different projects and it felt absolutely amazing. I won two awards for playing Tikli, Best Debutante at the Jaipur International Film Festival and Best Actor in the New Jersey Indian International Film Festival.
Which film that you saw this year changed something in you?
Village Rockstars. It inspired me to be more hopeful.
Which song did you listen to on loop this year?
Bueno Vista Social Club. The whole album on loop 💜
Best book you read in 2018?
I’m really late in this but I read Metamorphosis by Kafka. Finally!
Photo: Sachin Chandane
How would you sum up 2018 in a few words?
This year was a sudden smooth leap in terms of everything. Professionally and also personally.
I realised that my faith in being candid is a long term deal and it’s here to stay!
What's your 2018 takeaway?
Let’s not confuse social media with real success :)
What's 2019 looking like for you? What are your goals/plans/dreams for the year ahead?
I’m a believer of the idea of ‘impromptu’ in general. So for now, I’m only hoping I learn how to drive and do headstands before the year ends. I start shooting for a new film at the end of January and it’s super challenging. I’m learning two different Indian martial arts for this one. Fingers crossed for that :)
Follow Chitrangada's future projects here.