A candid chat with Dighi

Photo: Collected

National Award-winning actor Prarthana Fardin Dighi started off her career as a child artiste. She made her comeback on the silver screen with "Tungipapar Miabhai", last year. She has also been in talks for her role in the upcoming Shyam Benegal directorial Bangladesh-India joint venture "Bangabandhu". In a candid chat with The Daily Star, the actor talks about her upcoming ventures, future plan, and more.

How was your experience of working in "Bangabandhu", the biopic of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman?

This project has been one of the greatest opportunities one, as an actor, could hope for. I am playing the role of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's wife Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, while she was aged between 13 and 15 in the film's timeline. I had to travel to India to shoot for this production in two lots. The shooting of my part is done and the director has much appreciated my performance. "Bangabandhu" is a historic film and being a part of such a larger-than-life character feels like a blessing.

Before you started shooting, you had a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Any incident in particular that you cherish about the meeting?

This was yet another epic moment for me in my career. When I told the honourable Prime Minister that I was to play the character of her mother, she shared many unknown sides of Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, which has really helped me absorb the role.

How did you prepare for this project?

I had to undergo tremendous formulation, both mental and physical, for this role. It started with intense research and conceptualisation as I wanted to perfect her projection from books to the screen.

Your film "Tungiparar Miabhai" was released a while ago. How was your experience with it?

Coincidentally, I played the same character in that film. It got a positive response from both the audience and critics. Sadly, the number of audiences allowed in the theatres was limited in the pandemic. However, I am still hopeful about the impact it would leave on the audience in the longer run.

What are your upcoming ventures? Are you shooting during this lockdown?

I am not shooting currently and spend most of my time at home. I am working on a web film "Shesh Chithi" where I will share the screen with Yash Rohan, among others. The project, directed by Sumon Dhar, is jointly written by Boby Rahman and Sumon Dhar.