As outsider, it takes time to command: Actress Shome

Mumbai Oct 24 (IANS) Actress Tillotama Shome a prominent face in the film festival circuit feels a bit stagnant when it comes to playing intense roles. But she says she s still in the process of being able to command the diverse characters she wishes to portray on the silver screen.

She is often slotted as a serious actress by the mainstream Bollywood coterie. Does she feel caught in the stereotype?

Tillotama told IANS: "I think intensity is overrated and laughter is unexplored. At least in my career most of the films that I have done have intense roles. Yes I only agreed to do those roles but I tried to choose the best from what I have offered.

"Honestly I have no desire to play only serious characters. But as an outsider of the industry it takes time to command because one has to make a position to do so... I am in process."

She played Alice in Mira Nair s "Monsoon Wedding". The actress proved her skill in some of the award-winning films like "Gangor" "Qissa: The Tale of a Lonely Ghost" "Children of War" and "A Death In The Gunj" along with some short films. She also featured in "Hindi Medium".

"It s not that I do not enjoy playing such roles but just that one of my emotional muscle has been used overtly whereas the others remain unexplored. As a complete actor I want every muscle of emotion to be utilized in my performance.

"I think the industry has the tendency to repeat and formulate certain things like ‘no make-up looks women-centric film ... Your creative flow shouldn t be limited or trapped in trends."

She was on board as a jury member of the 19th Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival With Star earlier this month for Dimension a short film section. She watched around 17 short films for it and said she rediscovered the ‘city of dreams .

"I realized how much of the city is yet to be explored being a relatively new dweller of Mumbai " said the actress who settled in Mumbai seven years ago.

--IANS
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