Raima Sen, granddaughter of the legendary actor Suchitra Sen, has proved her acting prowess with films like Godmother, Daman, Choker Bali and Parineeta.
With director Reema Kagti’s forthcoming Honeymoon Travels……., in which she plays a la-di-dah and daring newly wed, the actor displays her flair for comedy as well. Here, Raima Sen talks about Honeymoon Travels….., that releases on 23 February 2007.
Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd is about six honeymooning couples on a package tour to Goa, what is your role like?
I play Mini, this newly married Bengali girl. I identify completely with my character as I am also a Bengali. Like her, I only appear to be docile but am pretty dominating, and very adventurous in reality! I have para-sailed in a saree, done fight sequences, karate and boxing, in the film.
What about Kay Kay, your reel husband?
Oh, Kay Kay appears more Bengali than I do! And in this dance sequence (Sajnaji Vaari Vaari) where he is supposed to have taken Ecstasy, he had to do some movements which all other characters, including me, had to copy. Though Kay Kay is not a dancer, he got so involved that without choreographer Farah Khan’s instructions, he started doing these funny movements on his own, and we all started copying him. So, in reality it’s a completely un-choreographed song!
You seem to be quite enamored by your reel husband, Kay Kay Menon. You made headlines during the shooting of Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd, when you said in an interview you wished that he was single!
Oh dear, the journalist just concocted that sentence to sensationalise his story. Kay Kay intimidates everyone with his imposing personality and acting prowess, and I find that very hot. In the interview, I had just said that I find Kay Kay hot, nothing more!
What about the other couples’ tracks?
I think director Reema Kagti has come up with impeccable casting. Like Ameesha is this woman who loves everything pink and feminine, which is so like her in real life too! Then Shabana Azmi and Boman Irani play this very sporting elderly couple, Abhay Deol and Minissha Lamba are a funny yet endearing Parsi couple…..everyone is so appropriate!
Since all the couples are on a honeymoon, will we see many intimate moments between them?
Of course, there are intimate moments between every couple, but none of them are vulgar or titillating. Either they are tender, like the one between Kay Kay and me, or they are comic like those between Abhay Deol and Minissha Lamba.
How did you find the idea of a package tour honeymoon?
Even though I found the idea of going on a package tour for a honeymoon with unknown people bizarre, the entire concept was extremely hilarious and interesting. And once we started shooting the film with all the traveling in a bus and sharing our experiences, I thought it was not such a bad idea after all!
Did you not think that there were too many actors in the film?
I did, but only initially! Seeing Reema’s confidence, I knew she would not give anyone a chance to complain! She made sure everyone got equal footage.
So would you take a package tour on your honeymoon?
I am not thinking of marriage for another two years, but yes I could contemplate going for my honeymoon on a package tour. But the destination would most probably be Venice or Jo’berg!
What are your expectations from Honeymoon Travels….?
I have great expectations from the film – it is so whacky it has to work. Personally, I hope to get more offers for comic roles!
What are the other films you are looking forward to?
I am waiting for Eklavya, in which I play the part of Nandani, a young woman with the mind of a 10-year-old. Then there is Manorma, Khela, The Bong Connection (about Bengali NRIs), and Meridian opposite Arjun Rampal.
