Interviews - Rinku ‘durgesh’ Ghosh

"IF MEN ARE FANTASIZING ABOUT ME, THEY CAN DO IT TO THEIR HEART'S CONTENT"

RUSTIC, UNCOUTH AND BRASH — THAT'S DURGESH NANDINII FOR YOU ON THE TELLY! BUT THE GIRL WHO'S ESSAYING THIS OUTRAGEOUS CHARACTER IS AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT PERSON ALTOGETHER. RINKU 'DURGESH' GHOSH COMES ACROSS AS YOUR REGULAR GIRL-NEXT-DOOR WHO'S CHILLED OUT, DREAMS OF THAT TOASTY DATE AND HAS A LIST OF DO'S AND DON'TS ABOUT HER IDEAL MAN. A COMPLETE VIRGO, RINKU IS NOW ENJOYING HER NEWFOUND CELEBRITY STATUS WITH HER POWERFUL PORTRAYAL OF DURGESH NANDINII BESIDES WORKING IN A SLEW OF BHOJPURI FILMS. SHOWTIME CATCHES UP WITH THE FEISTY FIREBRAND, WHO'S CAUSING A SENSATION ON THE SMALL SCREEN — AND GRILLS HER WITH SOME TORRID QUESTIONS. DISCOVER THE OTHER INTRIGUING FACETS OF DURGESH NANDINII AS SHE SPEAKS ON TABOO TOPICS.

ST: Have you ever got into a catfight with anyone?

RG: No. I haven't got into a catfight as such but definitely things get difficult for me sometimes. Cold wars and catfights are perennial affairs in the TV industry and I am quite used to them. I try not to get bothered. I try to deal with all issues with a lot of dignity. I have seen insecurities among my co-stars. I can see it on their faces when they get upset over inane stuff like costumes and make-up. But I take it with a pinch of salt!

ST: What's your take on the casting couch? Have you experienced it?

RG: My parents have taught me that when you step out of the house, you meet varied kind of people and face different circumstances. I am thankful to God that I haven't gone through the casting couch. Exploitation is everywhere. It's just a wrong perception that it is dominant only in show business. It's all about how you portray yourself in front of a person and that individual would interpret it that way.

ST: What is your take on men's sexual exploitation, what with women calling the shots as top bosses in the TV industry?

RG: Well, it's women's liberation finally (laughs loudly). I don't consider women as the weaker sex. They are more powerful than men.

ST: Have you ever made a pass at anyone? When was the last time someone made a pass at you?

RG: I have never made a pass at anyone. And nobody has made a pass at me in the literal sense, but people do compliment me on my eyes and smile. I just thank them for the compliments and move on. Normally, we girls envy each other, but if a girl makes a pass at me, I'll take it as a bigger compliment.

ST: Have you ever used your beauty as a tool to overpower someone?

RG: I have never thought of myself as an extraordinarily beautiful girl, but beauty is definitely my weapon. People love me for what I am. I have never manipulated anyone. In fact, people are more fond of my nature and behaviour than my looks.

ST: What are your wildest fantasies?

RG: Wow. Well, I have got many actually (laughs). I would love to be with my guy on a beach. I would love to spend time with my lover in the lap of nature. For me, an ideal date would be being comfortable with my guy. I am an outdoors person — be it lakes, mountains or beaches. I love the rains and would love to get drenched during the monsoons. Actually I tend to fantasize the most during the monsoons as I tend to get romantic seeing the pitter-patter. Though I am not fond of the rain songs in Hindi films. For me, my fantasies have to be very classy.

ST: What kind of man turns you on?

RG: If a guy proposes me on the first date then I would say a curt "No" to his face. Maybe if I get to know him better later on, I would consider his proposal. For me, it is very important to know a person perfectly. I am a hard to impress girl and surely one cannot impress me that easily. What actually turns me on about a guy is his robust sense of humour, intelligence and impeccable general knowledge, which I lack (laughs). Looks don't matter to me. Instead it's a man's overall nature that turns me on.

ST: Does the male gaze bother you?

RG: Not one bit. If men are fantasizing about me, they can do it to their heart's content. I would take it as a compliment.

ST: Generally, outsiders look down upon actresses. Some jerks even perceive them as loose characters because they feel they party too much. Comment.

RG: I think it's very unfair to generalize. I am not a party person. I haven't been to a discotheque except once when I had gone to Velocity for my shoot. That's the only disco I've seen. Maybe the dance and music attracts me to a pub. I am your average girl, who likes spending leisure time with her family. I like listening to music, though the kind of music I like to hear depends a lot on my mood. In case I am feeling low, I need loud music to pep me up. When I just want to be myself, I love soothing music.

ST: What do you think of open marriages?

RG: Each one to his own. If a couple is comfortable with the idea of an open marriage, they should go ahead with it. It is very important for their mental wavelength to match.

ST: What about infidelity? Would you tolerate it?

RG: If my guy cheats on me (long pause)…Well, if I love the guy very much, I don't see any reason for him to step out of the relationship. If he does something like that, then I would tell him to go ahead as there is no point holding on to that person.

ST: Do you see yourself in a purely physical relationship?

RG: Never.

ST: How far would you go on a first date?

RG: The first date would be either at a restaurant or a coffee shop. Nothing beyond that (smirks).

ST: Do you think our society attaches too much importance to issues like pre-marital sex and virginity?

RG: In Indian culture, people don't accept philandering. We give importance to virginity. If the guy wants his wife to be a virgin, then even he has to refrain from pre-marital sex. He has to accept his wife the way she is. If virginity is the only thing on his mind, I won't consider him macho. He should be mature enough to understand that whatever has happened has happened. You have to move on and not worry about the past.

ST: When a woman is more dominating in bed, do you think it hurts the male ego?

RG: It does hurt a man's ego. A man's ego will never allow him to be dominated, no matter how prolific and independent the wife is.

ST: They say the world runs on money and sex. True?

RG: I don't believe in it completely. There are people who don't work only for money, but for job satisfaction as well.

ST: The female nude is considered a work of art while a male nude is considered disgusting. Why is that?

RG: Women are the best creatures God has ever created. A female nude is no doubt, beautiful. Well, I haven't seen any portraits of nude men so I can't comment on them (laughs).

ST: What's your definition of an ideal man?

RG: My ideal man has to love my parents. That man has to be the son of the house. I am a pampered girl so he has to mollycoddle me like my parents do.

ST: Tell us about your last date.

RG: Recently, I went on a date; we went for a film and then to a restaurant. The guy is not from the industry so I wouldn't like to name him.

ST: Anyone you've had a massive crush on?

RG: My first crush was Shah Rukh Khan. In school, I would go mad seeing him on screen.

ST: What does love mean to you?

RG: Love is the purest feeling of all. It helps you become a better person. I don't believe in casual relationships.

ST: Are you comfortable with skin show on screen?

RG: There has to be a plausible reason for the skin-show. I need to feel that I look good on screen and the scene definitely needs it. Being called sexy would definitely be a compliment. Though, I won't like to be considered a bimbette with no grey matter.