Actress-producer Chitrangda Singh and actor Jim Sarbh were part of an interactive session titled ‘Umasking the character actors’ at the 49th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2018 in Goa.
Chitrangda Singh has acted in only a few films in a career of 15 years. She was part of the supporting cast in Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster 3 (2018), but beyond this film, it’s hard to recollect her in any other role of late.
Chitrangda Singh was last seen in Baazaar (2016), which failed to get going at the box office, while Sarbh played Malik Kafur in Padmaavat (2018).
The term ‘character actor’ is no longer appreciated as actors just prefer to be called artistes. As was strongly stated by Sarbh, who did most of the talking.
Fans have been mystified why a gorgeous actress, who showed much promise with her maiden film Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi (2005), vanished for the next few years. Her last two films have been anything but impressive.
“Because of the numbers of years that have gone by, the comeback and the time that I have taken in between, you do suffer a little bit,” Chitrangda Singh admitted. “This place definitely has a short memory. You are taking a six-year break and it definitely tells on your work.”
Time lost cannot be regained, but the actress has no regrets as such with the way her career has shaped so far and she remains hopeful of getting that one career-defining role.
“As actors, we are always greedy,” she said. “We always think there is something better waiting for us. But having said that, I think, at the same time, I have much to be thankful for. The little bit of work I have done, the fact that I am here… people sort of acknowledge that and I have people still loving the work I have done. I’m quite happy where I am right now. But I’m waiting.”
Asked if there were times when she saw others on screen and wished she could have done more work, Chitrangda Singh replied, “Most of the times when you go and watch a film, as an actor you often imagine that had you done this role, you would have done things this way. There were so many good films. Khoya Khoya Chand (2007) by Sudhir Mishra was written for me, but I wasn’t around at that point of time. It would have been nice to have been part of that.”