Actresses sometimes hesitate to play a negative character for fear of being typecast, but Debasmita Mohapatra is an exception. She is willing to experiment with every kind of role.
Debasmita, who plays the character Riya in her debut serial ‘Tara Tarini’ on Etv, auditioned for different serials for close to three years.
She recounted her entry into the TV serial world. “When I moved to the capital city, I got a chance to audition for a number of TV serials. After three years, I landed the character of Riya in ‘Tara Tarini’. Acting is something which I always wanted to do and when I pitched the idea of acting to my parents, there was no opposition because my parents have always advised me to follow my heart.”
Asked if she related to the character she plays in ‘Tara Tarini’, she is quick to respond, “No, we are poles apart.”
Debasmita feels that there is a lot of “variety” in the negative genre. “I don’t want to restrict myself to a particular genre as I want to experiment with every kind of role, and whatever offer falls into my lap, I will accept no matter the genre.”
Debasmita has taken part in plays since her school and college days and won many awards. Born and brought up in Bhadrak, she has a bachelor’s degree in Sanskrit from Basudevpur College. She is a voracious reader and spends her free time reading novels. There are times when she has completed an entire book in a single day. Her favourite authors are Pratibha Ray and Devdutta Patnaik.
“Born and brought up in Odisha, I derive immense pleasure in reading the literature of Odisha. I love the books by Pratibha Ray and Devdutta Patnaik so much that there are some which I have read multiple times,” she said.
Debasmita considers the late Sridevi her role model. “For me, Sridevi was an epitome of dignity. She was not only my favourite actor, but my idol too. I try to learn the fine details of acting so that, on screen, I look natural,” she said.
Looking ahead, Debasmita wants to be a teacher and from next year she will enroll herself for higher studies so that she can fulfill her ambitions.
SHABIHA NUR KHATOON, OP