Ranveer Singh starrer Simmba was a huge hit making its female lead Sara Ali Khan a big draw at the box office. However, another actress who played Sara’s friend in the film also caught the attention of many — Supriya Roy from Cuttack. Apart from essaying a significant role in Simmba, she has appeared in quite a few commercials on national television. Sans a godfather in Mumbai, her achievements so far have been significant. In a candid conversation with Orissa POST, Supriya talks about her journey in tinsel town and her experience of working with superstar Ranveer.
Born and brought up in Cuttack, Supriya, the daughter of Sujata and Debprasad Choudury, was passionate about acting even as a child. But she had to wait to realise her dream of being an actor as she got married after her graduation from Ravenshaw University. However, her husband Nilanjan Roy was supportive and she managed to come into the limelight through her acting assignments in TV commercials.
“I had a dream to make a name in acting when I was a kid. I used to participate in skits and other cultural activities during my school days. Though I was very good at studies, I had a lot of interest in extracurricular activities, and acting in particular. But my dream of becoming an actor remained unfulfilled as my family wanted me to settle down. Before my marriage, I got an opportunity to host a show Jhum Ta Na Na aired on ETV Odia for six months and also worked as a career launcher for a brief period. I was crowned Miss Odisha in 2006 and got many offers to act in Odia films. But my family members didn’t approve. I moved to Bangalore after my marriage. During my stay there, I started modelling. I also completed my MBA from IMIS and got a job with ITC. I worked for seven years in the corporate sector. Meanwhile, I was also blessed with a son,” says Supriya.
Despite her family obligations and job responsibilities, acting was always at the back of her mind and she was looking for the right opportunity. Nilanjan encouraged her and the couple shifted to Mumbai, a city where many dreams have been realised.
Supriya continues: “After my arrival in Mumbai, I appeared in commercials for Colgate, Kalyan Jewellers, Clinic Plus and others. That apart, I did a lot of print commercials.”
On landing a role in Rohit Shetty’s Simmba, Supriya says, “After coming to Mumbai, I had to work hard to expand my contact base. That was necessary before making a foray into the world of acting. I met a casting director who called me for an audition at Rohit Shetty’s studio. Fortunately, I was selected for that role from among 125 contenders. Before making my Bollywood debut in Simmba, I did a Tamil movie Paiyya featuring Tamanna Bhatia and Kartik while I was living in Bangalore. I couldn’t do more movies in the South because I was not comfortable speaking in south Indian languages. Though my role in Simmba was a small one, it was a very important part of the plot.”
On her experience of working with stars like Ranveer and Sara, she says, “I found both Ranveer and Sara humble and grounded. They neither show attitude nor throw starry tantrums. They are professional as well as understanding. I remember my first scene with Ranveer. I had a dialogue with him, and I was quite nervous. Ranveer made sure that I felt comfortable and acted well. He motivated me to do my part correctly.”
Recalling an incident from Simmba’s set, Supriya says, “One day, we had an extended shooting schedule of 23 hours at one go. When we wrapped up our shooting, it was raining heavily in Mumbai. We had to wait for hours. When everyone started feeling bored, Ranveer came with a radio and played tracks based on rain. We started dancing to these popular Bollywood numbers. Besides, senior actor Ashutosh Rana, who was part of the Simmba unit, offered acting tips to the actors. He shared his Hindi poems which I loved listening to again and again. I enjoyed being part of the unit. We also celebrated Ranveer’s birthday on the sets.”
After doing Simmba, Supriya acted in two short films Anniversary and Chemical Love. She will be seen next in the web series Dhonu from Deepak Panda productions.
Remembering her days of struggle, Supriya says, “Even after Simmba happened to me, the struggle has not ended. I still go for auditions every day. If I appear in 100 auditions, I have the chance of bagging one or two commercials. Struggle is a part of everyone’s life unless you are a star kid. At times, you get many ads in a month and sometimes you have to sit idle throughout the month.”
On effectively managing both household and profession, Supriya says, “There were times when I had to take my son Vivaansh to the shooting sets. When I go for a long schedule, my parents or my in-laws take care of him.”
SOYONG, OP