I Regret Turning Down Ray’s Offer: Arati Bhattacharya

RBN Web Desk: Veteran actress Arati Bhattacharya has said that she regrets turning down Satyajit Ray’s offer to work in Ghare Baire. She earlier worked with the filmmaker in his 1976 film Jana Aranya.

Ghare Baire was written by Rabindranath Tagore on the backdrop of the communal riots that broke out after Lord Curzon announced the Partition of Bengal in 1905.

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of an event in Kolkata recently, Arati said, Ray had offered her the role of Nikhilesh’s sister-in-law in Ghare Baire. However, there was a condition that she would have to shave her head since the role was that of a widow.  It was the custom among widows back then. Arati asked Ray whether she could wear a wig for the role, which the director ruled out, she added.

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According to Arati, she was working in five films at that time, two of which were with Uttam Kumar. It was impossible for the actress to shave off her head since that would have affected the other films. She reluctantly let go the opportunity.

Ray, however, finally decided not to show a bald look for the role Arati was supposed to play. The character was shown with a short cropped hair and the role was played by Gopa Aich. Nikhilesh was played by Victor Banerjee.