A sty in Actress Konkona Sharma Disrupts the Shooting of Bi- Lingual movie 'Sunglass'

The Shooting of Director Rituparno Ghosh’s film “Sunglass” was unfortunately bought to a halt today in Mumbai. This was due to actress Konkona Sen Sharma’s right eye swelling up forcing the production crew to pack up for the day. Apparently make up could not conceal the swollen area.

But the Bengali director is not complaining as Madhavan finished his work two days ahead of schedule and left for Chennai!

"'Sunglass' is my first bi-lingual. And I've never had so much fun. The bi-lingual is not so tough on the two actors Tota Raichaudhury and Madhavan who're playing Konkona's husband in the Bengali and Hindi versions respectively.

"Maddy plays the husband slightly more racily. That extra pace is required in the Hindi version. Konkona adjusted beautifully to both versions. For her it's like playing a double role in Bengali and English."

Ritu can't stop praising Konkona. "She's such a fine actress, adapting to both versions effortlessly. Konkona has shaped into a terrific performer. My 'Dosar' and Vishal Bharadwaj's 'Omkara' are proof."

He added: "Both Maddy and Konkona are very dusky in complexion. They wore no makeup and they look superb together."

Ritu is ga-ga over Maddy too. "A Tamil superstar, but he's completely hassle free. He had my whole unit eating out of his hand in no time. He has charged just a token fee (just like the rest of the cast, everyone is working almost free of cost). And the production being in Bengali we couldn't provide him with the comforts of a 'Rang De Basanti'. But he was a real sport."

Apart from Naseeruddin Shah, the film also boasts of Jaya Bachchan's presence. "Jaya-di joins us in September. I've grown up watching Jaya-di's films and she's very important to my growth as a director. I think Konkona has a lot of Jaya-di in her personality and they'll make a very convincing mother-daughter duo in 'Sunglass'."

Ritu said he had no linguistic problems on the set, despite Madhavan being a southern star.

"Since Maddy has lived in Bihar, his Hindi is very good. In fact, he helped us out with the Hindi dialogues when we got stuck. Maddy's role is unintentionally comic. He has an extra-marital affair with Raima Sen after five years of marriage to Konkona."

Talking about Raima's grandmother - the legendary and reclusive Suchitra Sen - who has been shortlisted for the Dada Saheb Phalke award, Ritu thinks that awards stopped mattering to her long ago.

"Once she retired from cinema she was completely out of it. It doesn't matter to her whether she got it earlier or now. We're very happy for her. We're all proud of her."

With speculations ripe about whether she would make an appearance to receive the prestigious award, Ritu says that he has never seen her despite having gone to her house.

"I know her daughter Moon Moon and her grand daughters Raima and Riya, who aren't allowed to receive calls when they're with their grandmother.

"We in Bengali cinema are completely in awe of her, totally petrified of her. Even now her status is undiminished."