N-E from the prism of entertainment

Dipannita Sharma talks to Gurbani Singh about her first Assamese film Rainbow Fields which brought her the Best Actress Award at an international film festival and her plans to bring North-East regional cinema into the limelight

After garnering rave reviews for her first Assamese film Xhoixobote Dhemalite, also known as Rainbow Fields, Ladies vs Ricky Bahl actor Dipannita Sharma has bagged her first international award for the Best Actress at the Love International Film Festival (LIFF). The semi-autobiographical film takes events from director Vidyut Kotoky’s life and is based on the psychological trauma that children in Assam went through during the agitation in the 1980s.

“I had been wanting to do a film in my native language for a while now and when Rainbow Fields came by, it was the perfect script and role. It is also a real story for many of us who experienced the turbulent times in Assam of 80s. For me, it was the most real but surreal experience being part of the film. It was emotionally ecstatic too,” Sharma says who plays a mother and how she raises her child during a violent period in Assam. The film has also won best feature film and best score as well.

Talking about her role, Sharma says: “I find every role I take up exciting be it playing a businesswoman in Ladies vs Ricky Bahl or a CEO of an advertising agency in web series Untag or playing a  bold and intense role in Bewafaa sii Wafaa. Rainbow Fields is the best film I have done so far in my life. My role in this film is completely different from what I have done so far,” Sharma tells you.

Be it Marathi, Gujrati, Bhojpuri, Punjabi or North East, the regional cinema is growing by leaps and bounds with many actors and directors venturing into it and even winning accolades at the international film festivals.

“Regional cinema is the hub of real talent and stories which many a times has been under appreciated. Earlier it used to be neglected because of its low commercial viability that is slowly and steadily changing. With rich content and new storytelling format, regional cinema will touch the skies in the future,” Sharma opines.

Looking at the bright future in the entertainment world, model-turned-actor has also launched a company in partnership to create mainstream media content which will be shot in the North East.

“Through North East Film Studio, we want to shift the focus to the North East  region and bring out some interesting stories. It’s a lot of work, but we are working on it and enjoying the process. I wish to do more Assamese films but that doesn’t mean I will stop acting in Bollywood films and web series.  I have recently shot pilot episodes for a new web series and completely consumed with preparing for the film festival,” Sharma signs off.