As former Miss India and Bollywood actress Tanushree Dutta’s sister, Ishita Dutta could have chosen to have a filmi debut. Instead, Ishita chose to kickstart her acting career with the TV show Ek Ghar Banaoonga.
“I think today, all actors look for quality and I got a very good script in EGB. As far as films are concerned, it’s not like I have ‘limited’ myself to TV. This was just my first step and I am happy with the decision,” Ishita said.
For a newcomer, the platform provided by the TV show has been simply wonderful, added Ishita and she has learnt much from the experience. The icing on the cake is the great camaraderie she shares with her co-actors.
“On the sets, we have a lot of fun. It’s like being part of a hue family. For us, the most fun are scenes where we’re required to eat! We forget that it’s just for the cameras and actually start digging into the fare — so much so that when it’s time to take close-up shots of the food, most of it is gone!” said Ishita, laughing.
As for the leading man of EGB, Rahul Sharma, Ishita says he only livens up the sets further: “My first interaction with Rahul was for a mock shoot before the show had even started. Since that time, we have become friends and it’s a really good experience working with him. He is fun-loving and always up to some mischief!”
Ishita’s own role (her character is called Poonam) in the show has evolved, from being a young woman to a newly married bride. She told us that her portrayal too has had to change accordingly. “It’s a different experience,” she said. “I now have to see things very differently, as Poonam, who is now married, would. I absolutely love the role.”
For someone who loves her onscreen work so much, Ishita, surprisingly, wasn’t very interested in pursuing acting as a career. “I wanted to be a tennis player and an engineer and an architect and a painter… when I was growing up. But I guess I finally chose the profession that was right for me,” she said.
Ishita said she counts the adulation and instant feedback for her character and the thrill when her show generates great TRPs as the highs of being in the TV industry. When we asked her to name the “lows” and she promptly replied: “The hectic schedules”.
This talented young actress may have chosen the small screen for now, but it in no way is limiting her big ambitions. Before we signed off, we asked her what she shares in common with her sister Tanushree, apart from their passion for acting. “We love food, we love to cook and we love travelling,” she said.