Welcome to another sizzling episode of Blab with Sandy! Our guest on this episode started her career by featuring in famous commercials, dominated the modeling world, and then walked right into Tollywood this year with her debut film ‘Barabar Premista’, turning everyone into an instant fan.
Please welcome the stunning, the incredibly talented, and the next big thing, Megna Mukherjee! 💖🎬
Sandy: Hello, Megna!😊Hope you are doing well! Could you tell us a bit about your background?
Megna: Hi, Sandy! I’m doing good, thank you! 😊 I was born in Kolkata and raised in Mumbai. I completed my schooling at Hiranandani and Jamnabai, and later earned my master’s degree from St. Andrew’s. Growing up, I was heavily involved in dancing and swimming, both of which played a massive role in building my confidence.
My love for the stage truly began in the 7th grade when I started doing theatre. Around that time, the Times Fresh Face contests were a major event at the school and college levels. I decided to participate, which turned out to be an amazing experience—not only did I meet some wonderful friends, but I also won the title. Building on that momentum, I competed in the Miss India pageant in 2022 and was crowned Femina Miss India West Bengal 2022.
Sandy: How and when did your modeling journey begin?
Megna: My modeling journey officially took off after I won my beauty pageant title. That recognition opened doors for me to work on commercial ads.
To date, I have done around 25 advertisements, and each project has been an incredible learning experience. That is how it all began, and I truly cherish this journey. I absolutely love being on set, meeting new people, and constantly gaining new experiences.
Sandy: You gained national attention with your ad with Sourav Ganguly for the Bisk commercial. It was a viral ad. How was the experience working with him?
Megna: It was the coolest ad I did, and Sourav is a chill person. You know what, Sandy? He is incredibly comfortable on camera, and I believe he is much better than many actors. He is down-to-earth, and it was great to work with him.
Sandy: How did you land your debut film in Tollywood, ‘Barabar Premista’?
Megna: I had just completed Miss India, and during that time, the producers and director came to Mumbai to audition the lead heroine for this film. I was around 22 years old when I found out about the audition.
Even before I gave mine, there were already about 40 to 50 people who had auditioned before me. However, they had me perform a little scene, and after that, the director told me that I did well and that I was perfect for the role. They wanted a raw and real face, and mine suited the part. They flew me down to Hyderabad, and I worked with Chandrahas, who is the male lead in the film ‘Barabar Premista’.
Sandy: How was the shift from modeling to acting? Did you find it easy or tough?
Megna: The biggest difference I notice is the time and depth involved. In modeling, we usually focus on a single concept or shoot for just one or two days.
In acting, however, we have to express deep emotions over a much longer period. We work closely with a character over time and truly become them. While it has been a challenging transition, it has also been an incredible learning experience that I have enjoyed thoroughly.
Sandy: You chose a rural character as the female lead for your debut. What made you pick this film as your debut vehicle?
Megna: I feel that a vast majority of India is rural, and it is only recently that people have started migrating to major cities. Since so much of the country is made up of villages, I felt that this role and the subject matter would deeply connect with the audience.
Additionally, I was told that both the hero and the heroine would have equally strong, well-defined roles in the film. It gave me the perfect opportunity to dance, express a wide range of emotions, and truly showcase my capabilities.
Prior to this project, I didn’t know much Telugu, but since wrapping up, I have watched around 120 Telugu and other South Indian films.
Sandy: Being from Kolkata and Mumbai, how difficult or how easy was it for you to adapt to the Telugu language? How did you prepare for your role in the movie?
Megna: Once I received the script, I started taking Telugu classes and would memorize my dialogues by heart. I knew I had to be thoroughly prepared to give my absolute best. There were a few occasions when scenes were changed right on set; when that happened, I would simply ask for ten minutes to prepare, memorize the new lines, and then go ahead with the shoot.
Quick Shot Round:
- Your biggest fear: Heights! But I definitely want to go skydiving someday, haha
- If not an actress or model, Meghna would have been a: Maybe an architect
- Most used app on your phone: Instagram
- Imagine being stuck in a lift with two celebrities. Who would they be and why? NTR garu and Pradeep Ranganathan. I absolutely love their work and want to collaborate with them!
- If you could barter your career for a day, who would you switch with? Kiara Advani. She makes everything she does look so effortless, fun, and classy
- One thing about yourself that you want to change: I am way too emotional. I wear my heart on my sleeve and cry over the smallest things. I think I need to learn to guard my emotions a little better.
- A movie you saw recently and felt like playing a part in: I recently watched Michael and absolutely loved it. I wouldn’t necessarily say I wanted to play a part in it, but it’s a film that has really stuck with me
- Directors you would love to work with: Shoojit Sircar, Pradeep Ranganathan (since he directs as well), Imtiaz Ali, and Mani Ratnam
Sandy: What genres of films do you want to be a part of, and what kind of roles are you looking for?
Megna: Being Bengali, I would love the opportunity to work with director Shoojit Sircar. He has directed some beautiful films, such as Piku, and I absolutely love Deepika Padukone’s character in it. Given the chance, I would love to work with a filmmaker like him in a similar kind of film and role.
I also really admire how Pradeep Ranganathan approaches his filmmaking and hope to collaborate with him in the near future. Additionally, I am a huge admirer of NTR garu, who is a superb dancer. I truly hope I get the chance to work with them on interesting subjects moving forward.
Sandy: What is in the pipeline for you in the coming months?
Megna: I am starting a shoot this September for a mainstream Hindi cinema project. It features an incredible cast of actors who have been part of the industry for many years. Because the project hasn’t been officially announced yet, my lips are sealed, but I will share the news as soon as it is cleared for announcement.
Editor’s note: It has been an absolute blast having Megna Mukherjee on Blab with Sandy. She has the charm, the talent, and the drive, and we can’t wait to watch her completely conquer the cinematic universe.
Folks, if you haven’t watched Barabar Premista yet, go check it out on Amazon Prime.
Follow Megna @megna.mukherjee
Follow Sandy @blabwithsandy