Someone needs to tell Arnab (Goswami) that he is not God: Moon Moon Sen

Moon Moon Sen, fresh from her victory in the Lok Sabha elections from the Bankura constituency in West Bengal where she fought against the formidable 9-time CPI(M) MP Basudev Acharia, speaks exclusively to Tellychakkar.com. This electoral triumph must be astonishing for you? Yes, it is. It is astonishing for me as well as others. Initially when the counting started I was trailing. I couldn’t take that. My heart almost collapsed. I’ve never lost in whatever I did. I may have had flop films but never a flop film career. When I was doing my Masters degree they gave me 54.3 percent. I was so disappointed I never went back for further studies. For the elections I was up against a formidable opponent. And there was an alarming rumour in the morning of the counting that the CPM was coming in. Even Arnab Goswami had predicted defeat for me. Arnab is not God? Yeah, but someone has to tell him that. Your mother would have been happy to see your victory? Do you know, my mother (the legendary Suchitra Sen) was always against it. I was asked to contest the elections by Pranab Mukherjee and by many others. She always said, ‘Don’t get into it.’ And she was right. Politics has become such an ugly word in our country. My mother saw politics as a huge physical risk to my life. But it was because of her that I contested the elections this time. What do you mean? Everything that Mamatadi (Bannerjee) did for my mother in her last days...there was no way I could say no to her. Mamatadi didn’t have to do even half of what she did. It was my small way of paying off her debt. Now that you’ve taken on the responsibility what do you feel about it? You know, I’ll say this again. Politics is not my scene. My husband (Bharat Dev) is very happy about it. But I am daunted by the task ahead. In a nation that is so vast and so poor tell me about one political party which has made a difference to the poor in any state? I may be able to help a fraction of the population. But I’d always be criticized for not helping enough. Bankura is the second-largest district in West Bengal. The task ahead for me is huge. I want to recruit young dynamic people from diverse backgrounds to help me. So how do you intend to go about the task ahead? I am exploring, searching for people who can help me realize my dream. I will approach NGOs and doctors. Doctors have already come forward from Kolkata to set up makeshift hospitals. We’ve also planned to set up cottages for the nurses. We can also get into tourism in Bankura in a big way. The local people can work on building their constituency by themselves instead of getting labour from the outside. Bankura town needs to look cleaner. Appearances are important. The food is wonderful. And the people are so gracious. While travelling across West Bengal I realized how humble and cultured these simple people are. Even little boys would fold their hands and do namaste. Not one cheap or vulgar remark although I am an actress, and so are my daughters. You seem very gung-ho about getting things done? It’s important to change the image of politics and politicians. There is no need to be corrupt while granting favours. Yes, there are industrialists who need to get their files moving. Instead of taking a bribe you could always say, ‘Give me a cheque for a fund in my constituency.’ Bankura has one of the largest leprosy hospitals in India, but not enough facilities and doctors. There are lots of international agencies that want to help them. Every day I am discovering new ways to help better my constituency. I was determined to go back and help the people of Bankura even if I had lost the elections. Your husband would have to deal with your long absences from home? I used to be away for long periods when I was shooting. I’d be all over the country. Once they wanted me for a lovely television serial in Australia, and my husband just couldn’t locate me. My husband has been exemplary. He has brought up our two daughters very well. I take his words very seriously. Any criticism from him and I really stop in my tracks. He is my support system. He is so happy that I’ve won the elections. Raima and Riya stretched themselves out to campaign for you? My daughters were pulled into it. I think being one close-knit family helped me win. I just had to ask my daughters once. And they were there standing next to me in the scorching 45-degree temperature. They took me by surprise, just like they did when my mother was in hospital. Raima and Riya were there for my mother. During the election campaign it was daughters who prompted me to do something for the people of Bankura. Riya was so prompt sending emails and messages about our progress to political journalists. When I won I sent them messages saying, ‘We won.’ When we were doing road shows for elections everyone wanted to know whom we’d be bringing from Mumbai as star-campaigners. I said, ‘Whoever Mamata wants.’ It was then that someone said, ‘You’ve two stars in your house.’ I never expected villagers to react so warmly to Raima and Riya. Many of them had never seen them. They’ve no cinema or television in many villages of Bankura. The enormous response my daughters got... it was victory from the word ‘go’. We don’t see you doing any more films at the moment? I have done 2-3 days work with my daughters. I’d like to do roles once in a while. Acting is a magical profession. Why should I give it up? You weren’t never seriously about your Bollywood career? That’s a myth. I was very serious. I agree like Parveen Babi I was a bit bohemian. But I never took my career for granted. Even journalists today are far more professional. But filmmakers back then were most disorganized. They’d come to me and say, ‘Just do the role.’ Producers would drop in at unearthly hours asking for money as they had gone bankrupt. Today the young directors in Bengal are so disciplined sincere and hard-working. My favourite director from the current lot is Anjan Dutta. I had once let him down. I said no to him at the last minute. He hasn’t forgiven me yet.