The petite, jovial actress Tina Dutta has carved a niche for herself in the world of television with her role Ichcha on Uttaran. Tina has grabbed the limelight for all the wrong reasons and she complains that the media has always portrayed her in a wrong way. The news of her being married jolted the glamour world but in a candid and exclusive interview with Telly Chakkar Tina ‘Ichcha’ Dutta pours her heart out and clarifies all rumours. Excerpts from the interview… You have been a part of Uttaran since a long time. Are you bored? Not at all. They keep spreading rumours about me quitting the show, but why should I do that? I am happy with the current track in the show. However, the show is about to take a five-year leap and what I hear from the sources is that it will take another fourteen-year leap in the next few months. In case it takes a fourteen-year leap, I might make an exit as being a 19-year old girl I cannot play the role of a mother. So much has been written about you and your tiff with Rashmi. Do you want to clear the air? I will tell how everything started. Initially, Rashmi and I shared the same make-up room. But these rooms are very small and we had no space of our own. So Rashmi decided to shift to another room for the sake of convenience. And at that point of time the show was running a track that showed rivalry between us. So the media related both the things and concluded that we are rivals in real life too. There were also instances when people from the sets tried creating misunderstanding between us. But to know the reality you need to come to the sets and see how we both gel. We eat together, spend time together, watch movies together and even shop together. If you remember for the 600th episode of Uttaran we wore the same dress, earrings, etc. See, as professionals we cannot work in the same show with differences in mind and heart. It affects the crew members and the show at large. It gets annoying at times when people keep asking the same question again and again. Whenever we have a press conference, they always harp on the rivalry issue. We can’t help but hold hands and pose for the photographers. I want to say once and for all that Rashmi and I are best of friends. As tagged by the media are you a tantrum queen? Yes, I am if you call the act of fighting for rights as throwing tantrums. One has to stand up for his or her rights or else the world doesn’t care for anyone. I am a very straightforward girl so whenever I feel something is wrong I speak out. If the costume is not good or not ready on time, I shall complain. If being truthful and uncomplicated are qualities of a tantrum queen, then I am. Do you think people misjudge you as a person? Absolutely. They don’t go beyond my star image and everyone believes in all the rumours written about me. You meet my friends and loved ones and they will tell you how good-natured I am. When it comes to helping people, I don’t even think twice but go ahead and do whatever I can in my own capacity. I do get angry and upset if someone talks or behaves unreasonably. Or else, I have no starry airs or arrogance. How close are you to your character Ichcha? When it comes to helping friends and sacrificing for others I am very much like Ichcha. But I must add that I am not that patient like my character and get angry at the drop of a hat. But the anger vanishes into thin air instantly. I cannot hold anger or grudges for a long time. As I told you, I like don’t like to make things complicated. Fame has come pretty early in your life. How do you handle it? I still don’t know how to handle fame and I find it extremely difficult to handle it. When good things are written about me, I feel proud and happy. But more than that I get affected both professionally and personally when I am hit by baseless rumours. People should understand that I am not that big a star that I am beyond any rumour or controversy. I work in a daily soap, and if the show stops tomorrow then I have to go back home and live in Kolkata. My dad goes to office and he also has to face lot of problems due to these silly rumours. I seriously feel at times that the glamour industry is all fake and I should quit everything and live life like a normal girl. Life would be so much better then. I get really lonely at times and after seeing all these rumours in the papers I just pray to God to give me strength. You cannot really trust people from the industry and share things. Now, I call up my best friend Tanya in Kolkata and talk to her, but other than that I go to a secluded place near my house and spend time. Earlier I used to write a diary to share my thoughts but my mom read it at times. So now I have stopped writing and have resorted to keeping things deep within myself. So do you want to clarify about the news recently published in a daily about you being married? I certainly do. The news is hogwash. It is baseless and without any proof. I must confess that I was in a relationship with Mahesh for a year and half but we broke up after that. We met as friends, fell in love, entered into a relationship and then parted due to differences of opinion. We could not gel after a certain point of time. The photo that was published in that daily was taken when I visited Water Kingdom with Mahesh and my family members. Tell me one thing; don’t you hug your close friends? And the photo gives no proof about us being married. The news claims that I got married in a mandir, I want them to publish the name of the mandir and issue photos of the ceremony. And what rubbish have they written about my mother not being happy with the marriage. My mother stays with me and I hail from a traditional middle-class Bengali family. In our society, we still can’t marry by making our parents unhappy. And why would I marry without telling anyone? It is a happy occasion. I will share photos with everyone. The rumour hit me and my family hard. I am extremely disappointed with this kind of incredible journalism. I want to tell the world that right now I am very much single and don’t intend to fall in love anymore as I have stopped believing in the idea of love. I have been hurt in this relationship and have also seen friends who have entered into relationships unsuccessfully. So all I can say is that I was never married at such a young age of 19 and don’t plan to get married or fall in love anytime soon. Is this the reason for you being media-shy? Yes. I am scared that I might say one thing and they will write something absolutely different which will mar my image. Or else, why should I not talk to the media? I also want to communicate with my fans. But with all the negative news that has been written about me over and over again, I am really scared and hurt. You are so young and yet you have achieved so much professionally. When did you begin? It all started when I was four and a half years old. I was approached for a role in the Bengali serial Sister Nivedita starring Moon Moon Sen. But I never wanted to become an actor and I was training to become an air hostess. Destiny had its own plan and when I was in standard twelve I got a mail from a production house stating that they are auditioning for the show Uttaran. I couldn’t come down to Mumbai for the auditions but sent my show reel. Luckily, till date I have never auditioned for any role yet I have got selected. I got picked up for the role and I packed my bags and came down to Mumbai. Since then the journey has been great and I have had an amazing time working in the show. Obviously there were moments when stars misbehaved with me during the initial days. But I have learned from them and have pledged not to treat any newcomer badly. We have talked enough on serious issues. Lets move to lighter topics. Like most Bengalis are you also a foodie? (Laughs) Yes, we need to lighten the conversation a bit. I am a big time foodie. I love Bengali food. I miss cozy evenings that I used to spend with my family back in Kolkata having chop and muri (vegetable cutlet with puffed rice). I also like puchkas and mishti doi. But more than anything else I love food cooked by my mother as she is a great cook. Do your read? If not, how do you unwind? I love reading, though I don’t have time or patience to read novels. I like short stories. My favourite author is Rabindranath Tagore and I love his collection of short stories Galpoguccho. Furthermore, I also like to read stories written by Leo Tolstoy. I have a habit of collecting books even if I don’t read them. Currently, I have picked up Chetan Bhagat’s novel Two States and I am finding it quite interesting. And if I am not reading, I usually listen to music, watch TV or movies to unwind. You have acted in films. Any film offers in the kitty? I have film offers from the Bengali, Tamil and Bollywood industry. But I am currently working in a daily soap, so I can’t sign any film due to time constraints. But once the show is over I shall definitely like to act in films. Right now I am thinking about one Bengali film that has been written with me in mind. I have not decided anything but I might do it if the script is good. What after Uttaran? I have no idea. I would like to mention that whatever has happened in my life till now, it has happened due to my good luck. I believe there are many other beautiful and talented girls in the industry who are struggling to achieve success. I don’t consider myself very beautiful or a great actor. Luck has played a major role in my success and if it works in the same way you might see me in some more shows or even films. But yes, I like Bigg Boss and I want to be a part of it. I would also like to host reality shows. Any message for your fans? I want to tell them that I have achieved everything because of their love and support. Keep watching my show and support me forever. I shall keep working hard and entertain them as long as I can. Thanks a lot to everyone.