The Raima Sen interview

Election 2014 has been an eye-opener for Raima Sen. The stunning actress, who has been campaigning relentlessly for her mother, Moon Moon Sen, in Bankura, West Bengal, explains why she feels humbled by the love her family has received.

As an actress, my life has always been full of surprises.

I have had plenty of chances to explore the world; work has taken me to various corners of the globe.

An adventurer by heart, anything new excites me, always.

Raima Sen spoke to Indrani Roy/Rediff.com

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I was thrilled to know that Ma was joining politics and when she asked me to campaign for her in Bankura, I was taken by the proposal.

Would I really like it, I had asked myself. To be honest, I wasn't quite sure.

However, my trips to Bankura changed my perception for good.

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As an actress, I had come across rural people on several occasions. Some of my films have been shot in the remotest parts of India.

But while giving a shot for a film, I never had a chance of mingling with the people as such. For then I had been busy stringing together my thoughts about that particular film.

Moreover, while facing the camera, I had always tried to be graceful, always taken care to carry myself well.

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But as a campaigner for Ma, I was my own self, letting my hair down, rubbing shoulders with villagers, sharing a smile, holding their gazes.

It was such a humbling experience!

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Riya and I were with Ma in Bankura only for a few days yet we will cherish the special moments that we shared with the people there.

After I entered the world of films, I would often chat with Dida. She would share with me her understanding of the Bengali film industry.

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I did not need to be told what a great star Dida (her late grandmother Suchitra Sen, the legendary actress) was. But never did I realise she had had such a huge influence on the people till I reached Ma’s constituency.

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The respect and reverence that the people have for Dida poured out of their eyes. They kept staring at Ma, Riya and me with such adulation!

The roads that we travelled through were full to the brim, always.

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As a political candidate, Ma had a dual advantage, she was a member of Mamata Banerjee's team as also she was the daughter of an immortal matinee idol.

If even half of the crowd that thronged our ways voted for Ma, she would win the election with a handsome margin.

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During one of our road shows, an oldish man walked up to our jeep and showed us a movie still from one of Dida's films.

Though most of what he said was lost in the din, I could never miss the glimmer in his eyes.

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At that moment, my eyes welled up too.

Wish Dida were alive! Would she cry too if I told her how people still miss her?

I see no reason why my mother won't win.