We love and admire Konkona Sen Sharma for her work, but also for the kind of person she is. The fact that she’s one of the few filmmakers who created content that is responsible, and even manages to take a stand are reasons enough. So it’s always a treat to get to listen to her opinions, or just anecdotes – because they have that moving impact on people. A recent interview where she talked about her relationship with her mother is an example that comes to mind.
While talking to Smita Prakash, the actor-director talked about her relationship with her mother, Aparna Sen. She mentioned that growing up around an influence like hers made her who she is – it almost defined her choices in art and cinema. Konkona added that she was a shy kid and was quite close to her mother, especially because she spent more time with her. So her mother made it a point to send her out for studies.
Konkona went on to talk about the kind of work she read and watched. Her mother would tell her to read more of the classics, and develop a better understanding of independent cinema – which is something she had inherited as a mother herself. She also talked about growing around women were always supportive of her choices. According to her, they pushed her to pursue acting as a career, as if they were her cheerleaders: “I grew up with a bunch of my mom’s friends, a sorority around my mother. They were very supportive.”
In talking about her mother, Konkona shared a lot about her childhood, and like always, even THIS leaves one with some perspective.
Clearly, if tried hard enough, mothers and daughters can be friends.
