'There were times when I practised till dawn' -- Munmun

Illustration: RUSSELL

What is your real self?
Like most people I am very ordinary and consider myself one of the masses. People may think that I am a little arrogant but in reality I am very down to earth. And, yes, I am very professional in my workplace.

What is your motto of life?
I want to stay alive in a healthy state of mind. It is the most important thing to wish for.

Do you have any regrets about being a dancer?
I never ever felt that way. I can feel that I am at this position today because I learned how to dance and practiced to become an eminent artiste. I live my life with honour because of this dance.

Hidden talents?
I can recite from the Puthi, which is widely known as Puthipath. I received the first prize in the competition titled Jela Shanshkritik Rajani in 1980. Besides, I can render spiritual songs a little.

Any weird experience?
I was preparing to perform in a show in Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel several years back. Although I had short hair that time the performance demanded long hair. One relative of mine, who was pretty amateurish in the art of make-up, fixed my hair for me. I wore a wig knotted with my original hair. But when I started to perform on stage my wig fell down as I whirled around. It was quite embarrassing and an unforgettable experience.

Favourite hobby?
I really enjoy moving around places. Besides, I like to read all kind of books like fictions, literature and special articles on dance and music. I love the short stories of Rabindranath Tagore.

Any dream that came true?
I had a chance to perform with the sons of my guru Pandit Birju Maharaj, Ram Mohan Maharaj and Krishna Mohan Maharaj, who are also great dance artistes. It was just like a dream-come-true to me. I also had an opportunity to share the same stage with legendary dancer Shashwati Sen that was also a great memory for me.

Secret of your success
It is obviously practice, perseverance and dedication. I passed many days when I didn't even have sleep and practiced till dawn.

What do you think came first: The chicken or the egg?
I think both can be true. Sometimes I feel if there were no egg there would have been no chicken and vice versa. So I think it is wise not to argue about it.

What if you are asked to act in the lead role of any mainstream Bangla film?
May be I can give it a try, if I am asked to. Actually I was asked to act in movies many times but I never felt like doing it. I also got an offer to act in Hindi movies once. But I always preferred to concentrate on my dancing career.