When she tilted her head during our talk, the nose-ring twinkled with a reflection that only a solitaire would give. An affinity towards good living was apparent in her every move. Her smile was half genuine and half unintended. She was trying hard to make a good impression, which could’ve achieved with a casual smile. All around me were immersed in her translucent skin and the intelligent words she pronounced, oh so softly. She had an unworldly charm about her.

While she carelessly brushed her thick brown-black hair with those long artistic fingers, the world seemed to stop just to capture those shiny moments. My carefully permed hair and freshly manicured fingers cringed in shame before that ethereal figure.  I felt dwarfed even though she was almost the same height as me. The quintessential LBD (little black dress) was what I expected her to wear instead she chose a white shirt and blue jeans that fitted her like a dream.  Television interview or not she was not there to prove anything, instead she sat there responding as little as possible as if challenging me to bring out her deepest secrets and probe her like a convict. And I believe I did well. That was my first encounter with Meghna Roy, the film actor turned writer-director. That year, her latest release gained rave reviews at film festivals and won the national award for the best movie. So she was the shining star of the moment.  Today almost 15 years later, I’m going to interview her again, not to ask about movies but to dig deep into the latest and biggest controversy she had ever encountered, and find out the truth.

→ To be continued