"I do not want to play her role on screen. She is a legend and her memories are still alive in everybody's minds. It makes no sense to do that," Raima told reporters here. Suchitra, who lives a secluded life and has not appeared in public for over 30 years now, was one of the biggest stars in Bengali cinema with numerous hits in her kitty.
She received a National Award for her performance in the 1955 Hindi film 'Devdas' and is the first Indian actress to be awarded at an international film festival - best actress award for the movie 'Saat Paake Bandha' in 1963 Moscow film festival.
But after her 1978 movie 'Pronoy Pasha' with Soumitra Chatterjee flopped, the actress disappeared from the public eye and even refused the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2005 preferring not to make a public appearance.
"She lives a very private life and doesn't come before the camera. So I think everyone should respect her privacy," said Raima, after walking the ramp at the Kolkata leg of the Blenders Pride Fashion Tour last night.
The 79-year-old screen icon was hospitalised twice in the last few months but is in in good health now, said Raima, who has found a strong footing in Bollywood with films like 'Daman', 'Parineeta' and 'Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd.'
Interestingly, Suchitra still pays for the saris that grand daughter wears each year during the Bengali festival of Durga Puja. "My mom (Moon Moon Sen) buys me saris and grandma pays for them each year.
This puja also she will buy me," said Raima, adding that unlike every year, she is not sure whether she would be able to attend the festivities in the city next month. "If I am in Kolkata this time, I will go out pandal- hopping with my mother," she added.