Not many people outside West Bengal know that before entering politics, Agnimitra Paul was a celebrated fashion designer who received her first major breakthrough directly from Sridevi. Later she served as the costume designer for the critically acclaimed film Avijatrik, which won a prestigious National Film Award.

In an EXCLUSIVE interview with Firstpost’s Lachmi Deb Roy, Paul shared about her journey, joining politics and how there was no looking back after that. Coming from a middle-class family in Asansol; she dreamt big. She credits her parents and children for her success. She did her MBA from Jadavpur University, Kolkata. But little did she know that life had different plans for her.

Edited excerpts from the interview:

Your journey has been commendable… You have been an award-winning designer. But is it that you always wanted to join politics?

I never had a knack for politics or a plan to join politics. I was a designer, as you all know. In 2014, when Narendra Modi became the prime minister of the country, or rather even before that, I was inspired by him. I am very fond of his speeches, work, and the way he was carrying forward the state of Gujarat and the development that happened during his time. Before that, I don’t even remember finding time or the interest to hear any political leader’s speech or being interested in politics. But I was very keen to work with PM Modi.

During 2018 end, I thought of joining politics and working full-time for the people under PM Modi’s leadership. That is the reason I joined in March 2019.

You have been an accidental fashion designer also, was it the case of being an accidental politician also?

Yes, I remember watching this television series ‘The Accidental Prime Minister’. Again yes, I was an accidental fashion designer. I did my MBA and while doing MBA, I thought of doing designing. Then I started designing for Bollywood and Tollywood actors.

Through designing also, I was very much into social work and whichever show I was doing, I brought in the acid survivors and traffic girls and visually challenged children. Even when I sent to Dhaka, my show stoppers were acid survivors. I also did a project with the tribal widows of Sunderban. I took up this project of teaching them stitching. They learnt how to stitch blouses petticoats, pyjamas and they used to see it and make a living for themselves. So, yes, I always wanted to do something for my people.  I always had that interest of serving my countrymen and when this opportunity came; or rather I would say I took the opportunity; there was tremendous opposition from my in-laws because they are a business family. I understand their concern because Mamata Banerjee’s TMC party was extremely vindictive. 15- years that they were the ruling party in Bengal, there was just too much of violence.

But still wanted to go ahead with my decision and work under the leadership of honorable Prime Minister.   Almighty gave me this opportunity of winning for the second time and becoming a minister and getting a department which is very close to my heart- urban development and municipal affairs which includes roads, cleanliness and infrastructure.

You don’t come from a political background, so you learnt it from the scratch… How was the entire experience?

I didn’t even know how to give a speech. Being a designer and catering to the crème de la crème was a completely different world. When you are a designer you go for movie premiers and launch parties etc. Then you are mixing with the top strata of the society. It was a 180 degrees shift.

When you join politics, it’s about serving the people. Though TMC was in power during that time, I didn’t join
Mamata Banerjee. There were multiple hardship working as an opposition to Mamata Banerjee’s party. There 23 cases on me, even I have arms and murder case which was given by the previous government on me.

Now I am with the poor people of the society, who don’t have a house or a toilet or that matter any basic amenity to survive. Thanks to almighty that I could adjust and I adjusted so well that I fell in love with politics. From 2019 to 2026, I learnt a lot in this short span and I thank almighty for giving me this opportunity to serve the people.

What was your parent’s reaction when you wanted to join politics first, then navigating your journey and then becoming the Cabinet Minister of West Bengal?

My mother was not very keen. She also had this fear and don’t blame anybody from my family because every other day a woman in West Bengal was getting raped, molested and attacked.

But my father was a huge support to me. Even today, he is always so supportive. He is a doctor and he is 80-years-old and is still practicing, he writes down points to tell me about the things I should be doing for the people of West Bengal. Whatever I am today is because of my parents. And my two sons for the immense sacrifice that they have done. Entire day I am not there to help them out in a lot of things, they are alone. My younger son is just 12 and he never complains. They understood that this is my mother’s dream and that she wants to do something for the people of Bengal. My kids told me that I should pursue whatever I like. They have been huge enablers in my life!