Tropa Majumdar is familiar with the theatre because both her parents are performing artistes. She recalls drifting off to sleep with the dialogue of her mother's plays in the background. 'I was an instinctive actress. Though my parents wanted me to become a singer, I was more inclined towards acting,' she reminisces. Her mother advised her to choose her area of interest only after her HSC. The reasoning was that Tropa would make a better career choice when she was more mature.

Her debut as a TV actress was in the serial Pathor Shomoy, where she played the younger version of her mother Ferdousi. Her father also encouraged her to join the advertising field. Since she had attained outstanding results in her Master's, she was invited to join the university. Although it was a very prestigious job, she was unable to continue in this line because she could not spare enough time from her various other activities.

Apon and Tropa met in the course of their profession when they worked in the ad firm Expressions. The couple was thus thrown together frequently.

Although Apon now works in client servicing and Tropa is more involved in the creative line, they are slow to praise each other's work. But, as they recognise, there are advantages in working together. As Tropa observes 'If he had a different occupation, I may not have had the psychological support I have right now.'

But the problem arises when they have disagreements over professional issues. Tropa says smilingly, 'He won't say a positive word even if the whole audience of 300 people praises my performance.' Apon expresses a similar opinion. 'I also feel that she does not like my performance or presentation. What I feel is if she gets the appreciation from 300 people why would she need mine?'

Though Tropa is a very devoted theatre and television actress, she is rarely seen on TV. As she says, 'The TV professionals are reluctant to cast me in their dramas because it is wrongly believed that I don't give enough time to this medium.' Tropa gives a contrary view. She points out that she is currently doing a mega serial which is telecast thrice a week. She questions that if she has the time to act in a mega serial, then why not in a single drama or other serials? Despite these hurdles, she is deeply involved with stage shows. Recently her group staged a mythical drama Madhobi, directed by her father.

Talking about the advertising world, Tropa thinks that there has been considerable development in this media. However, she feels that there is a vast gap between indigenous and world advertising. 'This media needs professionalism, which has not been developed yet in the country.' She lays the blame for this phenomenon at the doorstep of the clients. As she says: 'The clients create huge problem by imposing their opinion on the ad agencies. We are extremely client-guided. This explains why the advertising industry cannot develop as a medium.'

Looking into the future, Apon says: 'Another five to six years is needed for people to understand the role of advertising. The clients need to be more sensitive to the target audience. Only then, will the total scenario change.'

Apon also appreciates that the magazines and newspapers are giving space to the ad industry. The industry can be promoted, he says, with new ads and a dedicated space in the media.