The rising star

You started your acting career as a child star. How does it feel that today you have become the hero in Bengali cinema?

It feels quite strange considering that I entered the fray when I was just around two years old and discontinued when I was around ten or twelve to concentrate on my schooling and college. At the same time, it does not seem very strange because my mind was already set on becoming an actor in films.

Is it therefore, a dream-come-true situation for you?

I must say yes, though I have miles to go before I can reach anywhere near my goal. But, I have no regrets about having discontinued acting in films when I did, because my parents felt it was necessary to acquire a basic education before I joined the industry. I graduated in commerce before coming back to films. Known as Master Bittoo when I was small, I had the opportunity of working with the best directors of the time, but I was too young at that time, to understand it. I have also worked in Satyajit Ray’s Shakha Proshakha as a small boy!

You have done eight feature films under big banners within a brief span of four years. Was it luck or hard work?

Most of the people in the film industry knew me as a child actor. So, I did not feel the need to introduce myself. The only difference is that now I act in lead roles. Today, I am determined to work hard towards my goals and listen to my directors. I was lucky that I was given good roles and worked under good directors. They were within the mainstream, major leads and yet quite different from each other. But I really need to sustain myself in a competitive world where I am surrounded by talented and experienced actors .

You seem very enthusiastic about your new film Bangali Babu English Mem. What is your role in the film?

It is my first romantic comedy. In the film, I play Madhusudan who loves to loaf around. He dreams of leading a happy life by migrating to Canada and marrying a Canadian girl. He does manage to go to Canada where a Canadian girl does fall in love with him, but what happens next should remain a mystery. It is a roller-coaster ride going through exotic lands like Italy, Singapore and Canada. This is my first film with director Ravi Kinnagi, and it has been a wonderful learning experience.

From amongst the eight films you have acted in, which has been your most memorable role?

Each film has been a memorable experience for me. But even within them, Prem Amar and Amanush are my favourite because each one is different and though I die in the end in both the films, they were box-office hits.