Panja dons greasepaint, prepares for cinema

CALCUTTA, DEC 14: One politician whom we may find donning greasepaint and appearing on celluloid in near future is Minister of State for External Affairs Ajit Panja. And the film maker who plans to cast him in one of his forthcoming films is Gautam Ghosh, maker of films like Paar and Gudia, and is now director of the prestigious Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute in Calcutta.

What impressed Ghosh was the minister8217;s acting in the role of Ramakrishna Paramhamsa in a play called Noti Binodini produced by the Bar Association of Calcutta High Court. The play had been staged on several occasions in Calcutta during the last six months since it had been produced and Panja who takes time off his busy schedule to act in all these plays collected accolades from theatre connoisseurs for his spectacular performance in the role of Ramakrishna Paramhamsa.

8220;He is very good and consistent and I liked his acting,8221; Ghosh, who went to see a screening of the play last week organised to collect funds for victims ofOrissa cyclone, said. 8220;In fact, if I find any character in one of my forthcoming films suitable for him I will definitely invite him to do the role,8221; he added.