Will never produce my son’s debut film: Prosenjit

When one meets him, he’s having a late breakfast, enjoying a bowl of papaya and ‘musli’. He recently turned 61, but a brief look at him makes it clear that he can easily outshine many young actors, both in age and at the box office. With four decades in the film business, his dedication to his craft continuously leads him to take on new roles in films like ‘Shesh Pata’, ‘Jubilee’, ‘Scoop’ and now ‘Dawshom Awbotaar’. It’s been an interesting year for the superstar, but his passion to explore different facets of acting remains strong. As he prepares to headline Bengali cinema’s first cop universe, ‘Dawshom Awbotaar’, which releases nationally on October 20, he chatted with ‘Millennium Post’ about fitness, his son Trishanjit and more.

Time stands still for you.

I don’t know how to react to this. If we talk about ‘Dawshom Awbotaar’, it was quite a challenge as I had to look over 20 years younger. When the prequel was announced, people were wondering how cop Probir Roy Chowdhury, who had taken his life 12 years ago in ‘Baishe Srabon’, would be brought back and how I’d appear younger for the role. For any film, I typically undergo a three-month transformation without using steroids. When I showed up on the set for ‘Dawshom Awbotaar’, everyone was stunned.

Your birthday post created quite a buzz. Both Anil Kapoor and you often face a barrage of questions about your age.

I met him in Mumbai and we discussed the same thing. I think it’s an actor’s responsibility to look good on screen. Moreover, it’s essential to promote the importance of fitness to everyone, not just in our profession. All it requires is setting aside 30-40 minutes daily for a workout.

There’s a lot of talk about you directing a pan-Indian film.

I’m not sure about the timeline yet. Every 10-12 years, I try to do something different to keep things fresh. Back in 2010, when my commercial films were doing well, I surprised everyone by transitioning to movies like ‘Autograph’ and ‘Baishe Srabon’. Srijit came to me with ‘Autograph’ and we knew it had the potential to reshape Bengali cinema. This was followed by other films like ‘Baishe Srabon’ and ‘Jaatishwar’. Now, after another 10-12 years, I once again feel the need for a change.

After four decades in the industry, what keeps your passion alive? Is it your love for the craft or is it the pursuit of fame?

It’s truly gratifying to receive national recognition through works like ‘Jubilee’ and ‘Scoop’. I’m now reaching a diverse audience and at this stage, neither I nor Shah Rukh Khan need to prove ourselves. However, the satisfaction I get from challenging myself with each character at this age is immense. I’m not just doing it for myself. I’m doing it for our industry.

Naseeruddin Shah said in an interview that after 50 years in the film industry, he’s starting to feel a bit weary. How about you?

Honestly, the day I feel tired of shooting, I will stop working.

Naseeruddin Shah also said that he’s never been nervous about anything in a film except for a romantic song. Have you ever had a similar experience?

He is considered the god of acting, but to be honest, every time I see a camera, even a mobile, something inside me triggers the actor in me. My whole demeanour changes as soon as I spot a camera. And even today, I can’t help but feel a bit tense before giving it a shot.

There were years when you had 3-4 film releases during Puja. Do you still feel tense about it?

Releasing a film is like moving from one grade to another. I’m in a different state of mind in the lead-up to the release.

In ‘Baishe Srabon’, you were in a darker headspace, but in ‘Dawshom Awbotaar’, it seems like you’re having a great time with Anirban Bhattacharya.

Before ‘Dawshom Awbotaar’ is released, the audience is mainly excited about the return of Probir’s character. But once the film is out, they will be eager to see more of Probir and Poddar (played by Anirban) because the chemistry between them is simply electrifying.

We’ve seen your son, Trishanjit, with you on a few occasions. Is he interested in joining the movies?

There’s no timeline yet. He has been focused on football, but he’s contemplating entering the industry. I’m open to supporting his choice, but I’ve advised him to be committed once he decides. I’m willing to share my experience, connect him with industry professionals and help him access the best film schools globally. However, I’ve made it clear that I won’t produce his first film. He needs to go through the same process as any newcomer, audition and work his way up. I can provide guidance, but he’ll have to earn his place in the industry. I believe it’s essential for newcomers to find their own path, just as I did in my early career.