Bengali actor Rahul has always been known as a ‘good’ actor. He might have started his career with a commercial film like Raj Chakraborty’s Chirodini Tumi Je Amar (2008), but it didn’t take long for directors to understand his true potential. Soon Rahul started doing middle-of-the-road Bengali cinema like Kagojer Bou, Bedroom, Meghe Dhaka Tara and Rupkotha Noy. Rahul, who is always known to be blunt, says, “Critical acclaim won’t pay my bills.”
Those who have watched Kamaleswar Mukherjee’s latest Bengali film Khawto have appreciated Rahul’s effortless acting. Ask him if he thinks he has got his dues as an actor, who has been in the Bengali film industry for more than eight years, and he says he has no regrets. “I still have time. So, let’s see how it goes,” he says as a warm smile spread across his face.
Rahul, who started off doing theatre with his father at a very young age, has always wanted to be part of ‘sensible and meaningful’ cinema. On several occasions, he has admitted how ‘uncomfortable’ he was dancing around trees in films such as Bhalobasha Zindabaad and Kano Kichu Kotha Bolo Na. “It was while shooting for late director Bappaditya Bandopadhyay’s film Kagojer Bou (2010) that I realised I was more interested in sensible films. I feel comfortable in this genre rather than those films, which need me to dance. I enjoyed working on Mainak Bhaumik’s Bedroom,” says the actor, who has done several films (such as Chirodini Tumi Je Amar, Bor Bou Khela, Hoi Choi, Game, Get2gether and Moubone Aaj) with his wife-actress Priyanka Sarkar.
Presently, Rahul, who is busy directing a play, is excited to essay the role of a detective in National Award-winning director Pradipta Bhattacharya’s new film Goen Da. Rahul isn’t bothered with the fact that the film will be premiered on TV (Zee Bangla Cinema). “It’s one of the best films I have done. I play a chaiwala, who wants to be a detective. His assistants are weird characters and belong to quirky professions. I have never read about such a character and it was a win-win situation for me to work with a director like Pradipta,” says the Jaatiswar actor.
He says he would have been happier had the film released on the big screen. But having said so, he also believes it’s important for any creative work to reach the maximum number of audience. “Television has the biggest reach. As long as the audience can watch it, I have no problems,” he says.
With short films gaining popularity, Rahul is excited to be part of them. He is working on a short film with Sayantan and Parth Sen. In fact, Rahul is also keen on directing a short film for the web. Last month in an interview to HT, his wife Priyanka, too, spoke about her interest in shorts and web content. “I have a few ideas in mind and I will soon direct a short film. Web content is the future,” he says before signs off.
