Actor Dibyendu Bhattacharya takes a nostalgic trip down the lane
Mona
That renowned actor Dibyendu Bhattacharya grew up playing cricket and doing theatre in Kolkata is common knowledge. During a visit to The Tribune on Monday, the Poacher actor shared that he and his friends also ran a literary magazine back in his school days. The enthusiastic scholars would not only write, edit, print their magazine but also sell it for Rs 10!
In a heartfelt chat Dibyendu opened up about his illustrious journey. “The applause I got when I first went on the stage decided it for me. I was sure that I wanted to pursue acting. The stage gave me joy and that I could pass that joy on to the audience cemented my belief.” He fondly recalled his days at the National School of Drama (NSD). His stint with the NSD Repertoire Company later helped him improve his Hindi, which eventually paved the path to Mumbai.
The actor, who played a small part in Monsoon Wedding and later acted in films like Dev D, more recently in Fateh and web series The Railway Men, said his role in Poacher was the closest to his heart. “Poacher made me aware of so many dark truths. We are in such an alarming situation, at the brink of ending the symbiotic relationship we share with nature. Working on this topic made me feel like a crusader.”
The series also won him the Critics Choice Award for Best Supporting Actor. He was recently honoured with the Pride of Bengal award. “Though most my works are in Hindi, this honour bestowed by my home state rekindled my desire to do something in my native tongue, Bengali.”
Honours, awards sure makes the actor in him happy, but what message his work gives out is also important to him. “We are in the business of entertainment. But if along with entertainment, our work also gives out a message, phir sone par sugaha ho jata hai.”
This Pride of Bengal shares an equally strong connection with City Beautiful. He found the love of his life and wife, Richa, in Chandigarh! The duo met at NSD. “In summer she used to come back to meet her parents, and I would follow her to this beautiful city. She had a Kinetic at that time and we would roam around the city. It’s pretty nostalgic to be back,” he said. Dibyendu has worked with many directors and is open to work with both old and new, “I want to work with one and all. Last night I was with Rahul Rawail ji. I want him to make a film and cast me in it.”
Simplicity works
“I don’t know if I am a good actor, but I keep trying,” said Dibyendu. Each time he approaches a new project he feels the nervous energy. “Acting is a complex craft. One needs to get not just the mannerisms right but also get into the mind of a character.”
According to him, to be a good actor one needs to lead a simple life. “Lesser the baggage, better the performance,” he explained. Among his upcoming projects are a horror comedy Kapkapi and the remake of Basu Chatterjee’s 1986 film Ek Ruka Hua Faisla and a couple of series.
The trip to Chandigarh was brief and that left him with a lingering wish, “The city is so open and green that I want to settle here!”
Quote
Censorship is a catch-22 situation. A strict censorship curtails an artiste’s freedom. We also see misuse of this freedom. Art is mirror of life and that makes it relatable. I believe age ratings are the best way forward. —Dibyendu Bhattacharya
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