IBNS: After assisting actor-turned-director Anirban Bhattacharya in the popular web series Mandaar, actor Satyam Bhattacharya played the lead in the former’s debut feature film Ballabhpurer Roopkotha, which is based on thespian Badal Sircar’s drama with the same name. India Blooms correspondent Souvik Ghosh interacts with Satyam, who played Bhupati Roy, the king of a sleepy town Ballabhpur, in the film produced by SVF.
Excerpts…
Q. What was your initial reaction when you were offered the role?
A. Initially I doubted my ability to pull off the character as I haven’t essayed a role of that magnitude earlier. I had even asked Anirban-da whether he was sure of casting me. Otherwise who would not opt for such a role? I hope I have been able to do justice to the role.
Q. When did you get the confidence of doing the role?
A. I got confidence after reading the script a few times.
(From L to R) Surangana Bandyopadhyay, Anirban Bhattacharya and Satyam Bhattacharya | Image Credit: Avishek Mitra/IBNS
Q. How did you connect to the character?
A. I could connect to the humor element as well as the lower-middle class emotion of the character.
Q. The shooting floor was almost a union of theatre artists, right? What did it bring to the table?
A. I guess I was the least trained theatre artist on the floor. I got to work with theatre stalwarts in the course of shooting. Yes, the gelling was fantastic, be it due to the theatre background or meeting all for the first time. There was no awkwardness in the entire shooting process.
Q. How much time did ‘extrovert’ Satyam take to gel up with Surangana?
A. I didn’t take much time actually. We didn’t have time on the set to have fun as the shooting process was very fast paced since we had an apt preparation. I had of course watched Surangana’s works and listened to her songs earlier and never felt that she was unapproachable.
Q. You have worked in various mediums. How difficult is it to judge and say ‘yes’ to the characters?
A. I judge on the basis of importance. The character is important to me and not its length. Sometimes, I have misjudged the importance of a character too and played them on-screen.
(From L to R) Surangana Bandyopadhyay and Satyam Bhattacharya | Image Credit: Avishek Mitra/IBNS
Q. Have you regretted choosing any role?
A. Yes… may be in one or two instances. Sometimes I slipped into a character or a film considering the remuneration but it was never a big issue. There is nothing much to regret in this industry.
Q. Who is your favourite now, actor or director Anirban Bhattacharya?
A. Anirban-da has turned very close to me as a director. I have always been a fan of his acting but could personally explore him much more working under his direction. I would personally keep director Anirban-da ahead because I could get a better reach to him.
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