In Srijit Mukherji’s X=Prem, Arjun Chakrabarty plays Arnab Dutta, who is mature, reserved and an introvert. He was an athlete in college and a part of the college cricket team; however, he pretty much kept to himself most of the time. Incidentally, in 2010, Arjun made his acting debut in Gaaner Oparey, where Srijit played a television channel head! And Srijit’s first film Autograph released in 2010. A candid chat with Arjun.
You were in Goa recently on a vacation with family... how was it?
It was awesome... it is a laid-back and chilled-out place... now I know why people keep going back to Goa. I love driving... so I got myself a self-driven car there. We stayed in a nice hotel... tried out local cuisine... we drove around a lot, explored new places while relying on maps, which were very accurate, thankfully. Finally we travelled like old times.
In X=Prem, your character is reserved in college. Arnab keeps to himself... how were you in college?
I didn’t socialise much in college. I am in touch with and very good friends with two friends from college. We still meet up... one of us lives outside the country. However, I miss my school life. I met Sreeja (wife) in high school.
Were you outgoing in school?
Not really, but I have very fond memories. I was shy... but certain terms were alien to us back then... terms like social anxiety... I am glad that social media wasn’t a thing back then. Everyone is sort of exposed now. There is a lack of privacy. On that note it would be challenging to make your debut now. How you present yourself on social media is so important. I was in my final year of college when I started working professionally. That was really challenging.
How do you look back on this social awkwardness you mentioned?
I still have it, which is quite funny, since I am interacting with the public... our work is out there for public consumption. We are interacting with all kinds of people. I’m comfortable with all kinds of shoots. I love it. I love my job. I have a select group of friends. And I like this. I don’t go out of my way to socialise... even now. However, the socialising part is slightly better now. I wake up early... and I have never been a night owl. If I am at home I go to sleep by 10.30pm... and I wake up by 5.30am. I like it that way. Of course , with our shooting schedules it is difficult to maintain a fixed wake-up and sleep time.
In college, how did you connect with your friends?
Primarily through PJs! We were in mass communication together. And we stuck together. We are married now, two of us are fathers.
How did love blossom in high school?
I mustered enough courage and told her... this was in XI.
How did it go?
Awkward... thankfully she wasn’t in shock or taken aback. She took it well. We started dating. I met Sreeja because both of us were in humanities. She is beautiful... she was first in academics. I stood fourth in Class XI and second in Class XII. She has been a good influence in more ways than one. She is still tolerating me! Despite me being in this unique profession.
After they shifted to south Calcutta from north, I used to bicycle to her place.
Did your parents know that you were dating Sreeja at that point of time?
Dada (Gaurav) got to know first... then my mother (Mithu). And, of course, my father (Sabyasachi) got to know about it from my mom. But he didn’t say anything then. When we decided to get engaged in 2015, I told my dad.
Do you have father-son talks now?
Now we do... now that I am a father and he is a grandfather. We discuss a lot of things. For example, when I have made a decision I bounce it off with him and Ma.
You worked with Srijit for the first time for X=Prem. Were you pleasantly surprised when you got the call for this film?
I was... he had acted in Gaaner Oparey, and he had a guest appearance in Baapi Bari Ja... I heard about X=Prem and later discussed my character in detail. I got to know that Arnab’s character is very integral to the plot... that it is really important.
Tell us about your character?
Arnab was a recluse in college. He used to admire this girl, Joyee (Shruti Das). Now we see that Arnab is happily married to Aditi (Madhurima Basak). Years later, the past comes back... Khilaat (Anindya Sengupta) and Joyee have come to meet their college mate once again. And what does Aditi, Arnab’s loving wife, have to do with all this?
All three are very confident in front of the camera. They have worked hard and it shows. They have done a brilliant job. Arnab is calm, composed, unperturbed by things. In some ways I could relate with him.
How was it like being directed by Srijit?
He was clear with what he wants from me. He was very clear with the script and his guidance. He is serious on the sets. Srijitda is into cricket while I’m into football. So we didn’t have the sports talk that much. There was a very tight schedule. I am glad that I finally got to work with Srijitda.
There’s a scene where we see a huge speaker about to fall on Shruti and you grab hold of her hand and pull her to safety right at the nick of time. Was it tough to shoot that scene?
It was a bit close and I had to pull Shruti in time. I was in charge of rescuing her! Because she was looking in the opposite direction. I had to grab and pull her just at the right time.
There are intimate scenes in the film. What’s your take on it?
I still get awkward, especially if I don’t know the other person really well off camera. In this case I did not but we were quite cool about it. It is as technical as action choreography. Sounds funny, comparing kissing scenes with punching and kicking scenes. But that’s what it is, it is really technical. The kisses are real unlike the kicks and punches (smiles). We do it technically while pretending to be emotional.
How would you like to remember the X=Prem experience?
It is a different kind of love story. It will bring back memories, make you nostalgic. I’m sure people will enjoy it.
Do you set goals for yourself?
I don’t make any plans as such. Of course I want to achieve more. I want to be bigger and better than what I was last year. As an actor and as a human being. This year, so far, has been good. The work that I am doing in Bangla is keeping me happy. I’m in a happy space. I like what I do, I work hard. It’s great that people are watching films in the theatres. Please watch films on the big screen. Please support us so that we can make bigger films.