He was flooded with congratulatory messages once the trailer of Bismillah dropped, and people discovered a new side to actor Gaurav Chakrabarty on screen. He plays a character with grey shades in Indraadip Dasgupta’s film Bismillah, which releases today. The Telegraph chat.

What kind of feedback did you get after the release of the trailer?

I’m quite overwhelmed by the reactions. Seldom does one get a response of this sort from a trailer alone. There have been messages pouring in appreciating the character and the trailer as a whole. I have my fingers crossed. Let’s hope we live up to the promise.

What was your first reaction when you got the offer to play the role in Bismillah?

I was pleasantly surprised to be offered a role like Shibu. The layers, the complexities that the character has to offer is a pleasure for any actor. I was really looking forward to the challenge.

It is great to see you play a character with grey shades. What were your thoughts when you finally got a role like this?

Yes! I agree wholeheartedly. It is a great pleasure to play a character with grey shades. It offers a lot more to the actor in terms of satisfaction from the job. I was on cloud nine to finally get a role like this. I mean, I have played a baddie in Parineeta as well. But there too, I was very polished and urban. This is the polar opposite of that.

Do you feel you were getting typecast in a certain good-boy image?

I did feel I was playing versions of myself in most of the films I was doing. There is a tendency to cast actors according to their face value. If one is well-behaved and generally good in real life, they tend to be offered such roles in their films as well. Don’t get me wrong, it is great to play the good guy. But even that can get monotonous.

How do you see the character you play in Bismillah?

I see him as someone who is misunderstood. Someone who has been led ashtray. He had learned to play the shehnai but soon realised that for him, popularity lay elsewhere. He chose to be a populist. That got him fame, money, a car, etc. He did want to guide Bismillah down the same path. He thought of Bismillah as a younger brother. But when things don’t go according to his plan, his annoyance and jealousy brings out the devil in him.

How did you prepare for the role?

The primary concern was getting the dialect right. Since I’ve never used the dialect at home or elsewhere, it was an uphill task for me. Thankfully I had Indraadip Dasgupta and Kaushik Ganguly as able guides to help. I would record my voice and play it back over and over till I got it right.

Tell us about your character?

I play Shibu. He is a DJ by profession. He has left his shehnai days far behind. He learnt to play the shehnai from Bismillah’s father. He was like an elder brother to Bismillah. But his wayward lifestyle has distanced him from his former teacher and his family.

Your look is so different. How did the look help you shape the character?

The look has been designed by Somnath Kundu and ID. Somnathda is a master of his craft. It is an honour to have him design my look. The moment he did my hair, gave me that thin moustache and I wore the costume, I was Shibu. It helped me get into the mental space. The look played a big part in helping me become the character.

How was your shooting experience?

It was amazing. Shooting in Purulia during winter was a pleasure. And I had great company as well. The shoot was hectic. But the moment we packed up, we’d head back to the hotel, freshen up and start our adda sessions. And no matter how late we stayed up, no one was late to shoot the next day!

What is the best part about Bismillah?

I believe Bismillah is a very important film. It puts across a very relevant point without trying to be preachy. I think this film has something for everyone. It has great music, some wonderful performances, a love story, a coming-of-age tale, good winning over evil and everything that one needs to be entertained.

What’s your take on the message of the film?

The basic message is simple: Man is the measure of all things. Shobar upore manush shotyo, tahar upore nai. This resonates with me.

How was it like being directed by Indraadip Dasgupta?

It has been a pleasure working with ID. From the very beginning he was very clear about exactly what he wanted from me. His guidance has been instrumental in bringing Shibu to life. I have said this before and I will say it again, I am very thankful to him for giving me this opportunity.