One aspect of acting that connects actors Paran Bandyopadhyay and Saswata Chatterjee is the way they dabble with comedy on screen. Unique in their individual style yet captivating when seen together. After appearing in films like Jekhane Bhooter Bhoy, Bhooter Bhobishyot and Proloy, the actors can once again be seen in Krishnendu Chatterjee’s film Jomaloye Jibonto Bhanu, playing in the theatres now. t2 caught up with the actors to talk about their comic chemistry, screen legend Bhanu Bandopadhyay and more.

Saswata, did you think twice before accepting this role?

No! For many days Bhanu (Bandopadhyay) jhetu’s sons and daughters have been telling me that if anything is done on him, I must do it. When Krishnendu brought the script to me, I agreed immediately.

Paranda, how much did you enjoy playing the character of god in this film?

I played the character in my own way. All the names that I have only heard of so far… Brahma, Vishnu, Maheshwar… where they live or how they spend their day, how their everyday life is or what their behaviour could be… I got to know a little while doing this film. We don’t know what kind of work they are required to do every day but after doing the same work for many many years, they have now become frustrated. And who knows better than humans that doing one work for too long is monotonous! That is where negligence starts and one wants to complete a task somehow leading to mistakes. That is what is happening in heaven, too! I really enjoyed seeing that. It felt good to play this character.

Uttam Kumar, Ritwik Ghatak and Bhanu Bandopadhyay… it needs immense versatility to do legendary characters like these. How do you look at such roles in your body of work?

Saswata: These are unique characters and will remain with people, I hope. I have an advantage and that is my body. I have an average body type. If I had a sharp nose or were six feet tall then I would be typecast, which is why when Amitabh Bachchan acted in Saudagar no one accepted him as a poor guy. But people accept me as both poor and rich.

Paranda, you have only one scene in this film. Why did you choose to do it at all?

I love what everyone else loves. I love the way I had to talk in this film. I enjoyed that. Also, I have shared a cordial relationship with Krishnendu since Mirakkel days.

And your make-up was a difficult one we heard, which took many hours…

Paran: The make-up artiste is a very efficient person in our industry. To be honest, no one knows how god looks. Just like a painter or music composer, we are all creators… while creating we cannot think of the pain involved in the process of creation. We need to be oblivious to it. That pain doesn’t affect the creator. I only had my performance in mind, so the process didn’t bother me.

What do you love about working with each other?

Saswata: There are very few witty people like Paranda. He is 85 and yet has the mentality of a young boy. His sense of humour is incomparable. With Paranda and Subhashisda around, time flies. With Paranda it is amazing. I have not even had such chemistry with a heroine like the one I have with Paranda. Seriously! For me, my chemistry has worked best with my male co-actors. During Byomkesh, with Abir (Chatterjee) and Jisshu (Sengupta). Here with Paranda. For me, no one talks about my chemistry with any heroine! (Laughs) Strange but very sad.
Paran: He is very intelligent and as an actor, he is one of my favourites. I enjoy acting with him because he can break himself and give the character any shape. For giving shape a certain amount of softness is required. There’s that softness in him. And since he is intelligent, I don’t have to worry much. He understands. I have known him and his father (Subhendu Chatterjee) for so long. Combining everything, there’s a good rapport between us. But the most important thing is that he is a very good actor.

Saswata, were there any challenges for you to get into the character?

There was only one challenge... to honour the family's faith in me... which is why after we completed the film, we first showed it to his son and daughter. Only then we felt satisfied with our work. They are happy, so we are also happy.

What are your favourite Bhanu Bandopadhyay films?

Saswata: Which one isn’t? Starting from Sharey Chuattor. A film where he didn’t make us laugh but cry is Amrita Kumbher Sandhane. Bhanu Pelo Lottery, Jomaloye Jibonto Manush, Bhanu Goenda, Jahar Assistant and many more like these! When he comes on screen, we have to look at him only.
Paran: In Grihaprabesh, the way he looks at three sides and answers... it was amazing! Bhanu used to be called a comedian... but he is an actor who can make us laugh and cry... he is a complete actor. Not a comedian. An actor is not a comedian. In films like Nirdharito Shilpir Anupasthitite and Taka Ana Pai, one will be surprised. He is a complete actor who can ace any role. Performers these days don’t think, so their performances fail. But for making people laugh or cry, the source is the same. Bhanuda knew the source.

Did you discover anything interesting about the legendary actor while shooting for the film?

Saswata: I have learnt a lot from him from my father itself. There is no similarity between that Bhanu Bandopadhyay who used to make us laugh on screen and the real Bhanu Bandopadhyay. His education was completely different, and from a young age, he was associated with our freedom struggle. But we have made him just a comedian on screen!
Paran: He taught us why some people laugh at every word another person speaks. He only inspired us with the idea of finding joy in every word. It was there within that man.

Could you share with us an interesting shot from the film…

Saswata: It is a unique scene where Bhanu requests god to send someone back to Earth. God uses a computer to communicate with Earth. It is an amazing scene where Paranda has become a god with a beard. It was really fun.

What is your favourite memory from your interactions with Bhanu Bandopadhyay?

Saswata: I don’t remember my first interaction with him. I went to see him on the sets of a film called Nidhiram Sardar. He was giving the shot and while watching it I laughed very loudly. I couldn’t stop. They had to cut the shot. And someone said Subhenduda’s son came to watch the shooting. He asked, ‘Where is that pig’s son?’ That is because he used to call my father pig affectionately!

Paran: Once we were rehearsing for a radio show. There was a young radio artiste in the studio. He walked up to Bhanuda and asked him whether his act was fine but while saying this, he was brushing his hair with an attitude. Bhanuda did not tell him anything. He started talking to me and told me how Shah Jahan was enacted in his neighbourhood and how his maternal uncle told the actor he would do better in the role… he had ready wit. Spontaneous wit.

Comedy is being hugely appreciated by the audience now. What are your expectations from the film?

Saswata: It is all about entertainment and it is important for people to laugh. If people watch a comedy, they will feel good.