In the April 14 film The Eken, Paayel Sarkar plays a famous movie star called Bipasha Mitra. The quirky detective Eken Babu (Anirban Chakrabarti) gets a chance to meet Bipasha Mitra and an offer to investigate a case that takes a gruesome turn when a murder takes place in Darjeeling. A Telegraph chat with Paayel...
Were you familiar with the Eken Babu series on Hoichoi?
Yes, and Eken Babu is very different from the other detectives. He is very guy-next-door, someone who delivers poor jokes. He does not conform to the stereotypical image of the detective. But he is very good at his job of solving cases. The contrast is fascinating.
Why did you say yes to the film?
First of all I think that it is a great initiative to bring Eken Babu on the big screen as the character is so different from the other detectives of Bengal. I am delighted to be a part of it. I’m sure that the audience will shower the same amount of love to The Eken on the silver screen which they’ve shown for the Eken Babu series. I loved the storyline. I like Joydeepda’s (Mukherjee) work, he is so meticulous as a director. He is very involved in the work, has a great sense of humour and that gets reflected in the film too. We shot for long hours but he never showed any signs of being tired. He is really energetic.
Tell us about your character?
Bipasha Mitra is a heroine who has that starry aura about her. She maintains that image always. She comes from a rich family and has an attitude.
Could you identify with the character at any level?
Not really, apart from the fact that both of us are from the same profession. We are very different people. The shoot of the film went off really well, the only challenging part was shooting during snowfall. We had to wait it out at times, but it was beautiful all around. I shot in Darjeeling for the first time. People are so warm. We went to a lot of places which are not typical tourist spots. It was really cold at night.
Paayel in The Eken, which releases in theatres on April 14
Do people expect Anirban to come up with funny lines all the time?
Yes, they do! He is such a calm, composed person. Many people had come to watch us shoot and they were calling him as Eken Babu. It was so funny. The audience can expect an entertaining film and a lot of fun as Eken Babu solves a mystery. There are some great characters and some unexpected twists and turns.
What are your thoughts on the roles that are being written for women in Bengali films?
Strong roles are being written, take for example Aparajita Adhya’s character in Cheeni. Mainak (Bhaumik) writes such characters really well. We see strong women in Nandita Roy and Shiboprosad Mukherjee’s films. When we talk about the 40-50 age group, we see many women who are really successful in their careers. But they may have a crisis in their personal lives as well. I feel that struggle should also be reflected in our movies. There are many spheres in a woman’s life. Women are doing everything... and they have their own issues, from professional to personal to psychological. Women become victims of chauvinism also. Our films can focus on these issues as well.
How do you navigate the world of social media?
It is a personal choice... how much of your life do you want to put out for the world to see. Maybe the Instagram reach is important for some for work. The lines of private and public are getting blurred now. I am a private person and I use social media for my professional work. And I strongly believe that nothing can replace your hard work and talent. If you are talented, your work will be recognised, it does not matter whether you are active on social media or not. If you are good, nothing can stop you.
What’s your take on the new generation of actors?
There are a lot of avenues for them, from films, web, TV to reality shows. It is a good thing. But there is competition in that space as well. So one has to showcase their exclusivity, what is unique about them. So that is a challenge. Now people are more prepared. They have various options where they can hone their craft. Dedication, focus, talent vary from one person to the other. Some of the young actors are really good.
What about the directors?
Lots of young directors with new ideas are making films now. The awareness is high and they want to experiment with content. It is a very good thing.
You are also doing doing web shows...
It is a great space for actors to explore more. The reach of the web shows is phenomenal and one can address many issues that mainstream movies may not always focus on.
Do you miss the song-and-dance routine of commercial films?
Yes! I started with commercial movies and nothing can replace that. I would like to tell all the producers to make more commercial movies... they can be revived again, maybe in a different package with relevant storylines and subject.
You have completed almost two decades in films. How do you look back on the journey? Are you content?
Honestly, I don’t think about it now. I am still learning. I have learnt that patience is the key. I have chosen this career, and one has to be ready for the ups and downs... and that is your testing time. That is where you apply your patience and you keep your integrity.
What’s next for you?
I’ll be starting the shoot for a new web show. And I would like to do something with dance.
Picture: B. Halder