Kolkata boy Abhiroop Basu’s short film Laali — an essentially one-man show starring the inimitable Pankaj Tripathi — is now streaming on Disney+Hotstar. The Telegraph chatted with Pankaj Tripathi to know more.
What made you sign Laali?
Sireesha (Kadiyala), one of the producers of Laali, narrated the story to me at an airport. I really liked Abhiroop’s (Basu, director) concept and also appreciated Sireesha’s effort.
Abhiroop has made some notable short films. What was it like being directed by him?
He’s studied at film school and he has a different and unique vision. Woh ek thehrav waali film bana na chahta tha. I had a great time working with him. I loved the way he directs, his knowledge of shot taking... his effort is seen in every shot of Laali.
Laali is a powerful and poignant look at loneliness and melancholy. The whole narrative rests on your shoulders. Did that feel pressurising or liberating?
It was very liberating. I pour my life experiences into my performances and I never put any pressure on myself when it comes to acting. For me, given that Laali is completely centred on my character, was very liberating. We all experience loneliness in our lives.
How did working on the medium of a short film contribute to your craft and how important is it to work on different mediums?
Working on a short film fulfils the artistic urge of an actor. The medium gives an actor the scope to experiment, given that there is no worry about commercial success or the pressures of the box office. That’s another thing that I don’t worry about box-office success even when I do a commercial film! (Laughs)
This film starts off with a single long take of about 10 minutes. Such experimentation can only happen in a short film. As an actor, one needs the scope to experiment, to work on one’s skills and hone them. Laali gave me that opportunity. I only have about five lines of dialogue in the film. It captures the loneliness of a laundryman’s life.
In this short, I am mostly speaking to a dress. This took me back to my theatre days and what my acting gurus used to say... that an actor needs to speak to the props around. This short film was an extension of my acting class.
I like doing commercial films, offbeat films and web series, and at the same time, do short films to keep myself alive as an actor.
Every time we have spoken the last few times, you have said that you want to pause for a bit. Is that on the cards?
I do need a break and I have decided to take a pause from July and do less work. I will slow down and take at least a 15-day break between projects. Let’s see how it goes. If I get bored, I will be back in front of the camera sooner!
You have already started shooting for Season 3 of Mirzapur. Is Kaaleen Bhaiya the most popular character you have played so far?
The youth audience loves Kaaleen Bhaiya (above) and that’s what makes him popular. I also have people coming up and talking about Newton, Bareilly Ki Barfi, Criminal Justice, Mimi....