One had already entered showbiz when the other was still a toddler. And, while the former continues to be an umbrella presence and relevant more than three decades later, the latter, who was a rank outsider to the industry in the early 2000s, has carved a success path like few others in recent times. Prosenjit and Dev, two of the biggest superstars of the Bengali film industry. They came together for a special The Telegraph photoshoot ahead of Durga Puja, which will also see the release of their film Kacher Manush. Post-shoot at Hyatt Regency Kolkata, the two sat down with The Telegraph to relive their memories of working together, their lessons from one another and more.
How was it shooting this fashion feature together?
Dev: It’s always good to be around Bumbada and not just because of this film. I have been in this industry for the last 17 years and have never got any negative vibes from him. See, let’s be practical, we love to hear gossip but this is the one person, jaake niye aami konodin gossip shunteo pochhondo kori na.... He has always been friendly. There have been ups and downs in our relationship but I have never got any negative vibes from him.
Prosenjit: We have worked day and night together on this film. It was a great experience working with him. If Mishuk (son) grows up and approaches me for a film, it’s exactly the same feeling. They are making smart moves for the industry. Dev is like my younger brother and we have met up but we haven’t worked together that much.... Understanding cinema is important now. Or moddhe ekta cinema paglamo... the poka... ebar norechhe, which is a positive sign for all of us.
Bumbada, Dev was a kid when you started out as a hero...
Prosenjit: I would say this is one of the greatest blessings of Lokenath Baba, ma and my father. Recently we were at a show and a four-year-old kid danced with me on Amar sangi. You have to understand it’s been more than 30 years since that film released. I was in tears.
Dev: He is still a hero, a box-office king. I also want to be like him!
Both went for semi-formals and smart prints in Look 2. Dev wore a youthful Agape ensemble. Raghavendra Rathore Jodhpur’s The Constellation Waistcoat — the signature printed bandhgala waistcoat with ‘a clean cut’ — was the highlight of Prosenjit’s look.
Dev, what was it like working with Bumbada?
Dev: This is a difficult film for me as a producer because it was shot on real locations... north Kolkata roads, train, taxi, bus, tram. Crowd management adds extra hours to your shooting.
Prosenjit: And, there was the pandemic too.
Dev: I never found him complaining. You know why he has survived for the last 40 years? It’s because of his love for cinema. I got to learn so many things from him. He understands the value of a film, the budget.... He was always on time. I was going through a personal crisis and was in and out of sets. He would always say: ‘You go, I am here’. And, then would add those extra two hours after 10pm. I didn’t even have to request him. That’s the best part and that’s why he has survived and I think, till the time he is alive, he’ll be a hero. His understanding of cinema, technicians and his love for his audience, is unimaginable.
Bumbada, you have adapted with the times, a lot like Amitabh Bachchan...
Prosenjit: I completely agree on this... Soumitrakaku (Chatterjee) and Amitabh Bachchan have always been the inspirations for me. You have to understand what is ‘today’ and work with fresh minds and talent. Then only can you go ahead. I don’t believe in ‘korechhilam’.
Say for example, social media. Five-10 years back I used to think why do I need to do this. We believed that in order to retain that aura, you must not reveal everything, but now, things have changed. I am trying to make myself believe that it is important.
In cinema, the more you work with younger people, the more you’ll learn. As an actor, I have learned a lot from Dev. The acting pattern has changed in the last 40 years. The cinematic language and audience has changed. So, I have to also change myself. That’s why I say, I am a student of cinema and I would try to remain so till my last day.
You know why he (Prosenjit) has survived for the last 40 years? It’s because of his love for cinema. I got to learn so many things from him. He understands the value of a film, the budget.... He was always on time... till the time he is alive, he’ll be a hero. His understanding of cinema, technicians and his love for his audience, is unimaginable
Dev
I need to learn from them. They are practical, focused. We were not very practical and more driven by emotions. In the next 25 years, he will have to decide on things to give up. Chhara’r bhag ta hobe 80 per cent and neyar 20 per cent. Chhara is the most important thing. As an elder brother, this is what I’ll tell him and he is doing it
Prosenjit
Dev, what did you pick up from Bumbada?
Dev: Work is worship.
Prosenjit: This is a good commercial film, but this character has never been done by Prosenjit. Similarly, Dev also has a strong image and he is trying to come out of it and do something else. So, for both us it was a huge challenge, but that is the reason we are together.
Dev, what are your favourite looks of Bumbada’s from his films?
Dev: The red-and-white muffler look from Amar Sangi, but then again, he has played so many iconic characters, like Kakababu. There are remakes happening all around us, but I feel Bumbada’r chhobi ke recreate korte gele, onek manusher onek shahosh lagbe and I don’t think people are going to accept it. We had imagined Sudarshan (Prosenjit’s character in Kacher Manush) a little differently, but Bumbada brought in new ideas. The leather bag he is carrying, was his idea and also the kind of costumes he would wear. It is not any other project for him. It is ‘the’ project for him. I am also passionate and love my work and I am proud of the fact that I am part of the Bengali industry. Kharap, bhalo, mondo... kemon cholchhe, despite it all, we have to still try. We’ll keep on trying and the audience is slowly coming back to the theatres.
Coming back to the question, it is difficult to pick one look from a career spanning 40 years... he is evergreen.
There are remakes happening all around us, but I feel Bumbada’r chhobi ke recreate korte gele, onek manusher onek shahosh lagbe and I don’t think people are going to accept it
Dev
When it comes to his looks, paanch-chho bochhor boyesh theke shotero bochhor boyesh obdi ekta chheleke barite dekhechhi and I know which look he is sporting in which film. He copies everything... from his cap to paaye kapor badha hok.... He (Prosenjit’s son Mishuk) is among Dev’s five topmost fans. For him, Dev is the hero
Prosenjit
Bumbada, which of Dev’s looks do you like?
Prosenjit: Buno Haansh was a striking film for me as an actor. When it comes to his looks, paanch-chho bochhor boyesh theke shotero bochhor boyesh obdi ekta chheleke barite dekhechhi and I know which look he is sporting in which film. He copies everything... from his cap to paaye kapor badha hok....
Your son?
Prosenjit: Yes. He is among Dev’s five topmost fans. For him, Dev is the hero.
Dev: Mishuk came to my house once and I had given him a cap, maybe a decade back. If I am not wrong, I had worn it in Mon Mane Na. He got that cap and made me sign.
This must be special, Dev?
Dev: Of course. When you already have a superstar in the family and you have been brought up on his films...
Prosenjit: He is in a hostel and after my stand-up comedy (as part of Kacher Manush promotions), the first WhatsApp came from my son. He said ‘well done’. You have to understand the psyche of this youngster. Aami onek kichhui bolechhi about which he might have felt a little bad, but they are today’s generation.... ‘cool’ likhe pathiye dilo. That’s also the generation we have to understand.
For the last few years, Dev is trying to do something else, which is very good, but he has a strong commercial image and that’s most important for us, as an industry. The time is coming where Dev will play a serious role, but he will have to cater to the mass and he has done it for years. People love him. I didn’t cite Mishuk’s example because he is my son, but these kids look up to him as a hero and that is important.
Prosenjit and Dev were dapper with a touch of tradition. While Dev got into a Surbhi Pansari piece, Prosenjit was in Raghavendra Rathore Jodhpur. The Kashmir Gulaab Open Waistcoat on him had embroidered borders, a ‘recall’ of ‘the traditional pashmina of the valley’.
Bumbada, what do you like about Dev’s sense of fashion?
Prosenjit: From what I have followed in the last five years, he goes with the trend, nothing OTT... casuals like a white shirt and jeans... this is in.
Dev, what do you like about Bumbada’s sense of fashion?
Dev: He’s always had a cool sense of fashion. He changes with the generation. He has maintained himself. At the end of the day, it’s not about what you wear, but what you have to say, how are you behaving....
Prosenjit: How you conduct yourself....
Let’s wrap up with some life lessons...
Prosenjit: I need to learn from them. They are practical, focused. We were not very practical and more driven by emotions. In the next 25 years, he will have to decide on things to give up. Chhara’r bhag ta hobe 80 per cent and neyar 20 per cent. Chhara is the most important thing. As an elder brother, this is what I’ll tell him and he is doing it.
People will only see the ‘houseful’ board and for that whatever has to be done, do it. Bakita keu dekhte ashe na. At the prime time of my career when I was doing Chokher Bali and Ram Lakhan simultaneously, I was living in a 1,200sq ft flat. Mishuk was just born and my wife was liking it that way. I was also enjoying it because my films were running....
Dev: He is always right and that’s the best part. He thinks ahead of time, which is marattok. This is what I have to learn and execute.
Pictures: Pabitra Das
Prosenjit’s styling: Poulami Gupta
Prosenjit’s hair and make-up: Subhas Bera
Style curator for Dev: Chikky Goenka
Dev’s hair and make-up: Arun Kumar Mondal
Location: Hyatt Regency Kolkata