The debut act as the talented musician Gora in the TV series Ganer Opare (2010) is still fondly remembered by audiences. Nine years down the line, and after many a professional setback in between, actor Arjun Chakraborty finally found success with his convincing act as Satyakam (a young debauch) in Arindam Sil’s Byomkesh Gotro last year. In fact, film pundits predict that if Arjun chooses his films wisely, he might just be the next big thing in Tollywood. We couldn’t agree more, given the kind of female fandom he enjoys.
The 30-year-old fitness buff is back playing Abirlal in Durgeshgorer Guptodhon. We caught up with Arjun, as he looked dapper in a Barca T-shirt and a pair of denim jeans, to chat about all things filmy, and more. Excerpts:
You impressed everyone with a stellar act in Byomkesh Gotro. So, what’s next?
The entire credit goes to Arindam Sil, for believing that I can pull off a character like Satyakam. It was a tailormade role, and I am grateful for the chance.
You will be again seen as Abirlal in Durgeshgorer Guptodhon...
In the last film, Sona Da (played by Abir Chatterjee) was teaching at Oxford University. Now, he is settled here. My romance with Jhinuk (played by Ishaa Saha) grows. In this film, the trio of Jhinuk Abirlal and Sona Da travel to a place, and they get pulled into a vortex of mystery and adventure. Like a typical Bengali, my character too loves travel and food, which is quite unlike the real me.
You are not a foodie?
I don’t enjoy eating, I really don’t understand the Bengali fascination with food.
And you’re set to play a chef in Anjan Dutt’s next, Shaheber Cutlet...
So, who said a non-eater can’t be a good cook?
Do you cook in real life?
I can make a decent omelette, and once, I fried fish in the Bengali style, which was pretty good to eat.
What have you learnt in these nine years?
Being a child of actor parents (Arjun is the younger son of stalwart actors Sabyasachi and Mithu Chakraborty) might help you get a platform, but success depends upon what you make of the opportunity.
What went wrong in the beginning?
I made a few bad film choices, but since 2018, things started looking up for me with Guptodhoner Rohoshyo, then Criss Cross and finally, Byomkesh Gotro. I guess, good luck crept in with the birth of my daughter, Avantika, in 2018 (smiles).
What did you learn all this while?
Being an actor requires a lot more than wearing dark glasses, and stepping out of expensive vehicles.
Your first web series, titled Night Watchman, released last week on Hoichoi. Any more web projects in the pipeline?
I’ll be playing a cop in Arindam Sil’s web film, Satyameva Jayate. There’s also a romcom web series for Voot, directed by Sudeshna Roy and Abhijit Guha.
sharmishtha@ newindianexpress.com
@sharmidas