It was his decision to explore the digital platform that made the handsome actor Indraneil Sengupta to not continue being BDO Babu Abhimanyu in Nimki Vidhayak, the second season of popular TV series Nimki Mukhiya, where he plays Nimki’s love interest. Besides Hindi films and TV series, the model-turned-actor who debuted in the popular TV series Pyaar Ke Do Naam: Ek Raadha Ek Shyaam has also been a part of an eclectic range of Bengali movies, and has worked with some of the most renowned Tollywood directors including Rituparno Ghosh, Atanu Ghosh, Kaushik Ganguly and Srijit Mukherji.
Last seen in the Hindi film Mulk starring Rishi Kapoor and Tapsee Pannu among others, Indraneil is set to be seen in the bilingual web series Karkat Rogue, directed by Utsav Mukherjee, which will debut on January 10 on ZEE5.
Spritely actor Chitrangada Satarupa’s career too is no less varied. She has made a mark as an actor in offbeat and experimental independent movies including Tikli & Laxmi Bomb, Tottaa Pataaka Item Maal and others and her powerful reprisal of a sex slave in Devi Aur Hero earned her appreciation at the recently concluded Kolkata International Film Festival, where it was screened.
In Karkat Rogue, Chitrangada will be seen playing the protagonist, a forensic surgeon, another very diverse role for her. We sat with the actors for a no-holds-barred chat at Sarbari Dutta’s Shunyaa boutique on a slightly chilly afternoon. Excerpts from the chat:
You both have explored various genres and tried to experiment with whatever roles you have been offered so far. Do you think you have been explored enough as actors?
Chitrangada Satarupa: No, I want to do more work but that’s not in my hand. It's not that the audiences only like watching old and popular faces, they are pretty accepting in nature. Those who are working now were fresher at one time and the audience wants to explore new faces, content and characters. So far, the majority of my work has been in Hindi except for one Bengali film, Ahara Mon, and now Karkat Rogue too will be bilingual where I play the protagonist and while doing this I realised that it’s true that this region has a dearth of women-centric content.
But I really couldn’t figure out the reason. In the national scene, there have been so many women-centric contents where we play the lead. In Bengal, casting is highly flawed, there are no casting directors and we don’t get to hear about many auditions. Here, assistant directors source and get actors or often cast models as actors. It’s time that there should be casting directors.
Indraneil Sengupta: Very true and I completely agree with this. In Bollywood too there is this problem, though, to a lesser extent. I guess this is Indian society’s problem, we have never been able to reach a professional level where things are just for what they are. If you are a good actor who’s appropriate for a role, that should be the only parameter to cast you, but unfortunately, it’s never so.
There’s a lot of angst in you, is that why you left Kolkata for good?
IS: Not really, my family lives in Mumbai so I wanted to be there, but partially, this is also a reason that I am the most underutilised actor. I also feel that rather than play victim, I have to find my way out, after all, I have to survive. Hence I went back to Mumbai.
It’s strange how one gets work here. For example, if actor Rudranil Ghosh is cast in a role, and for some reason, he is not doing it, then Indraneil will be cast. There’s no rhyme or reason. I don’t understand the casting parameters in Tollywood at all, where often friends are cast and I am not a very friendly person, so, I never really fitted the bill. I am nice to everyone, but I am not the kind to be seen in most of the parties.
CS: Yes, very true.
IS: But at the same time, I would also not appreciate being cast just because I am friends with people.
CS: I’ve been told that one has to be seen in public to get work, but my point is I need to focus on my craft and my skills, so that I get better with each project instead of partying. The criterion should be whether I am good as an actor. I would rather watch other actors’ work to understand what’s happening, and this culture should grow to increase healthy collaborations.
So, you two are coming together for your first web series?
CS: Technically, it’s my first project for the web. I did a few independent experimental films that were sold on OTT platforms later. I enjoyed working for the web, because with its arrival, it has become easier for your work to reach a wider audience. And besides appreciation, there’s a sudden spurt in work too.
IS: I took a conscious break from TV since I wanted to explore and get work in this medium, and I wanted to keep myself available, just in case people want to cast me. My only criterion was that it had to be a national good platform and a bilingual series to reach a wider audience and Karkat Rogue fitted the bill.
In the national scenario, a lot of work is happening with so many platforms and production houses churning out content, and I am seeing so many good actors, but Kolkata still lags behind with again the same people playing among themselves. Unless the volume of work increases things won’t get better here.
CS: Yes, people should experiment with new artistes.
What’s Karkat Rogue all about?
IS: It’s a medical thriller, which has explored a completely different genre showing the dark world of pharmaceuticals and beyond. I play a cop here and what I love about this series is that the characters are well-explored and shown with their vulnerabilities and baggage.
CS: Karkat Rogue is a first of its kind Indian medical thriller and I am excited to play the protagonist in this series. I play a forensic surgeon and I can’t reveal more than this right now.
We were stunned by your performance in Devi Aur Hero that was screened at KIFF last month? How did you prepare for such a dark role?
CS: Before doing this, I was most nervous. It was the most difficult and mentally charging character, which suffered from identity disorder with two different personalities in her head which practise two different forms of martial arts. I took classes for three months and visited a psychiatrist to get into the skin of the role besides watching films on split personalities since in all my eagerness I didn’t want to overact.
How has the journey been for you so far?
CS: I am quite picky with the content and scope of performance, which are of prime importance to me. Somehow, till now, I’ve got characters that really grilled me as an actor, and thankfully, Karkat Rogue came organically.
IS: The best thing is uncertainty, and I love it. It will never let you feel that you know it all. Every project I do, I start afresh. It’s like playing cricket, even if you score a century in one match, you can get out without scoring a single run in the next one — and that keeps you on your toes, and brings out the best in you.
sharmishtha.g @newindianexpress.com
@sharmidas