Gratitude and joy coursed through Prosenjit Chatterjee when he learnt that he was conferred the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award, by the government of India. At the same time, the honour evoked something else in the veteran actor — a yearning for those who shaped him.

“I’m missing my mom [Ratna Chatterjee] because she had a huge contribution in my life,” Chatterjee told mid-day, hours after the January 25 announcement. The actor, one of the biggest stars of Bengali cinema, also remembered his favourite filmmaker, late Rituparno Ghosh. “He gave birth to the actor in me. He made me understand that there was another actor that I needed to nurture.”

Chatterjee termed the Padma Shri “a deeply emotional milestone” in his four-decade-plus career in Bengali cinema. The veteran actor, who has been part of Hindi and Odia films as well, views his win as not just a representation of Bengali cinema.

“I’ve mostly done Bengali films, but I don’t see them as Bengali films alone. At the end of the day, we all produce Indian cinema. This is an honour for everyone who supported me. My entire industry is happy because everyone has contributed to this journey.”

Asked whether he saw the honour coming, he reflected, “In any profession, it’s our dedication, hard work, and discipline that matter. Doing this for 45 years without losing interest is a journey. At the end of the day, when you receive this kind of honour, especially from the Indian government and the Honourable President, it becomes a huge moment.”