Showing posts with label Parambrata Chattopadhyay. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Parambrata Chattopadhyay. Show all posts
The middle-of-the-road, independent film is gone-Apurva Asrani
8:46 AM
Stating that ‘The Pact’ was born from his relationship with his late father, editor and writer Apurva Asrani says it was crucial to turn producer with it
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; January 20, 2026)
It has been five years since Apurva Asrani’s last work, Criminal Justice: Behind Closed Doors (2020), was released. In the interim, the writer and editor wrote three series that have yet to see the light of day. More importantly, that pause coincided with a personal loss — he lost his father in 2023. Asrani’s upcoming short film, The Pact, was born from that grief.
“I had known my father as a strong, strict, larger-than-life personality. Vulnerability wasn’t part of his language,” started the writer, when we got on a call with him.
“As I saw him become dependent — say, when I had to lift him and take him to the washroom — I realized he believed his vulnerability was a burden on the family. I kept trying to talk to him, but I didn’t have the wisdom to offer comfort. I loved him dearly, but I was also afraid of him. That generation believed discipline and distance mattered. I wished we had found a language, but men usually don’t.”
Led by Parambrata Chattopadhyay, The Pact tells the story of a man confronting his memories as he revisits his late father’s home. The title comes from a real incident.
Asrani shared, “Once, my father had hit me. Later, he felt immense guilt. He took me out for ice cream, apologized profusely, and said, ‘Let’s not be trapped by father-son roles. Let’s be friends.’ That moment told me he was trying. I held on to that vulnerability.”
While Lakshmi R Iyer took the directorial reins, Asrani decided to turn producer with the short film. “When a story is this personal, a lot can be lost in translation. Producing allowed me to protect it,” he explained.
The result is a meditative film, miles away from the over-the-top movies that are dominating the scene today. Asrani, who broke out with Satya (1998), rued that such films have no space anymore.
“The middle-of-the-road, independent film is gone. I’ve survived because of these films — Satya, Shahid [2013], and Aligarh [2016]. They’re stories about real people, universal struggles. Today, you’re either making an arthouse film that only plays at festivals, or you’re expected to deliver a big, marketable product. There is no space for stories about real people anymore. Whenever the industry chooses commerce over storytelling, it pushes storytellers to tell their stories independently.”
Women who are smart, powerful are all capable of being at the receiving end of domestic violence-Konkona Sen Sharma
9:05 AM
From revisiting a ’90s novel to studying toxic behaviour patterns, Konkona on bringing strength and vulnerability to her domestic-violence survivor act in Mumbai Diaries 2
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; October 20, 2023)
Mumbai Diaries’ second season shows many aspects, from the rigour demanded of doctors, to the devastation that was brought on by the 2005 Mumbai floods. But when we meet Konkona Sen Sharma, our conversation is centred on the show’s most urgent topic—domestic abuse. Sen Sharma’s Chitra seems to have almost healed from her abusive marriage. Yet, when faced with her perpetrator again, she begins to break.
“This time, we dove deep into Chitra’s anxiety and panic attacks. It’s well-researched and well-written,” begins the actor.
She walked into the role with the painful knowledge that women across strata face domestic violence. “It’s heartbreaking how common it is. Women who are smart, powerful, well-placed are all capable of being at the receiving end of it. Even toxic relationships are cycles that are hard to get out of. I have worked closely with women who have been through it. There are common patterns.”
Sen Sharma’s The Rapist explores the subject of sexual violence too. But a glaring factor separates the two. “There, we delve into the rapist and the survivor. This is different because it’s not a stranger. Here is a man she trusted and loved.” To understand the intricacies better, the actor referred to Roddy Doyle’s book, The Woman Who Walked into Doors. “It reflects this complex equation, where you are in love with the man, but battling abuse at his hands. It helped me navigate this character.”
Bringing such a subject to screen, though necessary, is not easy. It helped that she had long-time collaborator Parambrata Chatterjee playing her husband. “We have worked closely in so many films that there is an existing bond. I was comfortable working with him.” This comfort also helped them cut off from their characters.
“During the shoot, we both were obsessed with ghost stories. You have to learn to be neutral so you can you hold the character’s pain.” The Amazon Prime Video series also depicts how Chitra has a younger suitor in Satyajeet Dubey’s character Ahaan. What does she think of the track? “It was cute. There is hope for women who come out of toxic relationships.”
With Konkona Sen Sharma's character, I wanted to show how even strong women miss signs when they are gaslit-Konkona Sen Sharma
8:14 AM
With Mumbai Diaries 2 exploring domestic violence through Konkona Sen Sharma’s track, creator Nikkhil Advani on how he deliberately cast the ‘affable’ Parambrata Chatterjee as the abusive ex
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; October 16, 2023)
After the reviews of Mumbai Diaries’ first season poured in, showrunner-creator Nikkhil Advani sat with Aparna Purohit, head of India originals, Amazon Prime Video, and meticulously went through the feedback. The objective was simple: figure out what had worked, what hadn’t and what needed to be done going forward. The result is the Mohit Raina and Konkona Sen Sharma-led second season that revisits the 2005 Mumbai floods.
Advani begins, “We found out the term 26/11 [on which the first season was centred] was triggering for people. It [was a subject] many people didn’t want to revisit. Plus, there weren’t enough cliffhangers. But what really worked was that the show was a well-put together ensemble [drama]. Every character had stayed with the audience. The production design, medical jargon, and [treatment] worked.”
Before the team began writing the second edition, Advani knew that every episode needed a cliffhanger. “This time every episode has a high ending,” he says. In addition, they needed more of what they had done right the last time around— build memorable characters through which pressing issues can be highlighted.
“The second season’s theme is abuse—of infrastructure, media, power, and even in interpersonal relationships. Domestic and sexual abuse became critical to mirror what we had in mind. We spent days staring at statistics [that said] 80 per cent of women have faced abuse in a public place. Chitra [Sen Sharma’s character] is the strength of the hospital, but she is becoming a domestic violence victim again. I wanted to show how even strong women miss [the signs] when they are gaslit.”
Parambrata Chattopadhyay was an interesting choice to play Chitra’s ex. Through his character of a soft-spoken, kind and brilliant doctor, Advani wanted to show how even seemingly harmless people can be predators.
“I could be standing in a room full of people, and every man there could possibly be a predator. Param was the most affable man to cast for this. Another aspect that worked was that Param and Konkona have worked together a lot. We needed to take the character places where she had to be alone with the actor, and it is a dark subject. So, she had to trust her co-actor. When I suggested Param, she instantly [agreed]. There is an incredible scene in the fifth episode, which I could have only pulled off with these two actors.”
This year, I’ll be literally living out of the suitcase, but no complaints-Raima Sen
8:01 AM
Ruman Ganguly (BOMBAY TIMES; August 13, 2023)
Raima Sen is looking forward to working in a Bengali film after a hiatus of almost three years. “My last Bengali film, Dwitiyo Purush, released in 2020, so I’m eagerly looking forward to the shoot of Hawa Bodol 2, which also stars Parambrata Chattopadhyay. In between, I acted in a Bengali web series, but films are always special. Moreover, we’ll be flying to London in mid-August for the shoot — the bonus of working in this film (laughs),” the actress told us during an exclusive photoshoot and chat. Raima also spoke about her camaraderie with Parambrata, upcoming projects, Pujo plans and her personal life. Excerpts:
I have great camaraderie with Parambrata Chattopadhyay, both on and off screen. Even the audience wants to see us more on screen. We’ve done innumerable ad commercials together. Now we’ll be working together in the sequel of Hawa Bodol, which was appreciated by the audience.
I owe a lot to the Bangla film industry because both my grandmother (Suchitra Sen) and mother (Moon Moon Sen) built their careers here and I have quite a few good Bengali films on my resume too.
I’m travelling to Georgia in September to shoot for a Hindi film that also stars Ronit Roy. I’m also doing a Hindi OTT project. So, this year, I’ll be literally living out of the suitcase, but no complaints (smiles)!
I’m happy that none of my past relationships worked. I deserve much better
I don’t want to get married right now. I’m not in that headspace. But if I get a good companion, I might think it over. Right now, it’s only about doing good work. I don’t regret my past relationships and trust me, I’m happy that none of them worked. (Laughs) I deserve much better!
Raima’s plans for Durga Puja
I’m not sure if my work will permit me to be in Kolkata during Durga Puja. But I’ll try to be around, as I had missed Pujo last year too because we were in Goa celebrating my father’s birthday. The city is so vibrant during Durga Puja! I don’t want to miss that this time. Moreover, I wear only saris during Pujo and ma does all our shopping. Dida used to do that in our childhood. My mother is the best when it comes to buying saris and jewellery and I completely trust her. Food is also an integral part of Pujo, so diet takes a back seat. For me, the festival is incomplete without enjoying some street food.
Pics: Prathamesh Bandekar
Makeup: Babusona Saha
Hair: Ginni Halder
Stylist: Sumit Sinha
Image: Geeta Basra is back in Hindi films with Awasthi vs Awasthi
7:55 AM
Producer Alankar Pandian and filmmaker Pavan Kumar Wadeyar are collaborating to produce the upcoming movie
BOMBAY TIMES (July 10, 2023)
Producer Alankar Pandian, who has backed pan-India films like Kabzaa and Vikrant Rona, is now joining hands with filmmaker Pavan Kumar Wadeyar for the upcoming movie Awasthi vs Awasthi.
Talking about the collaboration, Alankar says, “While viewing the showreels of Awasthi vs Awasthi, one character — Sheetal – caught my attention.”
Impressed with the way Geeta Basra has essayed the character, Alankar made the decision to come on board as co-producer. Fueled by his excitement and recognising the potential of the film, Alankar is determined to present it to a global audience. With his expertise and passion, he aims to give the film a bigger platform.
Awasthi vs Awasthi also marks Geeta Basra’s return to Hindi films. Filmmaker Pavan shares that Geeta’s husband, cricketer Harbhajan Singh, was thrilled when he heard the story, and Geeta immediately agreed to portray the powerful character. She plays the role of a homemaker with immense strength. The project, backed by Alankar’s Invenio Origin Production and Pavan’s Wadeyar Movies is headlined by Parambrata Chattopadhyay.
There is a reason why my mom was ready to give up all of her life for a man so interesting like my dad-Avantika Dassani
8:13 AM
Avantika Dassani, who made her OTT debut last year, talks about how the platform is providing opportunities to budding actors like her
Akash Wadhwa (BOMBAY TIMES; March 30, 2023)
Avantika Dasani, daughter of actress Bhagyashree, was in Lucknow recently. Avantika, who debuted on the OTT this year, talked about her relationship with her mother and how she plans to make her mark in the industry. Calling herself an ‘OTT Baby’, she says, “I am very excited to see where the web space takes me. Characters that we see on the web are not all goody two shoes. OTT gives you a lot more than what commercial cinema does. There is room being made for everyone and yes, I am very excited about that. The kind of stories, the character, the engagement, that is something that is really exciting. Also, it is a platform where there are different types of people, there isn’t any age barrier, look barrier or anything to be an OTT star. You have to be good at what you do as an actor. Take for example Raveena (Tandon) and Sushmita (Sen) ma’am, who are doing awesome stuff on OTT.”
Just like her mom, Avantika also has drawn some lines for herself for the kind of roles she would like to do. “I don’t like to use the word bold when it comes to such content. However, if ever I do such a scene, there has to be a proper reasoning for that. My openness to doing ‘bold’ stuff in films or OTT definitely has a lot of limits. There is a limit on what is allowed and what is not allowed and maybe it is in my blood and what I have seen around me. I do have my boundary set for bold content.”
Ask Avantika if the younger lot of actors crave to be a film star or if are they happy making their own space on the web, and she says, “To see yourself on the big screen as an actor is lovely and exciting. At the same time, I worked with Rohan Sippy on my web project, where Huma Qureshi was my co-actor along with Parambrata Chattopadhyay and Rajit Kapur. The craving for the big screen is definitely not that much today for the simple reason that the script that we are getting to see on the web is exciting for an actor.”
Avatika’s mom Bhagyashree got married at a very early age. We ask what Avantika has to say about her mom’s decision. “Well, there is a reason why my mom was ready to give up all of her life for a man so interesting like my dad Himalay Dassani. Also, when my mom got married that time was really different than what it is today. The kind of opportunities that I have got are very different from what my mom got. For example, I went to London to study for three years, while my mom didn’t. Today, my mom is a certified nutritionist and has had a successful business and has also done different things in life. Things are really different today,” she signs off.
— With inputs from Vivek Kumar
I have done plenty of sex scenes but I am a little apprehensive of how they are projected onscreen-Parambrata Chattopadhyay
8:30 AM
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; February 23, 2023)
In a career spanning two decades, actor Parambrata Chattopadhyay has tried his hand at many genres and film industries. And in Hindi cinema, he has a filmography that ranges from a mystery thriller like Kahaani (2012), to horror film Pari (2018), and a number of web shows, too.
But there’s something he would never attempt: “A genre I will never touch is slasher movies. It is just not my thing. The gore fest in them is not for me,” he states, adding another kind of content that he avoids is eroticism for the heck of it.
“I don’t think I will ever be part of content, which is meant to only titillate the audiences. I mean, I don’t have any problem with sex or love scenes and I have done plenty of them in my films, but I am a little apprehensive... (of how they are projected onscreen),” explains the 42-year-old. The actor will be seen next in a horror film and an adaptation of late director Satyajit Ray’s famous detective, Feluda.
“I have an aversion towards content which only titillates and doesn’t aesthetically engage people,” he stresses on the need for sensitively handling complex storylines.
Other than this, there are things that he feels need to change in showbiz. “There are, of course, a lot of great things about our film industry, but also a lot of not-so-good things. The way female characters are portrayed in films is still not up to the mark. There is also a lot of talk about equal pay, but it is still not there, and must change for the better,” he says.
Taapsee Pannu is among most important female actors in the country today-Parambrata Chattopadhyay
8:21 AM
Bengali star Parambrata Chattopadhyay discusses finding his footing in Hindi entertainment as he fronts 'Mumbai Diaries 2' and teams up with Taapsee Pannu for Sudhir Mishra’s short film
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; September 15, 2022)
“An artiste always strives for a bigger audience,” begins Parambrata Chattopadhyay, alluding to one of the many reasons why he is dabbling in Hindi cinema. The Bengali actor-filmmaker might have made his Bollywood debut with Kahaani (2012) a decade ago, but his appearances in Hindi offerings have become more frequent only in the past two years, from Bulbbul (2020) to Aranyak (2021).
Now, he is happy to divide his time between Kolkata and Mumbai. “Hindi is the most widely spoken language in the country, and working in the industry widens one’s horizons. [That said], an artiste nourishes himself in many ways creatively, regardless of the language,” he says.
There is no dearth of offers for Chattopadhyay. He recently wrapped up the shoot of Sudhir Mishra’s short film that sees him opposite Taapsee Pannu. The short will be a part of the Anubhav Sinha-backed anthology. With it, he has ticked one item off his bucket list — working with Mishra.
“I have admired his work for a long time. Taapsee is among the most important female actors in the country today. I have always liked her choices as an actor, from Pink [2016] to Thappad [2020] and Dobaaraa. It’s joyful to work with a visionary director and gifted co-actors with whom you can exchange creative ideas.”
The actor will also be seen in the second season of Mumbai Diaries. Rumours suggest that he plays a grey character in Nikkhil Advani’s web series. “My look can count as grey. It’s a salt-and-pepper look,” he quips, before adding that he searches for “intricate characters” rather than distinguishing them as white or grey.
“I look for stories where I am pushing the boundaries. This show achieved that. I enjoyed working with Nikkhil, who is in so much command of his craft. The best part was working with my favourite actor Konkona Sen Sharma.”
There is no level playing field between Hindi and other languages-Parambrata Chattopadhyay
8:11 AM
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; August 22, 2022)
Over the last few months, numerous debates have been stirred about how all the film industries are merging into one. But, Parambrata Chattopadhyay begs to differ. “We can’t have one big industry. If so, the whole distribution machinery has to be the same for all films,” reasons the actor, who has featured in films like Kahaani (2012) and Pari (2018) and the web show Aranyak, besides many other Hindi and Bengali projects.
He goes on to shed light on how the number of screens allotted to Hindi films versus those of other languages continues to be lopsided: “The kind of distribution and bandwidth Hindi or south Indian language films get, a Marathi, Gujarati or Punjabi film wouldn’t get even one-tenth of that. So unless there is a level playing field, it cannot be called one industry.”
The 42-year-old also feels one can’t compare box-office collections: “The revenue of, say, KGF - Chapter 2, can’t be compared to that of a small Bengali film. KGF releases on 5,000 screens, a Bengali film on 100.” What has blurred, though, according to Chattopadhyay, is geographical boundaries.
“‘Woh South ka actor hai, yeh Bengali actor hai’, that has gone. If someone watching Bulbbul (2020) or Aranyak likes my work, but is not familiar with me, they will think, ‘Iss actor ka aur kya hai, chalo dekhte hain’. And that is because of OTT,” he says.
Bhagyashree’s daughter Avantika to make her debut with Rohan Sippy’s series alongside Huma Qureshi
8:14 AM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; January 22, 2022)
It’s evident that Bhagyashree’s kids have inherited her love for movies. In 2019, the Maine Pyar Kiya star’s son Abhimanyu Dassani forayed into Bollywood with the quirky Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota. Three years on, his sister Avantika is ready for her brush with showbiz. mid-day has learnt that she has bagged Rohan Sippy’s yet-untitled psychological thriller, which also features Huma Qureshi and Parambrata Chattopadhyay.
It’s evident that Bhagyashree’s kids have inherited her love for movies. In 2019, the Maine Pyar Kiya star’s son Abhimanyu Dassani forayed into Bollywood with the quirky Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota. Three years on, his sister Avantika is ready for her brush with showbiz. mid-day has learnt that she has bagged Rohan Sippy’s yet-untitled psychological thriller, which also features Huma Qureshi and Parambrata Chattopadhyay.
I am happy doing Bengali films, and occasionally, a Hindi project-Parambrata Chattopadhyay
8:31 AM
Despite being noticed for a handful roles in Bollywood, Parambrata Chattopadhyay on not being swayed by the Hindi film industry
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; June 21, 2020)
His acclaimed act as an aide to Vidya Balan's character in the 2012 drama, Kahaani, made makers of Hindi films instantly sit up and take notice of him. But, Bengali actor Parambrata Chattopadhyay wasn't one to be swayed by the glamour attached with Bollywood. "Many people thought I would shift to Mumbai and do more Hindi films, but I am an actor and a director, and primarily belong to the Bengali film industry. I am happy doing Bengali films, and occasionally, a Hindi project," says the actor, who can be persuaded to take up a project from the Hindi film industry if it appeases his heart.
One such offering was the Anushka Sharma-backed Anvita Dutt directorial venture, Bulbbul. The supernatural period thriller, which drops on Netflix on June 24, sees the actor play a "character full of intrigue". The offering also has him collaborate with Sharma for the second time, after the duo shared screen space in the horror film, Pari. "When shooting for Pari, I was relatively new to the Hindi film [industry]. [Anushka and I] spent a lot of time doing workshops. I enjoyed the atmosphere on the set and was looking forward to working with [her team] again. She had dropped in when we were shooting for Bulbbul. It was good to reconnect with her as well as her brother, Karnesh [co-producer]."
Sharma's last production, Paatal Lok is being touted as one among the best to have released this year. Inevitably then, cinephiles have their eyes trained on Bulbbul, which promises to be an equally gritty offering. According to Chattopadhyay, Sharma has been "handpicking projects that are pushing the envelope, which provides actors from regional films to showcase their talent."
It was Dutt who roped him for this series. "I said yes immediately. Though she is a debutant, she didn't need my advice. She is confident about her craft," says Chattopadhyay, who is also working on a biopic on legendary actor, Soumitra Chatterjee.
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