Few things excited Sanjay Gupta as much as the prospect of helming a riveting crime thriller. And the filmmaker had zeroed in on one such subject before his sudden death on October 30. mid-day has learnt that he was developing the screen adaptation of the true crime thriller, CIU: Criminals In Uniform, written by investigative journalists Dr Sanjay Singh and Rakesh Trivedi. Gupta, who would have made his web series debut with it, was planning it as an eight-part series.

Speaking to mid-day, Singh revealed that the filmmaker had approached Naseeruddin Shah, Anil Kapoor, Akshaye Khanna, and Dia Mirza for the series.

“Sanjay Gupta held several meetings with us and had prepared an elaborate pitch deck. He was in discussions with Anil Kapoor, Naseeruddin Shah, Akshaye Khanna, Emraan Hashmi, Atul Kulkarni, Mahesh Manjrekar, and Ronit Bose Roy. His ambition was to create one of India’s most star-studded web series.”

Inspired by the 2021 Antilia bomb scare, CIU: Criminals In Uniform is a fictionalized telling of how the controversial head of Mumbai Police’s Crime Investigation Unit leads the probe after explosives are found in a vehicle parked outside the house of a wealthy business tycoon.

Singh added, “Sanjay believed the book had potential for a gripping web series. He understood the sensitivity of the subject.”

Gupta’s 32-year career was built on stylized crime thrillers and action dramas like Kaante (2002), Zinda (2006), Shootout At Wadala (2013), and Kaabil (2017). What distinguished him from other filmmakers, according to Singh, was that his stories were never only about the crime. “It was about the people, circumstances, hidden truths, and the larger story that the public had never been told.”

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Anil Kapoor as Commissioner, Mumbai Police; Naseeruddin Shah as a bureaucrat; Akshaye Khanna as Assistant Commissioner of Police; Emraan Hashmi as a senior inspector

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Sanjay Singh revealed that Sanjay Gupta was keen on revisiting the 1978 Ranga-Billa case, despite Prime Video’s ‘Raakh’ having recently explored the story.

He shared, “I’ve written a book on Ranga and Billa, and Sanjay was interested in bringing their story to the screen. When ‘Raakh’ came out, Sanjay felt that the makers had missed an opportunity to explore a much more complex crime story. He believed there was still tremendous potential to make a powerful and factually accurate web series on them”

Though born into a Bengali family, Rohit Roy, who spent his early years in Ahmedabad, feels a stronger affinity with Gujarati culture. And festivals make the similarities too obvious. “I’m going to get killed for saying this, but I identify more as a Gujarati than a Bengali (laughs). I’ve realized that there are so many similarities between our celebrations,” says the actor recently seen in Chumbak.

Speaking about the celebrations, Rohit shares, “The plan is the same every year – we visit the pujo pandal, offer our prayers and remember Maa. The only difference now is that I have stopped asking her for things because she has already given me so much. In your 20s, you ask her to make you a star; in your 30s, you want a bungalow, a car and watches; in your 40s, you pray for the next leap in your career. But by the time you reach your 50s, all you ask for is good health. This year, we are going for dandiya and visiting the mandir and pujo pandal, but I will not ask for anything. I will simply thank her for everything she has given me.”

“When we were in school, we were quite protected until Class VII. But from Class VIII onwards, we started going to our friends’ Navratri venues. The only problem was that getting in was really difficult, especially when 12-15 of us turned up together!”

Recalling one such incident, he says, “The biggest garba in Ahmedabad back then was at NID (National Institute of Design). We were from St Xavier’s, and we were quite naughty! There was just one pass, so one of the boys would enter first and then pass it back to us through the bushes. The next person would take it in, followed by the next, and that’s how all 12 of us managed to get in with just one pass! Now, I’ve exposed all my friends (laughs)!”

While Navratri brings back memories of Ahmedabad, Durga pujo is a family affair for him in Mumbai. 

“I usually celebrate Durga pujo in Mumbai. The city has a huge Bengali population and its own pujo celebrations. Neelam aunty (Joy Mukherjee’s wife) and my mother are best friends. Neelam aunty has been organising a lovely, intimate pujo for the last 20-25 years, where only around 100-150 people attend each day. Those four days are truly blissful because, unfortunately, everything has become so commercialized. But this group has stayed true to the essence of pujo. It is a family-run celebration, and Manasi (his wife) and I take turns with Ronit (Roy) and his wife, Neelam, to host the bhog on different days. It feels as though we are performing the pujo at our home. Usually, someone sponsors the bhog on a particular day, like Saptami or Nobomi (Navami), and both days are very special. Manasi, Kiara (his daughter), and I join everyone else in serving the bhog, and the offering that day is from our home. We serve the bhog ourselves, and it is a beautiful experience.”

Having grown up celebrating both, Rohit sees little difference between Navratri and pujo. “Whether it is Navratri or pujo, the spirit remains the same. In Kolkata, people go pandal hopping, while in Gujarat, they move from one dandiya venue to another. We celebrate the same spirit. The primary difference is that we play garba and dandiya in Gujarat, while Bengal has dhunuchi dance. Having lived in Ahmedabad all my life, I have celebrated both pujo and Navratri with equal fervour since childhood. I have reached a point where I cannot distinguish between the two.”

Two years after serving Killer Soup (2024) to the audience, filmmaker Abhishek Chaubey is ready to give shape to his next offering. Mid-Day has learnt that the director will helm a series, tentatively titled Kaala, to be led by Siddhant Chaturvedi. Can we expect another edgy story from the man who gave us Ishqiya (2010) and Udta Punjab (2016)? Well, the ingredients are all there, with sources telling us that Kaala is designed as a period drama focusing on the coal mafia in Jharkhand.

A source revealed, “The series begins sometime around the 1960s and is spread across several decades. Abhishek has envisioned it as an expansive story.”

Earlier this year, Chaturvedi stated in an interview that he was set to collaborate with the filmmaker. At the time, however, it wasn’t certain whether the project would be a film or series. 

Now, after months of pre-production, Chaubey is ready to call action on the series, which will be produced by Excel Entertainment. Another insider revealed, “The show will go on floors after Diwali. The first shoot will be conducted in Pune.”

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Earlier this week, mid-day reported that Siddhant Chaturvedi and filmmaker Abhishek Chaubey were teaming up for Kaala, a series centred on Jharkhand’s coal mafia in the 1970s (Back to black, Oct 22). Now, it appears that the director has also zeroed in on his show’s leading lady. According to sources, Medha Shankr, who rose to fame with the sleeper hit 12th Fail (2023), has bagged the project.

A source told mid-day, “The team did extensive auditions in its hunt for the female lead. Medha was always a frontrunner. She fits the world that Abhishek has created.” This will be her maiden collaboration with both Chaturvedi and Chaubey.

With the two leads in place, the obvious question then is: who will be the baddie? Chaubey, who plans to kick off Kaala in Pune next month, seems to have figured that out.

Another insider revealed, “Ronit Bose Roy has been signed on to play the primary antagonist. His intensity and ability to bring diverse characters on screen with conviction made him the perfect choice.”

Rohit Roy’s recent remark on a podcast that television is a dustbin medium, you watch it today and will forget about it tomorrow, sparked a debate, drawing reactions from members of the industry as well as netizens. Rohit has now clarified that his comments were about the quality and nature of television content and were not intended to demean the medium or its actors.

In a conversation with us, Rohit says, “The word ‘dustbin’ obviously didn’t sit well with a lot of people, and they have every right to air their opinions. But I do wish they had gone through the entire interview and not reacted just to a clickbait line. Having said that, in retrospect, I should have used a better word. The choice of the word was definitely wrong. It was insensitive, and I shouldn’t have used it.”

Rohit explains that his larger point was about the kind of content television actors have been doing for years. “I was talking about what all of us TV actors have to go through because we are getting the same kind of work to do over the last few years. A lot of people who have been associated with television have spoken about it. This is the first time I’ve spoken about it, but the fact of the matter is that the content is definitely not getting better. Reality shows are coming in, big shows are happening, money is pouring in, but if I compare it to the kind of work we used to do on television 15 years ago, you don’t see shows like those anymore. That’s all I was saying. I intended to talk about the need for better content.”

Addressing the criticism over his comments about film actors being more graceful, he says it was a general statement. “The one thing we should realise is that I am a television actor first, who moved to OTT and cinema. Whatever I am today is because of Swabhimaan. My brother and I both started our careers with TV. How can I deride an entire industry? I was trying to say something for the betterment of an industry. I stand by my thought that we need to make better content on TV. ”

He adds, “Whatever I say are my personal opinions and people have a right to comment on them. But they should know that I wasn’t targeting anybody.”

On the work front, Rohit says he continues to be open to television and is in discussions for projects. “I have been meeting a lot of people to do work on TV. I want to do something that I enjoy going to work for. It has been like this throughout my career. I have done work that I have enjoyed, and that makes me want to wake up in the morning and rush to the set. I won’t do television just for the sake of doing it. So hopefully, something good works out soon.”

The actor also responds to those who have made personal comments about him following the controversy.

“I am not reacting to anybody. They all have a right to say things, just as I have a right to say things. But to a few actors who have got personal, I would say I didn’t attack anybody personally. When you say things like ‘Botox must have gone to his brain’ or ‘He has forgotten what television has given him’, you are personally attacking me. I didn’t take anybody’s name. I meant it in good faith, as a collective unit, and for the betterment of the industry that has given me everything.”

Actor Ronit Bose Roy has become the latest victim of digital impersonation. On Thursday, the 60-year-old warned fans on Instagram, writing that scamsters posing as him have been approaching people, asking for Rs. 45,000 for private meet-and-greet sessions (see right). Roy also shared screenshots of the poser’s WhatsApp chats with fans.

Speaking to us, the actor says this incident was brought to his notice by a friend, whose acquaintance received messages soliciting money.

“The message in my name was asking for a meet and greet with fans, asking them to pay Rs. 45,000 for it,” he says, adding, “How could I do such an obnoxious act? Asking fans to pay up to meet me? I had to put my fans on alert. People are out there to target you whenever they get a chance.”

Theactor, known for TV shows such as Adaalat and Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, now says he will be pursuing the matter legally to “curb it at the right time”.

“Of course, I will take legal action on this. All will be done to prevent the misuse of my name. Scamming is a criminal activity and an offence. I will follow the due process to deal with it and curb the menace. I don’t want anyone’s hard-earned money to be lost to scammers,” he says, adding, “Now it is for the law to see and take action, and to check if anything like this has happened before. I hope they nab the person behind it to stop this from spreading.”

While Roy remains confident that his friends will never fall for such messages or requests for money, he feels fans, too, should exercise vigilance.

“Too many such instances are being reported, though a lot of awareness is being created, but many people out there are still gullible. It’s essential to think twice before sending money to anyone in response to a social media request. A basic awareness of performing due diligence should be in place,” he concludes.

On Sunday, actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu’s security were forced to create a human chain around her, after fans broke barricades to click a selfie with her at a store inauguration in Hyderabad. Last Wednesday, Hyderabad Police booked a mall and the event’s organizers after actor Nidhhi Agerwal was mobbed and manhandled by fans while trying to leave the venue. On November 30, actor Dhanush had to step in to save his co-star Kriti Sanon from being mobbed by an overenthusiastic crowd at a screening of their film in Mumbai.

The list of celebrities being mobbed seems to keep growing, with negligence being highlighted.

So, why do such lapses happen, despite the organizers having prior knowledge about the presence of public figures and anticipation of a large crowd? Security experts and industry insiders weigh in on the concerning issue.

At events like in colleges, we employ 20 bouncers, but the numbers don’t matter as much as smartness. Once the celeb is on stage, we never disclose their exit venue, or else people start crowding the gates. That seems to be what happened in recent cases.

I visit the event location to figure out security and do recce myself. There’s always plan A and a secret plan B for situations like mobbing. With female celebs especially, zyaada dhyaan rakhna padta hai.

The only issue here is that people try to save a little money. And security is about brains more than brawn. With female celebs, it is trickier, not just in India but worldwide. The negative intentions of some people towards a female star is more.

In 2013 in Gurugram, I had to literally run away with hundreds chasing me. Such incidents are traumatising. It comes as a part of the profession, but it is scary and affects you for years. I am not saying organisers don’t do their bit, but then things go out of hand.

The stabbing of actor Saif Ali Khan in January stunned the film industry and nation. After the attack, actor Ronit Roy’s security agency took over Saif’s protection. In an interview with Hindi Rush, Ronit disclosed that shortly after Saif was discharged from the hospital, actor Kareena Kapoor Khan faced a scare of her own.

He said, “Saif was on his way home after being released from the hospital. There was a huge crowd, with media and onlookers everywhere. As Kareena was also heading home from the hospital, her car was slightly attacked, which really frightened her.”

He continued, “Because the media and public were so close, her car got jostled a bit. She was understandably shaken and immediately asked me to bring Saif home myself. I went to get him, and by the time we returned, security had already been set up, with strong police support in place.”

Ronit’s agency found safety gaps at Saif’s home after the incident and recommended changes that were implemented. He said, “I gave some very basic suggestions, but none of those things were in place. There’s no reason why they weren’t there… but they should have been. These are basics. Every home should have them. So, I implemented those basic measures.”

Katrina Kaif being recorded while she takes a dip at the Triveni Sangam. Pic/youtube@showsha

Ronit Roy, known for his roles in the film Udaan and TV shows Swaran Ghar and Adaalat recently came to Lucknow to attend the ET Leadership Excellence Awards, 2024. He sat down with us for a chat where he revealed why he took a break from social media and what’s keeping him away from doing television.

Ronit recently posted a cryptic note on social media about needing to heal, which he later deleted.

Discussing this, he shared, “I put that post because everybody needs periodic healing, especially artists. Artists have heightened emotions, and sometimes it gets overwhelming. Social media can be toxic, and sometimes I need a break from it to focus on my family and personal life.”

Mostly seen wearing either white or black outfits, we quizzed Ronit about it. “I wear only white shirts and white t-shirts. It’s like the Steve Jobs angle. I don’t want to spend half my time thinking about what to wear. It’s about simplifying my life. I have a lot of clothes, but I don’t wear them anymore. Slowly, I have already emptied about 20% of my closet, including shoes and other things and accessories. I’m donating them. Even after emptying 20% of my closet, I still don’t have space to stand in it, it’s that packed. Now, whenever I am shooting and I see that they are buying new clothes for the shoot, I tell them that please take it from me and return them to me later. In the end, a green suit is a green suit, why buy a new one for a shoot.”

When asked about returning to television, Ronit said “Television doesn’t know how to slot me right now. But if something like Adalat comes up, it would be interesting. A lot of my fans ask me to bring back the series. Even if not the same series, long time back I told the network to bring a 2025 version of Adalat. If something like that comes up I would love to do but for me to take a long-running television is not possible now. I think the time has come for finite series on television. We are ready for seasons ranging between 50 to 90 episodes. This change could bring new pathways for actors.”

A picture of Ronit Roy with Sridevi, Mohnish Behl, Sudesh Berry, Harish, and Ravi Kishan, took rounds on social media. Having seen it himself, Ronit told us that the picture was from the movie Army. 

Reminiscing about that moment which he calls special, Ronit says, “We were shooting near Mysore at a beautiful but steep waterfall location. Like many waterfalls, a viewing area was accessible by a long flight of about a hundred steps. We had a long day of shooting and finally called it a wrap in the evening. As everyone started to pack up and head back, we began to climb up the steps. I was just ahead of Sridevi ji. Suddenly, in her soft, graceful voice she called out to me, ‘Ronit, can you hold my hand?’ I turned around and saw her standing there. Without hesitation, I held her and helped her up the steps. It was a treasured moment for me that I got to help her.”

Ronit Bose Roy is gearing up for his honeymoon after renewing his vows with wife Neelam on their 20th wedding anniversary. Ronit says, “It feels good. Now we get to go on a honeymoon again! Neelam’s favourite places are Amsterdam and Gstaad. It may sound silly to go on a honeymoon again, but all these years, we have never travelled without our children. Now, we plan to do that because my daughter is studying in Los Angeles and my son will soon go abroad, too.”

Sharing details of the ceremony that took place at their farmhouse in Goa on Monday, Ronit says, “It was a wish come true. Neelam wanted to renew our wedding vows for a long time, and I was keen, too. We regularly perform puja at this temple on our property in Goa and Neelam had expressed her wish to get married here again. So, during this trip, we planned to tie the knot. Her family’s presence was a surprise for her, and my mother, who does not go anywhere, also came to bless us. My children joked how they were not present for our wedding, but were happy to see their parents get married again.”

Ronit and Neelam tied the knot in 2003. Talking about their life together, he says, “We dated for three years before getting married. Back then, when I asked her about her future plans, she had said, ‘I want to get married, have children and be a homemaker.’ Being a homemaker and keeping the home front going well is a big task.”

He adds, “We do have our issues and fights, but we sort them out and that’s how our marriage has become stronger. Neelam has been a pillar of support and that’s why I say I can marry her over and over again.” Before trying the knot with Neelam, Ronit was married and had a daughter from his first marriage.

Be it Anil Kapoor (66), Suniel Shetty (62), Milind Soman or Ronit Roy (both 57), celebs well past their 50s have turned the tables when it comes to fitness — their chiselled physiques can give many youngsters a run for their money! Recently, actor Hrithik Roshan, who is inching closer to the big 5-0, has grabbed eyeballs because of his jaw-dropping physique. Fitness trainers spill the beans while sharing a note of caution with those inspired by these men.

One of the pillars of fitness is, without a doubt, consistency. “If you see Hrithik’s journey, it is not like he suddenly woke up from zero and went to 100. He has always looked after his fitness, whether he is working or not,” says Yasmin Karachiwala, a celebrity fitness instructor.

While one may feel inspired to achieve a body like that of their idol, it is important to tailor fitness goals according to one’s body type and not blindly copy, caution trainers. Roshan’s personal trainer, Swapneel Hazare, tells us: “One has to consider their genetic make-up, gender, age, lifestyle, eating habits, fitness levels, working hours and sleep patterns. What suits one need not necessarily suit another.”

Celebrity fitness coach Shivohaam, whose clientele includes Amitabh Bachchan, Ranbir Kapoor, Abhishek Bachchan and Sushmita Sen, says one should not take their body for granted and push themselves beyond a limit after a certain age.

“I have been training Mr Bachchan [for years] and I make him do everything. Our goal while training is not aesthetics. Instead, we work on balance — a bit of jogging, joint mobility, muscle strength and core…. Age is a number, but a number that we must take seriously,” he asserts.

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 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!

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

Having done films for over three decades now, actor Ronit Bose Roy knows the ways of the industry, which sometimes include parts being chopped. “You get shortchanged for whatever reasons. This sh*t happens in our industry. My scenes have been cut, too,” he says, adding, “If you cut an actor’s scene for length purposes or whatever, you are actually cutting important chunks out of the script. It doesn’t feel good to an artiste. What you’ve been promised, should be there.”

Roy, known for playing iconic roles in Udaan (2010) Ugly (2014) and 2 States (2014), says the last time his role was cut short this way was quite recent. “But let’s not point fingers at anybody — we don’t know what pressure people go through. We need to digest it and move on,” he notes.

But ask the 57-year-old how he reacts in the moment, and Bloody Daddy and Shehzada actor says, “I don’t have time to deal with idiots, so I walk away. I dissociate myself at that point, too. Shoot ke time samajh aa jata hai that the lead actor is getting nervous or insecure, and suddenly aapki script change hoke aati hai, lines gaayab ho jaati hain aapki. Life is too short, so I move on to better things.”

Ronit Bose Roy took to Instagram recently to share a mirror selfie flaunting his chiselled physique. At 57, the actor says his younger co-stars “inspire” him to work out and get in shape. He adds, “I am not competing with people my age, but those aged between 25 and 30. I want to be better than them.”

Roy, who was last seen in Shehzada and Gumraah, says, “I am in the hungriest phase of my life. I cannot ever retire, that word doesn’t come into my mind. It’s fine to chill in Goa [and be laid-back] for two-three days, but I cannot sit at home for long. I need to work all the time. I am thinking of the next 25 years. I obviously can’t work if I am not fit.”

Ask if he hopes to inspire people by sharing his fitness journey online and the actor says, “I don’t feel I’m competent enough to give advice. If somebody gets inspired by what I do, that’s good.”

Actor Ronit Bose Roy’s last few projects, including Thugs Of Hindostan (2018), Shamshera (2022) and Shehzada, failed to impress the audiences or work at the box office, but the actor prefers to look at the brighter side.

“These films are allowing me to build a bridge between me and filmmakers like Rohit Dhawan and Ali Abbas Zafar,” shares Roy, confessing that Shehzada was one such movie that he did only for its director, Dhawan. Without hesitation, the actor calls these no-brainer projects “a vacation”.

The 57-year-old explains, “In some films, performance isn’t needed. There’s barely any prep; you just get in there and be true to your role. These are like a vacation where you go on set and chill. And I don’t mind it because simultaneously, I’m also getting to play lead roles in other smaller films.”

While the failure of these films often leads to fans questioning his choices, the actor says he’s aware of their disappointment, and hence, he often writes to them on social media that he has no choice but to keep working. “Wahi baat hai, ‘marta kya na karta’. You can’t even say no to projects because it’s your job, and you have to continue doing it,” the Bloody Daddy actor says, adding, “Though I’m always aware what I’m getting into, there have been times when you are promised something, and then the results are something else. Those are the times you feel underutilized also, but then you can’t do anything about it.”

Nonetheless, Roy is happy with his career trajectory because of other factors, including good money. “I’m paid three times more than the next guy who’d do the role. That means there’s respect for my name and face. People recognize me as a good actor and that matters,” he ends.

Sometimes, poor scripts are elevated by great performances. But, what do you expect when best of actors are given sketchy characters in a badly written story? Case in point: Gajraj Rao in Bholaa, Sanjay Mishra in Jogira Sara Ra Ra and more. Such actors, known for their versatility, were reduced to frivolous characters in certain projects, which left their fans, and audience at large, disappointed. The bigger question is: Is it fair to sacrifice talented artistes at the altar of shoddy scripts? Industry experts help us decode.

Actors state their reasons

Gajraj Rao says he’s “very selective” with picking films, thus he doesn’t regret taking up any role. “If I start getting bothered by what people like to see, I won’t be able to survive in this industry. I feel, you’re the best judge of your work, so I only focus on what I think is good for me,” he says.

Renuka Shahane was highly criticized for Govinda Naam Mera (2022), but she doesn’t take “vague opinions” seriously. “If you tell me that this role wasn’t good enough for me, it does not make sense to me. How is it going to change anything for me? I can only do what’s being offered.”

Ronit Roy, who played Kartik Aaryan’s father in Shehzada, opines that decisions are often determined by several factors. “I have to create a balance between the films I like and projects that will facilitate putting bread on the table. I never feel short-changed because I sign the film knowing what my role is,” he says.

Siddharth Jadhav was brutally trolled for his cringe acting in Rohit Shetty’s Cirkus (2022). He admits that sometimes actors sign up a film only to collaborate with a director and banner. “Kabhi kabhi achche logon ke saath kaam karna bhi impactful hota hai. That’s why I took up Cirkus and Radhe (2021), which had Salman Khan in the lead and was directed by Prabhudheva,” he says.

There are several factors at play, say trade experts

Taran Adarsh feels that actors’ judgement can in no way be blamed for a script misfire. “Actors very well know what they are signing up for. Nobody is cheating or lying to them or making false promises. This used to happen earlier when there was no hard bound script, but that’s not the case anymore,” he says.

Atul Mohan explains how at times, the character’s strength gets lost in script-to-screen transition. ”Paper par jo hota hai, wo bahut exciting hota hai. I’ve been part of so many narrations where the director described a character in such a way that any actor would get convinced. But it did not translate well in the final outcome.”

Ronit Bose Roy, who’s been part of showbiz for nearly 30 years across different mediums, says acting is “not a journey” for him, and that the most important thing for him as an actor is getting the details of his character right. In the initial part of his career, Ronit says people thought he was difficult to work with because he “asked a lot of questions about my character, because I wanted to be completely prepared.”

Now, however, the actor says, the newer lot of filmmakers “sit and discuss characters. It’s a 360-degree view of the entire arc and how I can best play that character. ”

In a chat, Ronit explains why he isn’t doing TV just now, his ‘cryptic post on social media’ and more. Excerpts:

For anything I do on TV, things need to work out from both sides (mine and the makers). Two things happen to actors on TV – either you wither away, or you grow, and I feel I have grown as an actor.

I did try to do a show on TV, but then COVID happened. All of us tried to do the show even after COVID, but we realized that it wasn’t really working, the numbers weren’t good. The math and economics to have me on a show don’t work out for a lot of people. It is now difficult to sign me for a TV show. I am still offered a lot of TV shows, but either the budget doesn’t click, or the show lacks creativity. But I am not saying I wouldn’t do TV. If I feel a show has the potential to touch hearts, then I’m game and would do it with all the love.

A lot of people have asked if I am doing okay. Well, I am doing fine. It is just that this episode has happened three-four times now, so I couldn’t just stop but share the wisdom that I gained from it. Some people can do anything for their careers, I am not one of them. I have achieved a lot without betraying people. I trust people until they let me down. My father always told me to trust people with a hint of distrust, now I feel that he was right.

When I started doing OTT (with Kehne Ko Humsafar Hain), traditional TV was the bigger medium. Back then, I was among the first ones to say that OTT is here to stay, and it will be the next big thing. 2020 was a game changer for OTT and now it is the only leading player. People are so used to watching shows and films on OTT that they aren’t even going to the theatre unless it is a lavishly mounted project. Audiences have become discerning about the content they want to watch; they understand the value of good content and accordingly choose their shows. Even show makers are creating content only for OTT. Having said that, I don’t think TV viewership has been impacted by OTT.

I am currently shooting for Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, and am also working on a film that’s very close to my heart. No formal announcement has been made yet, but the film and content are my kind of cinema. I’ll also start shooting for Darshan Trivedi’s mature love story, Aaj Jaane Ki Zidd Naa Karo, in May. After that I have two web shows that I will be shooting for in September. Besides these, I will also be shooting for Rohit’s (Roy) directorial debut in Gujarati.

After a successful reign in television, Ronit Roy turned his attention to movies and digital entertainment. But one can rarely forget their first love — the actor returns to the tube whenever he is offered a compelling story. This time around, he is gracing the small screen with Swaran Ghar, which sees him play a doting husband and father, [Kanwaljeet Bedi]. Ahead of its airing, we sit down with the actor as he discusses the changing content on TV, his global aspirations and his relationship with children — Ona, Agasthya, and Ador.

Edited excerpts from the interview.

Yes, but it is not only [because of the OTT boom]. I remember the Krishi Darshan shows we used to watch on Doordarshan. Then, there was the satellite TV boom. It is not that people didn’t try to do different things on TV, but it didn’t work. When something doesn’t work, people get scared. Conversely, when one [theme] works, everybody jumps on the bandwagon. Now, people are realising that [stories about] reptiles and animals are not working, which means we have stretched it too far. So, they are attempting different themes. Three or four years ago, people would tell me that television is a done industry. I would say that it’s getting a dusting, but in the end, it will be cleaner. Television is a beast that cannot die. The revenue here is many folds higher than on OTT.

The few days of shoot was an important factor in giving my nod. But I said yes for a selfish reason — Sargun’s narration, and the potential of the role itself. I have played a father and a husband many times, but I felt he could be a poster father. It could be an iconic character.

Two things are critical to making content successful — creativity and math. Ravi and Sargun have done a brilliant thing by dividing their work. Ravi takes care of the math, Sargun looks at creativity, and they don’t get into each other’s territory.

My son [Agasthya, 14,] calls me Broski. I try to pick up their lingo, which keeps changing every month [laughs]. Sometimes it is, ‘Hey, what’s going down?’ or ‘What’s good, Broski?’ Then, there are the emojis used to express feelings. I try not to make the mistake of picking the wrong emoji at the wrong moment [laughs]. One needs to adapt to the changing world. My kids are my friends, and I need to speak their language to understand them.

Children never approach their parents for advice; they think they know it all. They only come to me when they want my credit card [laughs]. We have lived our life, and can now anticipate problems. They’ve not been there, so they don’t know what to anticipate. I’ve had chats about the prevalent dangers that one will encounter, like drugs, being taken advantage of, or alcohol consumption. No one is restricted in my home. After you reach a certain age, you can sit with me and have a drink. The only rule we follow at home is not to hide anything. If you need to hide it, don’t do it.

Yes. I may be slow to get there, but there is so much to be done. There are many actors and directors I have not worked with yet. I want to be an actor on a global scale. I want to speak different languages. It would seem impossible about 20 years ago, but not any longer.