He isn't among those who can go unnoticed. You can't miss him with the God-gifted good looks, impressive personality and powerful voice. He towers around six feet and three inches, with a gym-honed physique that, unlike his contemporaries, he has never attempted to exhibit with T-shirts or low-waist jeans. Add to those physical attributes the an impressive, deep voice and ‘bhadralok' etiquette and you get a complete package in the form of Priyanshu Chatterjee. He is still remembered for his performance in his debut film Tum Bin (2001), a heroine-oriented venture starring Sandali Sinha. And, he despite being one among the three male actors, is most recalled to date. Though with films like Aapko Pehle Bhi Kahin Dekha Hai , Dil Ka Rishta, Julie, Madhoshi, Pinjar, Bhootnath,Chintu Ji and a few others, he kept on cropping up in sizeable roles but none could match the impact Tum Bin had on the viewers.
Priyanshu has his own reasons to choose the films that he did. “My first film had 14 songs and the second one, five. But I had a different temperament. I didn't want to be a hero and get into the mould but the film industry doesn't work like that. It has a habit of branding you in a specific image to market you easily. When I refused a few films, they didn't like it. They thought, ‘Arre, yeh to acting karne aaya hai' So, I waited and did a few roles to my liking. Pinjar was one of them.”
Remaining distant
But Julie with Neha Dhupia, in which he advocates the cause of marrying a sex worker, was termed sleazy. “It was marketed that way to pull the masses though my role had no sleaze in it. I felt cheated after I saw the film. That was one reason I couldn't sustain interest in Bollywood. But I accepted Bhootnath as I was playing Amitabh Bachchan's son in it and my role was realistic. (He plays a son who lives in the US, leaving his parents alone in India and realises his folly at last.) I used to be on observational mode on the sets those days, almost frozen in time. He (Bachchan) was a lesson in discipline and humility, a man who shows that age can be defied by carrying the baton on his shoulder with immense success.”
Apart from average films on offer, Priyanshu had one more reason to stay away from Hindi films – the casting couch. “Being of different temperament, I couldn't bring myself to do things considered a sure shot to stardom or at least enviable roles. I was openly asked by a few filmmakers to play to the gallery. It was shocking and disturbing. This industry is in a hurry to gain solid results. They expect a hero or a heroine to get intimate on the first day of meeting for the good of the film, which is against my temperament. I draw a line, which the industry doesn't like,” says Priyanshu heaving a sigh but adding quickly, “I respect their choice and part my ways.”
Delhi days
The discussion is going heavy. The former model needs a break. Talking about childhood days in Delhi does the trick. He regains a smile and recalls, “I used to live in Rajouri Garden. I was a shy child, dutiful to parents, serious in studies but happier on the sports ground. Cricket, table tennis and basketball used to be my favourites in school. Actually, Delhi Bengalis are very different from Kolkata Bengalis. In West Delhi I lived a very Punjabi way of life; I have always loved its gregariousness, courage, fun, drama and day-to-day joy of living and celebrating. When I would go to Kolkata in vacations, I would be exposed to prevailing serenity, Rabindra Sangeet, poetry and plays, and again back to school in Delhi I would speak in English as it was a rule. So, my childhood days gave me three enriching worlds to live simultaneously.”
It was during the Durga Puja festival in Delhi that this Commerce graduate from Delhi University discovered his penchant for acting and modelling. During college days he explored his worth as a newsreader for UGC and modelled for Digjam, Wills, Four Square , Levis and many more celebrated brands. “My first payment was Rs.500 for news reading,” he recalls, adding, “It was after I did a tele-serial Khwahish that I was noticed by a few music video producers. In the late nineties music videos were like a test run for films. It used to bring instant recognition and roles in films.” Janam, his debut music video with Dipannita Sharma in 1999, got him Tum Bin the following year.
Heading westward
Now, in pursuit of creativity, he is exploring the Bengali film industry. Working with celebrated directors like Rituparno Ghosh , Gautam Ghose and Aparna Sen and newcomer Jeet Dutta, he has done several films with “creatively satisfying roles”. Pottadar Kirti, Moner Manoosh, and Eti Mrilnalini are a few films he swears by.
He says with pride, “I have just finished shooting for Gautam Ghose's Moner Manoosh based on Lolon Fokir – a 17th Century sufi who, despite being illiterate, was an inspiration to Rabindranath Tagore. I play Jyotindranath Tagore, who discovers Lolon Fokir in the film. My next is Eti Mrinalini by Aparna Sen, in which I play a young, ambitious director who takes a yesteryear superstar (played by Sen) as his main heroine in the film. Konkana Sen is also playing a vital role in the filmslated to release on April 16.
And those who miss him in Hindi films will see him in Laal Batti by debutant director Arshad, to be released in May. “This film is about the cops in the UP, Allahabad areas. I play a young sub-inspector in it.”
Priyanshu's journey to Hollywood has begun too. He has appeared in a supporting role in Florida Road , a multi award-winning film directed by American director Brad Glass, and “I have also been offered another (yet untitled) film by Glass. We will start shooting in September this year,” he concludes smiling.
(rana@thehindu.co.in)
