Rohit with his Bhorer Alo co-star Rituparna. Picture by Pabitra Das

With his sights firmly set on Tollywood, Bhorer Alo actor and probashi Bangali Rohit Roy shares his plans with t2...

Like in Pa Ma Ga Re Sa, you play a musician in Bhorer Alo too. Why did you take up similar roles?

Well, it’s purely coincidental that in both the films I play a rockstar but the similarity ends there. In Pa Ma Ga Re Sa, I played a happy-go-lucky guy and it was more about Rohit Roy. In Bhorer Alo I play Subhankar Roy, who is also a rockstar but the character has grey shades. He is suffering from a psychological problem, yet he is very charming and has a way with women. How Subhankar undergoes a complete transformation is what the film’s about. So in both the films only the profession is the same, everything else is different.

What kind of offers do you get from Tollywood?

Over the last five-six years I have got several offers to do Bengali films and I regret not starting out here earlier. I got offers from some very good directors, but blame it on my ignorance. I have been the biggest idiot because I didn’t know who they were. You can call it my loss.... Rituda (Rituparno Ghosh) and I are trying to work out dates for a film. Actually, I have been saying no to work from here because of lack of time. I have a production house back in Mumbai to look after. But, believe me, being a Bengali I want to carve a niche for myself here. Hopefully, Bhorer Alo will do that for me.

I think Tollywood looks at me in a particular way. I don’t look like a typical Bengali and so they put me in a different bracket. But I hope this film will help people see beyond my looks and directors like Goutamda (Ghose) and Buddhada (Buddhadeb Dasgupta) will cast me.

You are a familiar face in the city’s party circuit though...

Oh well, I am an Aries and that makes me a social animal! I am very comfortable in whatever surroundings I am in. I treat even Prabhatda, who’s 60-plus, like my buddy. The first day I came to Calcutta, we went out for a drink so it’s become easy to work now. I have a few friends here and I catch up with them.

You had Rituparna as co-star in Mittal vs Mittal too. Are you good friends?

Oh yes. We gel very well. Had it not been for her, I wouldn’t have got the critical acclaim for my role in Mittal vs Mittal. I played a wife beater in the film. I had to thrash her and because she made me feel so comfortable I could play the character so well. She is a fantastic actor and a great friend. On the sets, she helps me better my Bangla.

What’s keeping you busy in Mumbai now?

I will be directing a film by March-April next year. I can’t divulge much except that we’ve got the copyright of Shaukeen, a classic from the Seventies, and we want to make it with Amitabh Bachchan. The film will be produced by Rohit Roy Productions.

Any other Tolly films?

Well nothing has been finalised yet. But one thing’s for sure — I would be producing a Bengali film very soon.