Indraneil Sengupta ages like fine wine. Clad in a simple black shirt and ripped blue denims, he is all smiles at The Park for the trailer launch of Sanjib Dey’s multilingual movie III Smoking Barrels that’s set entirely in Northeast India. Slated to release on September 21, the movie also stars Subrat Dutta and Amrita Chattopadhyay. A t2 chat with Indraneil... 

What’s your role in III Smoking Barrels?

I play an executive. I’m driving down to see my pregnant wife in Guwahati, who’s going to deliver anytime soon and I get hijacked by a girl in the back seat... she has a gun. It’s about my interaction with the girl during the entire journey and I come to know what’s happening in the region. Three stages in a human’s life are shown in the movie — childhood, boyhood and manhood. The childhood part is portrayed by Shiny Gogoi, who’s the girl in the car. 

It’s being called India’s first multilingual film… 

Yes, because people are conversing in so many different languages, it has turned out to be a multilingual film. I don’t think it was intended. It’s just how people from various regions interact with each other… there’s Hindi, Bengali, English and different Northeastern dialects. Like, the girl in the car speaks in a language that I don’t understand. 

What got you interested in III Smoking Barrels? It’s different from the projects you’ve done so far… 

That is exactly what attracted me to do this movie. I was more interested in this experience of doing it in a different way, not the typical set-up production where you go to the set, shoot and come back… where you’re served your lunch and dinner on time, everything is taken care of and you are always on the phone. Here we were shooting in areas where there were no phones or network.

Would we get to see you in a Bengali movie anytime soon?

I’ve always lived in Bombay. I used to come, shoot for the Bengali movies and go back. I was doing too much work in Calcutta and was not staying with my family in Bombay. So I made a conscious decision to work more there and less in Calcutta, so that I get to spend more time with family. Now I’m busy with my television commitments in Bombay. Once in a while if something interests me in Calcutta, I try to accommodate it. 

What are you working on now?

I’m doing a show called Nimki Mukhiya on STAR Bharat, which will soon complete 300 episodes. I’ve also started shooting for a mythological show for the first time in my life — Shrimad Bhagavad on Colors.

We keep seeing your daughter Meira on your Instagram. Are you a hands-on father?

No, I’m not. My wife insists and keeps saying in interviews that I am. But I am not, I don’t do anything! Meira is going to be seven in October. I’m thankful to my wife that she does everything with the baby. I haven’t changed diapers for more than twice in my life. But I’m a good father. I play with her, go out with her, interact with her… I share the homework burden with my wife too. 

Has fatherhood changed you?

It hasn’t changed me. It has made me like kids more. I always liked kids but I was never the person who’d see a kid and go hug and pick the kid up. I’d stay away from kids thinking ‘oh cute’. That’s it. I’m extremely cuddly with my own child but not so with others. But I’m definitely much warmer than before!

How do you handle female adulation?

I handle it the way I used to handle it before. I’m aware of it but I don’t let it get to me (laughs).

Has Barkha got used to it by now?

Barkha has a lot of male adulation, so I don’t think she needs to get used to  my female adulation. But that’s a part of our profession. It’s bound to happen. We enjoy it and manage our lives around it. 

Does it get difficult sometimes to maintain a relationship or marriage in the industry, because of the constant scrutiny? 

There are two reasons why it doesn’t affect us. First, I think we are different than the usual celebrities. We are our own people. Second, we consciously make an effort to disconnect. We lead a very normal life. Barkha and I both believe that we are just actors by profession and not actors by identity. I act and earn money but I don’t live an actor’s life. We live a very normal life.

What’s that one thing you want to change about yourself?

I think I’m too practical at times. I feel I should be a little more sensitive and emotional. I think it’s a shortcoming. I judge everything from a practical point of view and that’s not always nice for the people around me. They may feel I’m disconnected and indifferent, even though I’m not. I wish that could’ve been a little different.

What would you consider as the turning point in your life?

Personally, it was the day I got married and the day my daughter was born. Those were two very important occasions. Another day would be the day I decided to shift from Ahmedabad to Bombay to pursue modelling in 2000. That was also a very big decision.

How do you stay so fit? 

I work out every day — 365 days a year, everywhere and anywhere, even when I’m travelling! It doesn’t matter if there’s a gym or no gym, whether it’s just a hotel room… I can just go running on the road. I try to maintain a healthy lifestyle as much as possible. I socialise, I drink, I’m a foodie… but I do everything in moderation. I think the best thing is to stay happy. That keeps you young and fit forever (smiles). 

What’s your regular diet like?

I don’t have a set breakfast. I don’t consume any food supplements anymore since the last two years. Earlier I used to have protein shakes, now I don’t. I eat regular food like eggs, milk, bananas, dry fruits, roti, chawal, chicken… but I’m a hardcore non-vegetarian! 

What’s your guilty pleasure?

I smoke once in a while. I used to smoke regularly but now I do it occasionally. I like it... it’s not good.

How would you describe yourself?

I’m simple, I’m very disciplined. I’m extremely humorous — it doesn’t come across and I pretend to be serious, but it comes out when I’m in good company. I take my time to open up and I don’t like too many people around me. I think I’m basically an introvert.

What is your kind of music?

I don’t keep a track of the latest music. I listen to all kinds, from EDM to classical. Anything related to RD Burman, Gulzar and Kishore Kumar are always there on my playlist. I really like this song called Territory by The Blaze… it’s so groovy! When I work out, I listen to heavy metal. 

Your top five travel destinations?

I travel a lot. It may sound like a cliche but I think Switzerland is one of the most beautiful destinations in the world. I’ve been to other places that have claimed to be as good but Switzerland has something about it. Even though Yash Raj has done it to death, it’s still as good. I also find Maldives really beautiful. I love the United States. I would love to go to Leh-Ladakh. I also love Scotland.

What is your message for Indraneil? Tell t2@abp.in