Picture by Anindya Shankar Ray

There’s a buzz that there’s a strong resemblance between your character in Autograph (releasing on October 14) and Uttam Kumar’s in Nayak...

No, not really. Autograph (directed by Srijit Mukherjee and produced by Shree Venkatesh Films) is a relationship story around three individuals and their moments. Although Autograph starts with Satyajit Ray, the story has nothing to do with Nayak. It is a tribute to Nayak. Yes, you could say that Uttamjethu did Nayak when he was at his peak and I too am playing a similar character at the peak of my career. But the nayak in our film is not just Prosenjit; he represents all successful heroes. There are certain things that are common to all superstars.

And these common factors would be...

For instance, how can a person stay at the top for 25 years without manipulating others? That’s what people think about us and that is how we are projected in the world. Be it a successful model, actor or cricketer, 80 per cent of us carry that baggage and this is what has been shown in Autograph. This is where Arun Chatterjee, my character, and I share a common ground.

There are so many things that are said about the character that have also been said about me. Like, so-and-so director is making a film without me, so I’ll have him thrown out of the industry... or that I’ve exploited my heroines. No one knows whether that’s right or wrong. In Autograph, a heroine (Nandana Sen) tries to discover that side of Arun. There is a song sequence where I’m seated in the studio and some men are walking out with a poster of mine on their shoulders. If I stop for a minute to think, I have actually sat in that same studio and dictated for 30 years! So even if it’s a part of the film, this is a reality. We stars have a cycle. But today, I feel that nothing can affect me. I just want to do some good roles.

Prosenjit in Autograph

Did you feel misunderstood by the industry?

Yes, totally misunderstood. It’s probably because I wouldn’t mingle with one and all. Let me give you an example. Earlier, people would say, ‘Prosenjit khub raagi’. Tota (Roy Chowdhury) and Jisshu (Sengupta) have told me how they had heard stories of what an angry person I was. Now this is a myth created by me that I’ve also managed to break. Showing my temper to make my presence felt is not necessary for me anymore. When I walk into a room, people automatically feel my presence. I can’t act in ways that will hurt someone. And I can’t explain what a huge realisation this has been for me! In my younger days, people would talk about my relationships, including my relation with my father (Biswajit). I would react. I’ve had tears in my eyes. Today, I don’t care. Those emotions don’t work.

So you’ve changed as a person...

Very much. People in my family as well as old friends like Ritu (Rituparno Ghosh) tell me, ‘Tui adbhut bhabe palte gechhish’. A lot of times people make a lot of mistakes. It might lead to huge financial losses, but I don’t react the way everyone else does. I give them a chance to explain their mistake. I’m a very emotional guy and I can’t change that, but now I know how to control my emotions.

What’s common between Prosenjit and Arun Chatterjee?

The hero in this film is shown to have worked for almost 30 years and I have worked for 28 years, so yes there’s that similarity. Autograph is not my biography but Prosenjit does have two sides to him too. One is the star; the other is someone that only a few people in the industry connect with. Arun Chatterjee is an arrogant guy but success does make people arrogant. For a star to dominate, both his darker side and good side will have to come into play.

Is it because the character felt so real that you said yes to the film?

If this was five years ago, I would have probably deliberated on whether to do this role or not. Amio toh ekta stardom-er modhye chhilam... but honestly speaking, in the last five years amar oi baggage-ta aami chhure phele diyechhi. I just want to prove that I’m an actor. I don’t need to prove that I’m a star. Besides, I liked Srijit’s script. I usually come up with suggestions for changes after reading a script, but this one seemed so good that I could find no flaws. In fact, I called Ritu to tell him that after a long time I had come across a script that reminded me of Unishe April.

Was Nayak playing on your mind when you did Autograph?

I’ve seen Nayak 12 or 13 times but chose not to see it before shooting this film. When Satyajit Ray made Nayak, the concept of a nayak or hero was very different from today. The lifestyle, the environment, the thoughts of an Uttam Kumar or my father were very different. Nayak comes as a film within a film here.... It’s natural for an actor to be strongly influenced by Uttam Kumar’s character but I had consciously switched myself off. The journeys are connected but they’re not obvious.

How was Srijit as a first-time director?

I would give credit to Srijit’s entire team, including his DoP (Soumik Halder) and assistants. They’re all very young and I used to have a lot of fun on the sets. They had a lot of respect and love for me. Their tuning with me from the very first day was very good. They handled actors like me and Nandana in a very mature way.

Did you need to guide Nandana?

Not at all. I would rather say she was guiding me! Nandana is very mature and she is good with method acting. And after a very long time, I did workshops for a film! I usually don’t believe in workshops but I understood that Srijit wanted it for a reason and it helps build a rapport with your co-actors. I think Indraneil (Sengupta) is very good, very hard-working. I think he’s here to stay.

You haven’t signed any other film after Autograph...

Because I haven’t got the kind of script I was looking for. I’ve always been easily approachable and very open to all kinds of work but there are things that I won’t allow anymore. Aami onek bokar moto kaaj korechhi... just for the sake of relationships even if it didn’t feel right. I can’t allow people to exploit my brand name and sell DVDs for quick money anymore.