He walks in with a lot of swag for the t2 chat at The Bridge, The Park. Sky blue shirt teamed with cobalt blue summer jacket and white denims. You are always so well dressed, we tell him. “Thanks to Sonika (girlfriend), she is my stylist these days!” says Shaheb. We get chatting...

Will the Bengali audience watch a film called Not A Dirty Film?

The title is unusual because the subject is unusual and dirty. It’s about the porn racket in Bengal. Open the newspapers and you will find numerous ads on massage parlours, escort services. Lots of people visit these places. My character, Neel, is a victim of such a racket. He is a rich kid, and is scarred for life. There are a lot of passionate scenes between Mumtaz (Sorcar) and me. If this film was shot nationally, things would have been far more striking but here there’s too much of inhibition among actors, technicians and producers. 

You too must be having some inhibitions...

Yes, and that has happened from being a part of this industry. Any random model from Bombay comes here and does a bold scene without a hitch (referring to the erotic scene between Swastika Mukherjee and a Mumbai model in Mainak Bhaumik’s Take One). But you ask the best actor in Calcutta to do it, he won’t. It’s the Bengali mindset. So when we see Swastika doing a Take One or Paoli (Dam) doing a Chatrak, we go crazy!  

Why don’t you become the change?

I don’t mind because someone will have to step forward. I have shed my inhibitions to an extent in Not A Dirty Film. I am willing to experiment. If directors push me, I will take myself to a different level. I am comfortable taking off my shirt or doing an intimate scene. 

Is there anything you’ll never do on screen?

I don’t know. That’s the inhibition I’m talking about. An actor should never set any limitations.  

Is Sonika okay with you doing intimate scenes?

She is understanding but I have to convince her further.

Do you get indecent proposals?

Yes, there are many on my Facebook... some are weird, kinky, funny, obscene, vulgar.... But what’s scary is that a lot of guys send me indecent proposals these days! (LOL) 

How do you deal with it? 

I ignore them. I know they won’t step out of my comp and take off my clothes! But there was a girl who started stalking me and that really pissed me off. After a point, it got creepy and I had to go to the cops. Being in this profession, I of course crave attention but stalking is something else.       

Tolly actors are not bold enough because.... Tell t2@abp.in