Congratulatory messages are pouring in for his role of the spiteful Professor Dhurjati in Chalo Let’s Go, but Barun Chanda would rather shut himself up in his private world and play with the pen. Early this year, the lanky salesman in Satyajit Ray’s Seemabaddha began a new chapter by launching his thriller Saaper Jhanpi. Chanda, 68, is now working on his second book, juggling a few acting assignments.

t2 was let into his Ballygunge Circular Road flat for a chat...

What prompted you to write a detective story?

I am a diehard fan of thrillers. I love reading and watching thrillers. My favourite authors are John le Carré, Len Deighton and Dick Francis. I also love Bernard Samson and Dorothy Sayers. After reading and watching a lot, I thought of writing something.... I had written a novel in the mid-Seventies and wanted to turn it into a film with Babu (Sandip Ray). But that never happened. This would be my third book when it comes out. I am writing the second book now. This too is a thriller revolving around Abinash Ray, the detective hero in Saaper Jhanpi (his first published work).

Do you think you started too late?

Yes, very very late. But I am not very ambitious. I want to write very smart, slick and crisp thrillers for adult readers. I want to write in today’s Calcutta’s context. Saaper Jhanpi is a very light read. And there’s a lot of Calcutta that I love in it.... The Majestic Bar on Madan Street, Kunga restaurant in Poddar Court, the Hungarian meat shop Kalman’s in New Market.... I wanted to create that smell and feel.

Why do you write in Bengali when you always speak in English?

I am more comfortable speaking in English but when it came to writing I felt I should write in Bengali. Being an advertising guy, I always think of positioning strategy. I felt I must look for a place where there’s a void in Bengali literature. Nobody is writing thrillers in today’s context. And I love thrillers. I would be very happy if I get recognition for filling that gap. I am not looking for literary fame. Later, of course, I would want to go into full-fledged novels.

Is there a role model for your hero Abinash Ray?

Long ago, there was a very popular detective TV series called Inspector Morse, run by the BBC Channel. It was incredibly good. Despite being a detective, Morse was a learned man. He was fond of music, he believed in refinement. Abinash loves to watch theatre. And he always tells his assistant Prodyot that one needs to learn to appreciate the arts.... But that’s also how I am. The way he speaks, his body language are all mine. Prodyot is very physical, the way I was once. Prodyot and Abinash are the two sides of me; rather, my projections.

Your book reads like a film script...

I made an effort to make the story visually easy. I like to dwell on a scene and describe things. It should be very cinematic.... Otherwise, Saaper Jhanpi is about a very simple crime and Abinash goes through a ponderous detection. He has a whole list of suspects and eliminates them one by one.

Where are you getting the ‘crime’ ideas from?

The stories are all around us. The idea for my second book came from a single column news story. Saaper Jhanpi is inspired by a real-life incident. The wife of a friend of mine was found murdered and the case has not yet been solved. I made up the rest of the book, but such things do happen in life. Even in our society, you will find elderly women who don’t get enough love getting drawn to younger men.

How important is sex for a thriller?

I would say, quite a lot. But my writing would never be tagged raunchy. I am very clear about that. I am never going to write Shobhaa De.

Have you thought of turning your books into films?

Oh yes, I would love to. But I don’t want to direct myself. Maybe Babu (Sandip Ray) or Anjan (Dutt).

Why did you quit acting after Seemabaddha?

After Ray, I got offers which I didn’t like. So there was a long gap, from 1971 to 1988. Then I did Ek Shunyo Shunyo for television. And besides, having acted in one Ray film is more than a lifetime. You are stamped a Ray hero for good or for worse. In my case, it has been for good.

You have an interesting role in Chalo Let’s Go. So, are things looking up now?

Roles are very limited for an elderly actor. You get only side characters. I don’t mind doing small roles but they should have a punch. But look at Harrison Ford (in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull)! You know I can still run and I would love to do a physical thriller.

Any films in the pipeline?

I will work in Aniruddha’s (Roy Chowdhury) Antaheen. I have a small role in Anjan’s (Dutt) BBD; I play Kay Kay’s (Menon) boss. It’s small but hopefully not bad.... But writing gives me a different pleasure that I don’t get from acting.