Rahul Bose

Missing in action since Antaheen and The Japanese Wife, Rahul Bose is getting back to Tollywood for Kaushik Ganguly’s Laptop.

After the super success of his same-sex film Aarekti Premer Galpo, Kaushik has turned to a relationship story with an ensemble cast. And despite what the title may hint at, Kaushik clarifies that the subject is anything but technical.

“Laptop is about love, hope and relationships. The protagonist of the film is a second-hand laptop which passes through various hands, from one family to another, and it’s about the difference in the lives of those who use this laptop,” says the director.

“The idea came to me one fine day, all of a sudden. I guess it was the urge to do something new that prompted me to think of making a film on the importance of a laptop, though I’m not tech-savvy at all. All I do with my laptop is receive and send emails!” laughs Kaushik, who had toyed with some other gadgets before zeroing in on the laptop.

Laptop has an ensemble cast and Kaushik has finalised six of the nine actors for the film.

Rahul Bose plays a publicist, who is involved in the life of a couple played by Saswata Chatterjee and Churni Ganguly. Rajesh Sharma plays a taxi driver; Kaushik is yet to cast someone as his wife. There’s a young couple — a computer teacher, played by Arjun Chakrabarty of Gaaner Opaarey fame, and his student played by Ridhima Ghosh.

“It’s like a little teenage love story that I have woven into the script. There’s also a story revolving around a visually challenged novelist and his translator.... All the characters are interlinked,” says Kaushik.

“Laptop is not an easy film to make. It’s a very complicated subject and will be quite a challenge for me. But with Aarekti Premer Galpo I think I have grown as a filmmaker. Besides, I didn’t want to do something I have already done, like a gay-lesbian love story or a comedy. I will never do a comedy again because I have already done two — Brakefail and Jackpot,” says Kaushik, who won the Special Jury Award at the 41st International Film Festival of India in Goa for Aarekti Premer Galpo.

Before starting Laptop, Kaushik will have to wrap up another film — Rang Milanti. “The film is at the edit bay now and we are targeting an August release,” he adds.

The Laptop team will have Shirsha Ray as the DoP and Mainak Bhaumik as the editor. Calcutta apart, a small portion will be shot in Darjeeling. The film, produced by Ichhemoti, goes on the floors on April 15.

(From left) Kaushik Ganguly, Saswata, Churni, Arjun, Ridhima and Rajesh