Yugpurush

Ever since the lukewarm response to Minister Fatakesto, Mithun Chakraborty has been more visible off the big screen than on it. This week, he resurfaces with his Poila Baisakh offering — Satyameva Jayate. Mithun tells t2 what had kept him busy all this while...

You haven’t had a Tolly release in the past six months...

Actually I am very busy in Mumbai. There are some very good films there, so I couldn’t devote much time to Tollywood. Satyameva Jayate is my first release this year.

What’s keeping you busy in Mumbai?

Well, I am doing a lot of films. There’s Luck with Sanjay Dutt and Chandni Chowk To China with Akshay Kumar. There’s UTV’s Phir Kabhi opposite Dimple Kapadia. Zindagi Tere Naam with Ranjita is still on the floors. Then there’s Ghosla and Don Muthuswamy.

What is Satyameva Jayate all about?

It’s a film about truth and honesty. There’s a belief that the year 2000 marked the end of kalyug and the start of satyayug. The film explores whether this is a myth or a reality. I play Vinayak, a police constable who fights for justice and goes through a lot in life.

Is your role any different from Fatakesto?

It’s very different from MLA and Minister Fatakesto. Why would I do similar films? It is very wrong to think that Vinayak is like Fatakesto. Fatakesto is a cult figure now. Satyameva Jayate has a different story. To me, all films are different because the execution of films is different.

Did you cut down on Tolly films because Minister Fatakesto didn’t do as well as MLA Fatakesto?

No, not at all. How can two films do similar business? How can you all ask a question like this? If one film does well, is there any rule that the next has to repeat the same business. The reason why I chose to do a lot of films last year was because I wanted to show that even regional films can do very good business.

You are launching two new girls in Satyameva...

Yes, Priyadarshini and Taniya. Both were participants in Zee Bangla’s Dance Bangla Dance. Priyadarshini plays a journalist, while Taniya is the villain’s girlfriend.

What made you choose them?

I felt they would suit the roles. Besides, both are fantastic dancers. See, when I launch someone I always look for the X-factor. Priyadarshini and Taniya have the spark to make it big.

I had also launched Shilpa Shirodkar and suggested Madhuri Dixit’s name to a couple of producers after someone came to me with her photograph. I worked opposite her in Prem Pratigya, Mujrim, Elaka and Pyar Ka Devta. At that time, producers were reluctant to cast her but I knew she would do well.

Any Bengali film on the floors?

I am doing an untitled film by Haranath Chakraborty. It’s a comedy and we will start shooting as soon as I am through with my Hindi films.