A still from Sanjib Hazarika’s Matsyagandha

Guwahati, Aug. 13: Two of Assam’s acclaimed directors have decided to return to their first love, acting, in the absence of “exciting” projects to direct.

Bidyut Chakraborty and Sanjib Hazarika, both of whom have made award-winning films, will put on the greasepaint for Pradyut Kumar Deka’s latest film, Dhuniya Tirotabur.

Woven around the lives of five women, Deka’s film will have Chakraborty in the role of a journalist. Hazarika, too, has been given a “meaty” role.

“I do not have any exciting film project as of now. This is not because of dearth of good ideas but due to lack of finances. It is hard to find a financier for my type of film. Also, please don’t forget that I am also a passionate actor and the role offered by Pradyut is enticing,” said Chakraborty, whose first film, Rag Biraag, fetched him the Indira Gandhi award for best first film in 1997.

As a child actor, Chakraborty played a role in Mukuta, a film by Brojen Barua. He went on to act in 25 feature films, including Bhabendranath Saikia’s Anirban. But once he took up direction in 1997, acting took the backseat.

Apart from Rag Biraag, Chakraborty’s oeuvre includes Nishiddha Nodi and Anurag, both critically acclaimed films.

Hazarika’s story is similar to that of Chakraborty’s.

He announced his arrival as a director with the provocative Haladhar in 1992, which fetched him the Indira Gandhi award for best first film.

Mimangsha followed in 1994 and it made an even bigger splash, being screened in international film festivals from Montreal to Chicago.

Being a fine actor, too, Hazarika sees Dhuniya Tirotabur as an opportunity to revive his acting career.

“I have been doing acting on and off. I would like to call myself an actor-director. But it is direction that is more satisfying. But no one is coming forward to produce my films,” he said.

Hazarika’s last screen appearance was in Iman Moram Kiyo Laage in 2002. He played a negative role.

Film critic Arun Lochan Das said he was happy to learn that Hazarika and Chakraborty were returning to acting, but it was not a good sign that two fine directors were not being able to make films due to lack of finances.

“There is no doubt that both are good actors but their forte is direction. They are flawless as directors and have taken Assamese films to the international arena. It is sad that two great directors are unable to start their projects because nobody is willing to finance them.”

Jahnu Baruah, arguably Assam’s finest filmmaker, has stopped making Assamese films for want of producers and an appreciative audience.