Priyanshu (extreme right) during a shoot in Siliguri on Tuesday. A Telegraph picture

Siliguri, Nov. 6: Model-turned-actor Priyanshu Chatterjee is shooting in the region for his first Bengali film as a hero.

Priyanshu calls Amar Protigya a test of his versatility as an actor, for he is being pitched, probably for the first time, as a rough-and-tough hero, stubble in place.

“I play the role of a welder,” Priyanshu told The Telegraph. “The look justifies the role I play. It is an opportunity for me to show another aspect of my personality and prove my capability of doing a variety of roles.”

Priyanshu made a splash in Bollywood with Tum Bin in 2001. Later he worked with Urmila Matondkar in Pinjar and with Aishwarya Rai in Dil Ka Rishta.

“I have always wanted to work in Bengali cinema and I enjoy working here a lot,” Priyanshu said.

He has been cast opposite Priyanka Trivedi in this latest potboiler by Swapan Saha, whose recent hits include Mithun-starrers Tulkalam and MLA Fatakeshto.

The story of Amar Protigya revolves around a poor boy in the city who turns out to be a rich village landlord’s son. “The film is about his coming back to his roots and getting united with his family,” said chief assistant director Pradyut Bhattacharya.

This will be the eighth Bengali film for Priyanka, who has acted in over 30 films in six languages. “I play a bubbly college girl who falls in love with the poor boy and helps him overcome his problems with his family.”

Bhattacharya said the film is being shot in Hyderabad, Calcutta and Siliguri. “We are shooting the village scenes on the outskirts of Siliguri.” The 70-member crew also went to the Dooars and Kalimpong hills to shoot song sequences.