Byomkesh
I am keen to explore something unknown: Sohini Sarkar
Bengali actor Sohini Sarkar is once again Byomkesh's (Byomkesh played by Abir Chatterjee) Satyabati in Arindam Sil's fourth film Byomkesh Hotyamancha in the detective franchise. India Blooms correspondent Souvik Ghosh brings excerpts of a candid chat with the 'Phoring' actor
Q. The Byomkesh franchise is like a homecoming for you.
A. People were waiting for Byomkesh for quite some time. I had also waited for it to happen. Byomkesh is obviously a homecoming for me. Myself, Abir-da and Arindam-da create almost magic when we meet. We can easily start from where we had left in the last installment of the franchise.
Q. You had earlier said that you prefer not to take the burden of taking challenges for a role. Is this your approach in every film?
A. Yes. I cannot think so much. I am not an actor who likes to copy someone or do mimicry. I believe in spontaneity along with the obvious technicalities. So I don't see any role as a challenge. But yes I do challenge myself in terms of avoiding getting typecasted.
(From L to R) Abir Chatterjee and Sohini Sarkar | Image Credit: Avishek Mitra/IBNS
Like right now I feel like choosing roles thoughtfully considering the works I have done over the years. There is a tendency to typecast actors in our industry.
Q. If Arindam Sil makes another Byomkesh, will you opt out of it?
A. I will take time to think because it's like how many times we will explore playing the same character.
Q. Your start to the career was not all rosy. Did initial hiccups motivate you more?
A. Some of my television projects, which I did in the early part of my career, didn't even go on-air. So I kind of wasted my time. I won't call it a failure but a lesson. Those incidents had made me calculative and helped me to understand the situations better.
Back in 2008-2009, the projects, barring the commercial ones, where I wanted to work were much less. So I prioritised television where work was great back then.
Sohini Sarkar | Image Credit: Avishek Mitra/IBNS
Q. But your first film Phoring had caused a buzz!
A. Yes. Phoring was not a commercially hit but it helped me to get recognition in the industry. Filmmakers like Srijit Mukherjee, Kaushik Ganguly, Arindam-da recognised me due to my acting in Phoring.
Q. How do you assess your career right now?
A. Sometimes I feel I am doing excess work. I am realising the need to curtail anything which is excess, be it time, friends. I feel an artist's life should be minimalistic, especially after the pandemic.
I am keen to explore something unknown. I am not sure about doing the kind of roles which I am getting offered. I realise an untapped and unexplored energy within me.
(Images by Avishek Mitra/IBNS)
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