We were both comfortable in the kissing scene: Sushant Singh Rajput

Detective Byomkesh Bakshi is an important film for you.

Yes, it is a very important project for me but I think all films are equally important for an actor. I haven’t had a release in some time and much like my fans I am also eagerly awaiting the release of the film.

You sound really excited.

(Smiles) Of course I am excited and there are a number of reasons behind my excitement. The most important reasons is that I haven’t done something like this before and the second being Dibikar Banerjee who is one of the best directors I have worked with. His approach towards a film and the story he is telling is completely different, which makes working with him extremely exciting and interesting.

Did you read the Byomkesh Bakshi stories before starting shooting for the film?

I hadn’t read it earlier but after I signed the film I did read. Dibakar had given me strict instruction not to watch any of the films or television shows that have been done on Byomkesh Bakshi. He wanted me to approach the character in a fresh way and not get influenced by acting of others who have played Byomkesh Bakshi earlier. So, I read a few stories and tried to understand the character and then unlearn everything and redevelop the character within my mind and play the role. In fact, I have always believed in developing a character in my mind before playing that character on screen.

So it’s a fresh approach.

Yes, we have tried to show Byomkesh Bakshi as never seen before. We haven’t tampered with the text but the film is a very brave experimental effort. Dibakar is a very intelligent filmmaker and he has treated the film very differently right from the posters to canning the shots.

You will also be seen wearing a dhoti in the film. Was it that difficult?

(Laughs) This is something I am being asked by everyone. It was initially a bit difficult but that was for the first two days. I even practiced it at home and used to wear a dhoti at home and now I can wear a dhoti even with my eyes closed. I really enjoyed wearing it.

Byomkesh Bakshi films have always enjoyed popularity and have a lot to do with the Bengali culture. How accustomed are you with the Bengali culture now that you have completed shooting for the film?

The credit again goes to Dibakar Banerjee. The film was not just about playing a Bengali sleuth in a dhoti. I had to understand the culture and the sensibilities of the Bengali during the pre-independence era. The story takes place in 1943, when the World War II was on. So, a lot of research went into it. Dibakar made sure that I accompany him during the recee of the film in Kolkata and I stayed in the city for months. I visited different places, had Bengali food, saw how the Bengalis live in the city, which helped me a lot during the shooting.

Dibakar is tight-lipped about the story. Have you been instructed to do the same?

It’s not a planned strategy but what we believe that if we give away even one per cent of the story, the audience might lose interest. Byomkesh Bakshi stories are extremely popular, so a lot of the stories have already been read. We have taken a new approach to tell this story and we want the audience to come and watch the film and appreciate our effort. What I can promise is that the audience won’t be disappointed.

You kissing scene with Swastika Mukherjee too has drawn a lot of attention.

That was part of the film…nothing big about it. Swastika is a very talented actress and it was really a great experience shooting for me. We both were comfortable doing that scene. I have always believed in doing everything with conviction that the script demands.

So are you nervous before the release of the film?

Not really. In fact I am excited because this is a role that I have tried earlier and I too want to assess myself. I have given my best. Dibakar has been a very good taskmaster and we all are hopeful about the film doing well at the box office. At the same time, I am also confident about the critics liking the film. This film is surely going to be liked by everyone.