OTT Nikosh Chhaya: I don't believe in horror or astrology personally, says Gaurav Chakrabarty
Actor Gaurav Chakrabarty plays a key role in Parambrata Chattopadhyay's web series Nikosh Chhaya, the second installment of the Bhaduri Moshai series streaming on Hoichoi from October 31. Gaurav speaks on the series, supernatural elements and Parambrata's style of direction in an interaction with IBNS correspondent Souvik Ghosh at The Flamboyant in Kolkata. Excerpts...
Q. You have been busy with OTT much over the last one year. How are you enjoying the space?
A. We actors in the Bengali film industry hardly have control over our works. We accept mostly whichever roles come our way. Even within that scope, I try to work as selectively as possible financially. In the course of that process, I could get to play diverse roles and explore different kinds of acting. Be it Abar Proloy or Chotolok or Parnashavarir Shaap or Parineeta, it was fun to work on each of the projects. I would give credits partly to my luck as well as choices. I am fortunate that my OTT works have been well accepted and I hope this streak continues for long.
Gaurav Chakrabarty | Image by Avishek Mitra/IBNS
Q. How difficult is it to switch from one role to the other when you are doing back to back projects?
A. I haven't studied acting. I have learnt acting from stage, my family members and directors with whom I have had the fortune to work with so I have never been a method actor. I act instinctively. Consequently, my process of slipping into a role and departing from it is never a complicated one. I believe in switching on and off. What I try to do is, avoid simultaneous shoots but that is also not always feasible.
Q. How would you describe the world of Parambrata Chattopadhyay, the director?
A. I think Param-da's actor self helps him to judge the soul of his artistes quickly. As a result, I get to understand his demands easily. What I like about him is that his technique of communication remains very simple. It's fun to work with Param-da because he is clear about what he wants.
Q. Do you believe in supernatural elements?
A. I don't believe in supernatural elements much. Be it horror or astrology, I am not much of a believer of it. Having said that, I may start believing in it if I have any personal experience.
(From L to R) Parambrata Chattopadhyay, Surangana Bandyopadhyay and Gaurav Chakrabarty | Image by Avishek Mitra/IBNS
Q. How would you describe the journey of working on a subject which you don't believe in?
A. It's not unlike anything else. It's my work to believe in my character experiencing supernatural elements. I would have developed belief in supernatural elements had I experienced similar things which Amiya (Gaurav's character) did in the series. So it was not tough for me to imagine.
Q. Did you develop interest in this subject after working on the series out of curiosity?
A. Yes, yes, it happens out of curiosity. A certain dialogue or a line in the script ignites the curiosity to search for the meaning of it. We often don't believe in something due to lack of knowledge. I feel knowledge of something instills belief so I don't discard anything entirely. I don't have the belief because of lack of knowledge.
(Images by Avishek Mitra)
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