Bengali industry lacks planning unlike Telugu or Hindi: Actor Jisshu U Sengupta

You are working in Bengali, Hindi and South Indian films besides hosting a reality show on television. How are you managing things?

It is not difficult at all when one has a good team. I have a brilliant team with me. My team works everything out. I will be in Pune, Mumbai, Hyderabad multiple times for shooting purposes in April. I know the schedule but I have no idea about the details which are with my team. It won't be appropriate to say I am managing all things, rather my team is doing that for me.

It must be hectic at times.

It is, it is. But I enjoy this because I have been hustling for this for so many years. And I think this is the same for everyone who wants to achieve something. To get something in any profession, one has to hustle.

Image Credit: Avishek Mitra/IBNS

You knew Soumitra Chatterjee for a long time and also acted with him in films. But knowing a person in depth requires much more. Did you discover something new about him in the course of essaying his younger version in Abhijaan?

Of course I did. We have seen Soumitra Chatterjee in films, theatres and interviews but his human side has been captured by Param (Parambrata Chattopadhayay, actor-director) in Abhijaan. His political views, etc. are there in the film.

I know you are a professional actor. But often comparisons are made when an actor essays a real life character on screen. Did that cross your mind while acting in this film?

No. It never does. I had played Uttam Kumar also in the film Mahalaya, thankfully the audience and critics also loved it. The positive reviews in Mahalaya had given me the courage to essay Soumitra Chatterjee. If I had faltered in Mahalaya, I would have thought twice. I had no scope of thinking twice in this film because Soumitra Chatterjee himself wanted me to play him. So I didn't have any other option. I never think of what people are going to say. People don't run my family and pay my EMIs.

Sengupta with Soumitra Chatterjee | Image Credit: Instagram/Jisshu U Sengupta

And what was your initial reaction when you were offered the role?

I was shocked because I was supposed to play a different role in the film. I was supposed to make a guest appearance. Soumitra jethu (uncle)  had called me up and asked me to do the role. Later I had to manage the dates. Before I could feel anything, I was on set.

How difficult is it to reinvent every time as an actor?

Actors do that only. They reinvent everytime they do any project. There is nothing new in it. Also there is a great excitement to find a new person in you and play something different (onscreen) and that gives the push to do better every new day.

There is a scene in the trailer where Uttam Kumar rebukes Soumitra Chatterjee for going out in public despite being a film star. That was a different era. But now actors are much closer to the audience, thanks to social media.

Change is constant. We will have to accept the change. It's all over for one if he/she doesn't accept the change. Whatever it is may be. I never believed in this (staying away from the fans). I go to malls with my children for shopping or dinner. I don't mind. When people come up to me for selfies or photographs, I love it because that's what I lived for or worked for. Of course money is a part of my work but that is the same in any job. Personally, I love it.

Sengupta with Vidya Balan in Shakuntala Devi | Image Credit: Instagram/Jisshu U Sengupta

Do you believe in destiny?

No. I believe in the moment. There is no point in thinking of the future and destiny. We can plan a few things in life but I don't believe all things work as per plans. For that, one has to work and hustle for it.

How will you describe the present phase of your career?

I am in a good space but still into hustle and hardwork. If I have to be here (in the present position), I will have to keep on pushing myself.

It is said that sports is the biggest teacher in life. You are a former cricketer. Did your sport help you in handling struggles as well as success?

Probably, it does. Cricket has taught me to speak the truth on face. I will never speak bad about anyone behind their back. Unknowingly, I must have learnt this behaviour from cricket. Life is a fight. In every profession, there is struggle and hustle.

Sengupta in Kangana Ranaut starrer Manikarnika

We all are aware of your closeness with late Rituparno Ghosh. In a previous interview, you had said Ghosh had asked you to call yourself an Indian actor and not a Bengali one. Do you think OTT after the pandemic has blurred the lines between the films of different languages?

Yes of course, it has. It has. We can watch a film of any language sitting at home. We have seen a new breed of actors coming up. OTT is a brilliant space for actors. It would have taken four-five years more to come if there was no pandemic. However, there are certain films which can only be viewed in theatres. No one will enjoy watching films like Baahubali, Titanic, Pushpa: The Rise, Ek Je Chhilo Raja on laptop or phones. Theatres and films will always be there.

Is it the lack of desirable roles or the want to reach a wider audience that prompted you to migrate to other industries?

Honestly, I didn't think so much. It just happened. I kept on doing one after the other film. In Andhra (Pradesh), people now can recognise me. I understood later that I have reached different kinds of audiences. But I never planned it. But of course one needs to have that opportunity to reach a wider audience.

Sengupta with actor Chiranjeevi | Image Credit: Facebook/Jisshu U Sengupta

It has been an eye opener for you, right?

Yeah, of course. What an industry I am working for. People should come and see the way people in the Telugu industry work and respect their work. It is unimaginable.

Do you think it is lacking in the Bengali film industry?

Ah, no. Here it is a very different industry. In Bengali, people work in a very close knit way. People in the Bengali film industry work on the basis of personal relations and terms. But in Telugu or Hindi (industries), people reach out to my manager or my team and not me personally. But here, people will keep calling me despite knowing the contact number of my manager. So this is how work is done here. But for the growth of an industry, it has to be more organised and planned, which are lacking here.

I know you live in the present. Still, do you have a plan to settle anywhere?

This I have thought of. Now I want to buy a flat in Hyderabad, which is a beautiful city. I have been working most of the time in the last couple of years in Hyderabad. But my heart will always be in Kolkata where I have been born and brought up. My friends and family are here. My family can move with me but not my friends. Right now, every month, I come back to Kolkata whenever I get free time.

Jisshu Sengupta with Alia Bhatt | Image Credit: Facebook/Jisshu Sengupta

Apart from cricket and acting, you have a passion for music. You have created a music room at your Kolkata residence too. Do you get time to play music?

Of course. Last time when I came back to the city, it was 9:30 (pm), I had my dinner, went up and sat there till 12 (midnight). I love my room, which is my den (in the house). I have also made a (music) band. We have already done three shows. We want to launch the band professionally. Let's see where it goes.