TRUE DETECTIVE

Even when he was television’s poster boy with the popular family drama Pavitra Rishta, he went against the tide by not acting too melodramatic, which is the primary requirement of Indian television. Sushant Singh Rajput had a quiet, subtle and natural approach to acting throughout this prime time show. After finding success in movies like Kai Po Che, Shuddh Desi Romance and PK, he is now doing a period film, Detective Byomkesh Bakshy!, set in the 1940s, directed by Dibakar Banerjee. The film is based on a fictional detective character created by Bengali writer Saradindu Bandyopadhyay. It also stars Anand Tiwari and Bengali actress Swastika Mukherjee in lead roles.

 While talking to City Times over the phone from Mumbai, Sushant said, “Dibakar gave me a great briefing about this character. Even though this film is set in the 40s, my character is very contemporary. I went with Dibakar for location scouting in Calcutta; I spent time with many Bengali families to understand their way of talking and body language. The best part for me was that we shot 1943 just as we would shoot the current era. Even if you see the trailer, you will see lots of contemporary language and rock music. I also made sure to not use any fake Bengali accent.”

The actor is so much in love with the film that he hopes the audience accepts it, so it can become a franchise. “What attracted me towards this film is that it is about a regular guy who transforms himself into a seasoned detective. He is an eccentric man who is at odds with the world. Being a detective’s story, this film has a unique style of storytelling that appealed to me the most as an actor. We have bought a new freshness to this genre. Once you see the film, you will understand what I am saying. My character’s observation power, intelligence, honesty and instincts are different from the other detective characters that we have seen so far in our movies.”

 So, did he grow up reading detective novels? “I did read a lot of detective stories like Sherlock Homes, Chacha Chaudhary etc. I hadn’t read Byomkesh earlier but after I signed the film I did. Dibakar told me not to watch any of the films or television shows that have been done on Byomkesh. I think in a way that helped me approach this character in my own way.” Director Dibakar Banerjee always knew that he wanted Sushant to be his leading man but he still made the actor go through a number of auditions just so his leading man could explore, understand and create his own interpretation of this detective genius.

Sushant will be seen wearing a dhoti in the entire film. “It was very complicated and risky for me initially, but I think after 15-20 days I got the hang of wearing it properly. Now I am an expert, I can tie a dhoti in 20 seconds flat. I can dance, fight and also jump around in a dhoti!”

 After working in a period film, he will next play real life legend Mahendra Singh Dhoni. There is also a film with Homi Adjania lined up where he will be paired with another current sensation Alia Bhatt. He is also doing Shekhar Kapoor’s ambitious project Paani with Yash Raj films. It is hard to believe that it only took him two films to emerge as a hot new sensation in Bollywood.

“I am happy if I will not become a superstar. Learning the craft of acting and film-making is my priority. To bring honesty in my performance is something that I am constantly chasing. I don’t like being part of groups, hence you will never see me at parties or events.”

Sushant is known to be painfully introverted but he told us that acting helped him build up his self-esteem. “It is while acting in front of camera that I can be my real self. Otherwise I am not social at all. I hardly talk to anyone because I can never be fake, so I prefer to be silent.”

All about the movie

In a contemporary interpretation of war torn Calcutta during the 1940s, Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! follows the first adventure of Byomkesh (Sushant Singh Rajput), fresh out of college, as he pits himself against an evil genius that is out to destroy the world. It’s his wits against the most villainous arch criminal the world has seen, set in a world of murder, international political intrigue and seduction.

Did you know?

Sushant comes from a middle class family and was studying to be an engineer. He left his studies because he realised that acting was his true calling. After finding instant success on television, he quit that to study filmmaking in Los Angeles. His life took a different turn when Abhishek Kapoor picked him as one of the leads for Kai Po Che.

 

arti@khaleejtimes.com