Growing up in Karol Bagh, Chandan Roy Sanyal had clear plans for his future though he knew nothing of how things work in Mumbai industry. Having started his film career with Vishal Bharadwaj’s cult film Kaminey, he garnered praise for his character in Nikhil Advani’s D Day and the recent Saif Ali Khan-starrer Chef. In news for Buddhadeb Dasgupta’s festival favourite Tope, he talks about his early days, working with Habib Tanvir and his roles in Bollywood films.
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How do you remember your early days in Delhi and working with Habib Tanvir?
Early days were confused and hard and listless. I was studying mathematics (honors), teaching mathematics and science to school students and earning a meagre salary of 800 rupees a month to pay for my theatre classes, tickets, and films. I enrolled in a workshop with Habib Tanvir in Delhi and he found me enthusiastic and hard working and took me on in his group Naya Theatre, where I joined as an actor at a salary of 50 rupees per show and 40 rupees a day per diem, travelled to small places in a bus performing for a year. Soon I finished my graduation and headed to Bombay right away.
You have travelled across the globe with theatre groups. What difference do you feel in the form as well as in the practice of theatre?
I have travelled in buses to do theatre in Madhya Pradesh’s small towns and carrying sets atop a bus and I have travelled to various big cities doing Shakespeare in luxury too. The theatre is most appreciated in small towns of India and the world over. Indian cities still are engrossed in cinema and various other leisure activities.
When I was in London, I had become a known face as a theatre actor. We performed to full houses of 800 for eight shows a week and used to sign autographs in tubes and galleries as England loves and respects theatre actors. I have performed at an ancient theatre venue of Teatro Romano in Verona which was a huge feat for any actor.
Are you comfortable acting or does direction appeal to you more?
Acting is way more comfortable and cushy compared to directing. Years of observation and practice and experience in the school of life, as well as training, went into understanding the acting which is a difficult art to accredit. More time you spend in life, more access you have to the tool. Directing films is different. One has to know how to tell a story and everything falls into place. I have directed plays on stage as well as acted in it but theatre is an actor’s medium and film is a director’s. Having acted in films, made short films and now planning to make features soon, I want to direct myself in films like Raj Kapoor, Charlie Chaplin, and Woody Allen. That is my plan.
The character of Mikhail in “Kaminey” opened many doors for you...
Yes, of course, Mikhail opened a lot of doors for me. I had no plans or acumen to be a film star. It took me by surprise and I became a household name overnight. Mikhail became a phenomenon, and still is. I am thankful to Vishal Bhardwaj for the opportunity and I feel one day I will recreate that magic in some other form with him. Mikhail is closest to me always. ‘Prague’ is another film which is close to me. It was my hardest role and I played a lead – the only time I played a lead character.
“Tope” is garnering praise across film festivals. Shed light on your character in the film.
‘Tope’ is by Buddhadeb Dasgupta, a legendary filmmaker, who is known world over for his films. I play a mad postman who denounces the world and decides to live atop a tree with monkeys. It was a surreal experience. ‘Tope’ opened to packed houses in Toronto International Film Festival in Master of Cinema section, went to Busan festival, London BFI and much more. It ran to a packed house in one hall in Kolkata for more than a month. My role was widely appreciated and became talk of the town.