#HowIMadeIt! Chandan Roy Sanyal: MX Player’s ‘Aashram’ proved to be a booster shot; I got a new lease of life – Times of India
Not one to beat across the bush, Chandan outright agrees, “I’ve had more downs than ups. I was getting disgruntled and disillusioned, and it is only now that I am breathing free. I can finally take care of my parents”. The actor goes on to add that whereas he knew it was going to be a lengthy course of, he did not anticipate the battle to final so lengthy. “I didn’t have the luxury of hitting the gym, looking after my nutrition, and taking care to look good. But the struggle lasted too long.14 years is not a short period of time,” he observes.
One of the most important hurdles that Chandan confronted was getting meaty roles. “I was getting side roles and those fetched me critical acclaim, but never translated into capital gain nor led to a flood of offers. A lot of renowned filmmakers had cast me but it didn’t translate into any personal growth,” factors out the actor, who thinks half of the rationale was that he didn’t get slotted as a hero. “I did some films as a protagonist–‘Island City’ and ‘Urojahaj: The Flight’–but they were arty films and very few people saw them, so they didn’t help my career. After that, no one looked at me for a central role in mainstream Bollywood. But what could I, a small pawn, do to change the dynamics and economics of filmmaking? They might have asked questions like who will come to see me in the theatres or who will buy a film with me in the lead?” retorts Chandan.
However, the actor is grateful that, even in his battle, he by no means took up a undertaking that he would not be proud of or that may taint his filmography. “I maintained my dignity else my career would have sunk. I used a certain filter, and now, after ‘Aashram’, I am getting my share of the spotlight. In fact, I have been offered 20 projects after ‘Aashram’ started screening on MX Player,” he exults.
Talking concerning the response he acquired on his character of Swami Bhupendra Singh aka Bhuppa Swami in ‘Aashram’, Chandan says that his Instagram followers have multiplied and several other filmmakers and journalists are calling him. “I was often praised for my performances and I had got used to it, but this time I could sense that something new and different was happening. I broke down. I couldn’t handle it. I was tired of it all before ‘Aashram’ happened. It was such a breath of fresh air and the happiness was not easy to absorb! It assured me that I was not a waste anymore. I had got a new lease of life. ‘Aashram’ proved to be a booster shot,” he enthuses.
While he was ready for his appearing profession to take off, Chandan additionally made some quick movies. “I heard Vishal (Bharadwaj) sir being asked in an interview about what drove him to make his own films after providing such terrific music in ‘Satya’ and ‘Maachis’. He said that he did it simply because he hadn’t got much work in that department despite those films being hits and he wanted to cast himself as a music director. That struck me. Now I want to make more short films where I will play the main role. I want good directors to make my stories,” reveals Chandan. The actor can also be all reward for his ‘Aashram’ maker. “Prakash (Jha) ji gave me a lot of freedom in ‘Aashram’ to improvise as long as I did not underplay or go over the top. His brief to me about my character helped me get the correct vision of how I needed to go about it,” he asserts.
‘Aashram’ additionally helped Chandan develop a bond with the lead actor, Bobby Deol. “Bobby and I have become very close friends. He has even kept a tab on me during the lockdown and kept enquiring if I am fine,” he smiles, including that he was now trying ahead to the shoot of Aashram Chapter 3 to kick off. “And yes, I am not shaving off my beard,” he indicators off.
