KOLKATA: Friendship in Tollywood seems to have become the biggest casualty during this election.
Decades-old friends, director-turned-Trinamool candidate Raj Chakrabarty and actor-turned-BJP candidate Rudranil Ghosh, said they had no problem working professionally with political opponents. But after-parties in Tollywood over good food and music, where actor-director Parambrata Chatterjee was often seen singing and sharing a joke with Rudranil, might suffer a blow.
Last year, Rudranil directed a commercial with Kanchan Mullick in the lead that gained huge popularity. But after the 2021 elections, in which the two will contest from two rival political parties, will Rudranil be able to work with Kanchan? “I have no problem. Political views have no clash with professional work,” said Rudranil. Raj was the first one to congratulate Rudranil when his name was announced as a poll contestant. “On the micro-blogging site, I also wished Srabanti and Tanushree, when their names were announced. They are my industry colleagues. Why wouldn’t I wish them?” Raj said. “There will be fights on the political platform. On the professional field, I will cast actors, based on their merit, not their belief.” If Trinamool candidate Koushani Mukherjee is to be believed, her partner, Bonny Sengupta, joining BJP will not impact their relationship. “My mother and Koushani are in the Trinamool, while I am with BJP. As her boyfriend, I want her to win. But if my party wants, I will campaign in her constituency,” Bonny said.
Koushani Mukherjee and Bonny Sengupta
But for some, the camaraderie might take a hit. Actor Anirban Bhattacharya understands the challenges. “Polarisation has happened. We have to continue negotiating with the turmoil,” he said. After the video of ‘Nijeder Mote Nijeder Gaan’ went viral, can he be friends with Rudranil? “There is no bar on adda. But it is a critical scene. Rudra-da and others are now in the forefront of partisan politics. There is a difference between supporting an ideology and becoming a party worker, which comes with a lot of compulsions. Our behavior will be restricted,” he said, admitting it was “slightly problematic” to expect one to leave aside one’s political beliefs and still be friends.
Anirban Bhattacharya
Singer-songwriter Anupam Roy and his wife, social worker Piya Chakraborty, would attend parties with celebrities who have joined BJP in attendance. “A difference of opinion, debate and pluralism are welcome. But in the current scene, personal interactions in private space will be difficult with people who follow that ideology,” Anupam said. Piya added in the atmosphere of growing fascism, it would be difficult to have in their private space people who they think were advocates of that ideology. “We would prefer not to have them in our intimate gatherings. But in public events or professional meetings, things will be courteous,” she said.
Rwitobroto Mukherjee
Rwitobroto Mukherjee, too, is clear that friendship with people pulled by parties against which he had been vocal was out question. “I will have to work with them. But personally, I am hurt. I don’t want to be friends with them.” Referring to theatre personality Koushik Kar, who recently joined BJP, he said, “I have worked with him in his first film, ‘Pornomochi’. He was a brother to me. But I can no longer behave with him like I used to.”