I understand minds of younger generation more than any other co-actor: Prosenjit Chatterjee

Prosenjit, who was speaking on his recently launched autobiography Bumba Shot Ready at South City Starmark on Friday, said: "I understand the minds of younger generation more than any other present co-actors in the Bengali film industry. This is the reason I can compete with my third generation co-actors."

Bumba Shot Ready, which is available now internationally, has been written by sports journalist Gautam Bhattacharya.

Prosenjit has started his acting career as a child artist in Hrishikesh Mukherjee's Chotto Jigyasa, which was released in 1968.

He is also a son of popular Indian actor Biswajit Chatterjee.

In an interaction with Bhattacharya, Prosenjit has divulged the fears in his life.

He said: "Fear was there right from the beginning of my career but it has increased over the years with responsibility and success. Initially, the fear was about establishing oneself but now it is about carrying on successfully."

Prosenjit has acted in more than 200 films. His journey as a lead actor in Tollywood started in 1983 with a film titled Duti Pata.

One of his biggest hits in the box office came in 1987 with Sujit Guha's Amar Sangi.

The actor, who has been explored by multiple directors onscreen over the years, said it is he who aims to work with good filmmakers all the time.

"My challenge is to work with good directors. It is me who yearn to work with any good director and not the other way round. I don't feel disrespected for that," he said.

In the course of the interactive session, the 56-year old actor has also revealed why he didn't venture into the music industry despite getting number of playback offers. "I got several offers of singing but never tried because I am well aware that I would never reach the status of the mainstream singers. So I carried on as an actor."

Prosenjit has also kept his footprint in Bollywood with Aandhiyan. His recent works in the Hindi film industry are Shangahai, Traffic.

Prosenjit said that it is Bhattacharya's insistence that made him write the book.

"Gautam Bhattacharya has made the job done by me. He called me, texted me and convinced me to write the book," he said.

 

The book has touched upon all happenings in the life of the Tollywood superstar including his failed marriage with actress Debashree Roy.

Speaking about tackling the distresses despite being at the helm, Prosenjit said: "Fights are internal as well as external. There are some internal tussles which I need to fight it out alone. I may get people around me but they can't participate in it. The external fights require time and patience and most importantly calculation. If there is no calculation, one will go wrong. I never wasted time in my career. I did some unique films when I had virtually no movie offers."

Prosenjit's younger sister Pallavi Chatterjee, who was also present at the interactive session, said anyone aspiring to be like Prosenjit should have same discipline and ability to sacrifice as the actor possesses.

On the autobiography, Pallavi said: "Every bit of the book is real. There is nothing fake in it. All things are written from the heart."

Referring to Prosenjit's revelation of his failed marriage with Debashree in the book, Pallavi said: "To speak truth requires guts. He has maturity to speak the truth in public. We consider the public as an extended family. People will respect one for being honest. It is better to project the truth as some will appreciate while others won't."

Regarding Bumba Shot Ready, Bhattacharya said: "Almost the entire book is unknown to the people because he has talked about his life in such details, with so much honesty and sincerity, I don't think anyone before or after him thought of or would even think to venture to do that because he has talked about his failed marriage, illness, inability to turn the tide in his favour, frustrations, bordering on depressions. He has touched all the areas."

Bhattacharya has credited Prosenjit's skill to remember and recall his past memories which helped in the process of directing the book.

 

(Reporting by Souvik Ghosh, Images by Subhodeep Sardar)