June 11, 2026 09:46 am (IST)
Follow us:
Tollywood veteran Dipankar De roots for money-spinning entertainers
Kolkata, July 5 (IBNS) Though he misses working in films made by late maestro Satyajit Ray and other stalwarts of yesteryear, veteran Tollywood actor Dipankar De, a favourite of critically acclaimed filmmakers like Goutam Ghosh, pitches for mass entertainers without which the film industry cannot sustain.
"I am equally at ease both in Goutam's films as well films by say Haranath Chakroborty [a hardcore commercial filmmaker]," the Sakha Prasakha actor tells IBNS at the promotional event of a new thriller, Sesh Anka.
Terming masala entertainers as commercial films, where he is often seen as villain, Dipankar De says: "Only art house realism can't sustain the audience and the industry. We need to back the different genres."
Dipankar, whose last two Satyajit Ray films were Agantuk and Sakha Prasakha, admits he sorely misses such films.
"Manikda (Ray) first gave me the break in Seemabddho. I still recall every moment. Yes, the narration, the scripting, everything was different from present day films. Babu (Sandip Ray) retains traces of that gharana," DE, having turned up in the last Feluda adventure Badshahi Angti nd Sanndip's debut feature Uttaran (Ascent) says.
ComIng to Sesh Anka, produced by Pradip Churiwal, he says "I play a heavyweight criminal lawyer who unravels a muder mystery."
Dipankar continues, "Decades back I had turned in a courtroom drama in a black and white film. So this is the second such role for me wheels turn the circle.."
Terming the film by debutante director Tathagata Banerjee as very English in look and treatment, Dipankar says: "The sleekness appealed to me. The script and enticing locations all made it look very global. Plus the character was out off the box."
"After being in the industry for 45 years all I can say is the audience and the films both have undergone rapid changes. Some of which is for good and yet some not so."
Director Tathagata says,"There was a court-drama themed film similarly named Sesh Anka in about fifty years back. However, the similarities end here."
..
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Latest Headlines
Srijit Mukherji brings Sarat Chandra's greatest battle to life; pre-teaser of Pujo 2026 epic out
Sat, Jun 06 2026
From blackout to screening: Late Anik Dutta's 'respect restored' as Aparajito finally reaches Nandan
Fri, Jun 05 2026
‘A void that can never truly be filled’: Anik Dutta’s ‘Bijoya’ Saayoni Ghosh mourns filmmaker
Thu, May 28 2026
'No one responsible': Handwritten note found after Bengali filmmaker Anik Dutta's mysterious death
Wed, May 27 2026
Kolkata: Bhooter Bhabishyat director Anik Dutta dies after falling from the roof of Gariahat residence
Wed, May 27 2026
Mamata cheerleaders to BJP loyalists: Tollywood’s sudden political somersault sparks outrage and laughter
Sat, May 23 2026
‘Absolute joy working with Nandita Roy–Shiboprosad’: Raima Sen as ‘Phool Pishi O Edward’ poster drops
Fri, May 01 2026
Bengali actor Vikram Chatterjee turns producer for Zee5’s Taarkata
Wed, Apr 15 2026