Home » Interview » Exclusive! X=Prem actor Arjun Chakrabarty: I heard scary things about Srijit but he is not a strict taskmaster
Exclusive! X=Prem actor Arjun Chakrabarty: I heard scary things about Srijit but he is not a strict taskmaster
According to the actor, Srijit Mukherji is serious on set but does not make the actors feel ‘dejected’ even when the shot is not right
May 31, 2022
Arjun Chakrabarty in a still from X=Prem
Arjun Chakrabarty is a busy actor in Tollywood. Along with the release of Srijit Mukherji’s X=Prem in theatres, the final part of his Hoichoi thriller saga Mahabharat Murders will also drop on the same day, June 3. Arjun, one of the most sought-after actors in the Bengali film industry, talks exclusively to us on his experience of working with Srijit, his character in the film and in the series and his favourite rom-coms.
Excerpts below:
Tell us about your work in X=Prem.
First of all, I always wanted to work with Srijit Mukherji. He was there on my wishlist for a very long time – ever since Autograph. One day he called me and said that there could be a possibility of working together. He did not talk about my character, Arnab, or the script, but he did not take long to sell the idea to me because I always wanted to work with him. Moreover, it is an interesting story. Srijitda’s scripts are never wrong. The character is definitely integral to the plot. I have never played a character like Arnab.
How is Srijit to work with?
I heard scary things about Srijit that he is a very strict taskmaster and it is mentally and physically very taxing to work with him. But then I realised the person who told me this was part of his big-scale project, where demands are very different. There shoot schedules are long drawn, etc. X=Prem almost did not have any of those challenges. We only had a number of shooting days. It is a very urban story so it was not very taxing. It was pretty easy. I think Anindya (Sengupta) and Shruti (Das) had a longer schedule than Madhurima (Basak) and I had. But I don’t think it was hectic for any of us. Srijit is very clear with his instructions and guidance. When he thinks that the shot was not ok, he would ask us to do it again. He never yells and he hardly frowns. Hence, even if the shot is not satisfactory, you are not dejected. Srijit was very serious on set. You can be friends with him but he is very serious with his work on set. But I did not see a hard taskmaster in him. I did not find it difficult at all to work with him.
X=Prem has a certain flavour of science fiction, we are told. You worked in another love story, Love Aaj Kal Porshu that has a science fiction element too. Is it your conscious choice of subject?
Well, I like science fiction. But those are in the line of Dune, Star Wars etc. Obviously, we are not making those here. While there are elements of sci-fi in these films, both X=Prem and Love Aaj Kal Porshu are essentially love stories. I don’t consciously choose love stories with sci-fi twists. I chose the films for the script and I am glad that the director and producers chose me.
Tell us five of your favourite love stories that are made into films.
I am not that much into love stories (laughs). I can think of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. While many can argue that the film portrays a certain amount of toxicity, etc. But I think it established Shah Rukh Khan as a romantic hero. I also liked Chris Evans Before We Go. I think that’s about it (laughs). I can’t think of any more.
You recently played a character of a tough cop in Hoichoi’s Mahabharat Murders...
Yes, that’s going on and the final part of the series will drop on the same day as X=Prem. By now people know the fate of my character. But I am glad that it is being liked. I like playing such characters – physically fit and tough. That’s very much me.
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