Mithun Chakraborty on Shastri: The mood in Kolkata is not festive due to the RG Kar incident and I am wary of the release | Exclusive

Mithun Chakraborty is ready with his major Puja release, Shastri. Directed by Pathikrit Basu, the film features Debashree Roy, Sauraseni Maitra, Soham Chakraborty, and others. Mithun was in town to promote the film. In a candid chat with OTTplay, the actor talked about his expectations and excitement over the Puja release. Read on… 

On RG Kar protest and Puja release

Mithun is deeply pained by the ongoing protest after the rape and murder of an on-duty junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The actor believes that the people are not in the mood to celebrate the festival. Talking about his excitement over his film being released during Puja – the most lucrative period of a Bengali film release, he said, “I can’t feel the excitement, honestly. The situation in Bengal right now is not conducive to celebrating. People don’t seem to be interested in going to theatres in this condition. That’s why I am a bit sceptical. If people still flock to the theatres to watch our film, it will be great for us. People are in a different mood now. People are not in a celebratory mood now. We are insisting on festivities but I cannot see any. Hence, I am a bit scared about the release this time.”

Talking about the ongoing protests across the city, Mithun said, “I will not say anything political. I can tell you this, for me West Bengal means resistance. It means protesting against what is wrong. I am happy to see that spirit back in the city. I got back to the Bengal I am used to.” 

Mithun Chakraborty on Debashree Roy

Talking about Shastri, Mithun is evidently excited about getting back with Debashree Roy. Talking about their on-screen chemistry, he said, “Our chemistry, physics, and maths all have messed up (laughs). I spent days at her house when I came to Kolkata from Mumbai. This time it’s all the same. She is familiar to me. She is the same old Chumki — old tiffs and affection. We don’t even understand how shooting time flies. All the time. 

Mithun reportedly took ill while shooting Shastri earlier this year. The actor dismissed the speculations. “Nothing happened to me. My blood sugar shot up. That got projected as a major deal. Even I was scared to see those articles. And since it was not that serious, I could get back to work so quickly,” he said.  

Mithun Chakraborty on astrology

In Shastri, Mithun plays the character of a common man, Parimal Sanya who suddenly gets a special power of seeing the future. What does astrology mean to him? “I see astrology as a branch of science. The astrologers I know are always busy doing mathematical calculations. Even in a time when there was no Nasa, ancient wise men calculated and discovered so many things. If that was science, then this is also science,” he said.

Is there any superstition attached to this concept of astrology? Mithun said there is faith involved in it. “Poor people, who are deprived of many things in life, look forward to getting something. That’s why we all want to go to astrologers. If astrology brings some hope, it works for us. Astrology works for people who are poor and people who are insecure like us. I met with an accident and broke my arms. Did any astrologer predict this for me? No. That’s when my faith in god comes.” 

Talking about his character, Mithun said, “My character Parimal Sanyal is a normal man who suddenly got the power to see the future. He becomes a godman. He understands his power and that brings changes in his character. Parimal’s journey as Shastri is about a choice — to be or not to be. This is the choice he needs to make.” 

Talking about his faith, Mithun said, “I worship my god very differently. I don’t carry idols. I pray at Brahma moment — 96 minutes prior to sunrise. That’s when I get up, worship for around an hour, and then go off to bed again.”

Soon after Shastri, Mithun signed another film with Pathikrit. The script of the new film, Shriman Vs Shrimati, sat quietly on the table of Mithun’s hotel room. Talking about the young director, the actor said, “He is very clear in what he wants. He is also very powerful technically. Whether the film will run or not depends upon luck.”