From boycott to ballot winner : Rudranil Ghosh

Rudranil Ghosh gets candid about prepping for his breakout role in public life even as Tollywood scrambles to reclaim him

Now that I’m an MLA, everyone thinks I have A lot of free time : Rudranil
When I filed my affidavit, I had only Rs 11,000 in my bank account. People would come home, and I would worry about how to feed them. Selling your house and car after years of hard work is not easy : Rudranil

If there were a script for comebacks, Rudranil Ghosh would be living its most cinematic act. Not long ago, the gifted actor spoke to CT about being sidelined in Tollywood for his political affiliations, counting the last few thousand rupees in his bank account. Today, he stands on the cusp of being sworn in as an MLA, fielding calls from across political lines – including those who had once distanced themselves.
It has been a sleepless stretch since the election results. Between back-to-back media appearances, constant phone calls, and shuttling between his family home in Shibpur and his apartment in Tollygunge, Rudranil is preparing to step into public office even as his acting career flickers back to life. Yet, amid the frenzy, the Dhumketu and Academy of Fine Arts actor pauses to reflect on the long road here – the professional exile, the politics of the industry, and what lies ahead.

People across political lines and alignments are reaching out to you — both personally and on social media. There seem to be high expectations from you even as some people are urging you to focus on politics more than acting. How do you see this turn of events? Is it overwhelming?
Student politics, social work, and theatre – I grew up with these three things in Howrah, Shibpur. My parents were teachers, but they were also deeply involved in social work. My father was an artist; my mother was into music. Theatre was a constant at home. So for me, it was never a question of whether doing one thing would stop me from doing another.
Some people struggle to raise one child, while others raise three children joyfully. It depends on the individual and their way of living. Everyone is not the same; everyone has different limits and boundaries. I grew up with all of this – being social, being a parar chhele. This soil taught me student politics, social work, and theatre. The same soil pushed me towards the rest of Bengal and said, “Go.” And the people of Bengal accepted me with love and respect. I believe no form of art can be a profession. A profession comes with the assurance of a fixed salary. Here, there are no guarantees, no financial security. So how can it be called a profession? It is work done out of love. If people pay for it, it means they are accepting my work and appreciating it. There were months when I had work and months when I didn’t. I won’t even speak about the last five years, when a system was created to discredit and destroy deserving people. That has no place in a democratic society. Expectations arise when people see that despite suffering, chains, and oppression, some individuals continue to speak for others instead of themselves. That is where expectation comes from.
Let’s talk about the ‘ban culture’ you experienced first-hand. In our last conversation, you mentioned having only Rs 3,000 left in your bank account at one point.
I sold my car and my home. People laughed at me. I remember everything. Some people tried their best to appease the ruling party – I remember that too.
Are you eager to get back to work? How will you juggle your roles?
Do I want to return to work? Of course! Acting is my love. Just as a singer sings or a worker goes to a factory, it begins with love and then becomes livelihood. This new responsibility also exists now. But did I abandon student politics while doing theatre? No. People manage offices and families together, don’t they? If you love something, you can do many things. But yes, after so much neglect and planned suffering, the system must now be restarted. Roads need fixing, drains need attention, health centres that were deliberately shut must reopen, and schools must function properly. The people of Shibpur have given me the responsibility of working as an MLA. I will fulfil that while trying to keep some space for my own happiness.
Tollywood especially is expecting a lot from you.
That expectation is not from me as an abhineta. I understand problems deeply – who created them and how. Bengal once made around 140 films a year. That was reduced to around 30 through a system controlled by certain people in Tollywood who destroyed people’s trust. They decided who would work, who would be banned, and who could speak about social injustice. Some knowingly supported corruption for personal gain. Others stayed loyal to survive and protect their families. I know who is who.

You mentioned Raj Chakrabarty, a close friend, and said he should not have entered politics.
I have spoken to him. When he was heckled in public and muck was thrown at him publicly, it pained me. But that attack was not on Raj as a person – it was on the party symbol he represents today.
But this can happen with any party. Actors crossing over into politics is not new. Even you have done it.
No, I was a political person before I became an actor in the public eye.
Still, we often see actors entering politics riding on their popularity…
There is nothing wrong with that. A businessman, homemaker, student — anyone can enter politics. Why is it questioned when an artiste does it? The problem in Bengal is that artistes were used as decorative faces to distract people from corruption. That culture did not exist earlier. Artistes, writers, doctors, lawyers, journalists – people trusted them because they knew the social system deeply. That is how movements were built. Not like this.
Many artistes who campaigned for the outgoing party are reaching out to you. Will your party induct them?
If someone genuinely moves from darkness towards light, that is good. But joining a political party is not a sudden leap – they must prove themselves over time. My party does not believe in vendetta. But as a human being, I remember who laughed when I was penniless, who denied me work to please the ruling party. When I filed my affidavit, I had only `11,000 in my bank account. People would come home, and I would worry about how to feed them. Selling your house and car after years of hard work is not easy. I did not do it for personal gain. I was attacked three times in Bhabanipur – I still cannot raise my hand properly.
What about Nandan and the film festival, where you were often excluded despite your long-standing friendship with Raj Chakrabarty who was helming it?
I was invited once, then never again. There was pressure from the government. But I want deserving people to get opportunities. If I am
given responsibility in this area, I would like to create a healthy cultural environment. Understand one thing, one cannot earn respect while simultaneously insulting the country and its majority culture.

You speak of creating a healthy ecosystem for films, but the Central government has cut off grants for Bengali theatre groups.
Many small groups complained that grants were being given to relatives of directors who were not even involved in theatre. Genuine groups suffered. Theatre should come from love, not just grants. Still, I want deserving small groups to receive support. But theatre cannot become a political propaganda machine funded by taxpayers. If a political party wants propaganda theatre, it should fund it directly.
Does that mean grants will depend on political alignment?
No. There are many subjects to explore. Government funds should not be used for political plays. I would rather we support small, struggling groups trying to survive.

You speak of patronage and creating equal opportunities. Many musicians and Bangla bands were backed by the previous party.
Truth is, many artistes had to flatter and appease the previous party in order to survive professionally. But beyo-nd talent, nothing else should matter – unless you’re deliberately maligning the nation.
Your film Abar Hawa Bodol is releasing soon. Is that a coincidence or planned?
It’s a coincidence created by oppression. The film was meant to release earlier, it also stars Parambrata (who campaigned for TMC in these elections) but it was blocked. Now Bengal itself has brought in hawa bodol – change is in the air. People will watch it, laugh, maybe cry, and have a good time.
You still maintain friendships despite political differences…
That is who I am. People who hurt me often return to me. Maybe that is their misfortune or my good fortune.
I am still the same parar chhele, living on dal, rice, and machh bhaja.
What do you miss most today?
My parents. They did endless social work. After school, they would teach underprivileged children. They worried about those without food or education. People like them still exist – that is why some neighbourhoods still feel alive.
Your next film project?
I don’t know yet. Some people suddenly think I now have a lot of free time because I am an MLA! During my hardest days, my closest companions were pigeons, mynas, bulbuls, and squirrels. I would sit and eat with them. Yesterday, after returning home after one and a half months, the first thing I checked was whether they were being fed properly.
What about marriage? You had said last year that you might marry this year…
Now so many people are asking me about marriage that I feel maybe this really is the year. I am trapped now – no escape!

Rahul (Arunoday Banerjee) was my younger brother. Investigations into his death were buried...
What happened pains me deeply. The investigation never got a fair chance. There has been no effort to find out who was responsible for the fatal security lapse. Those responsible later publicly expressed grief and walked with his hearse. He was like my younger brother. His mother would cook and feed me when I had no money for food. I have to do what I have to do as Rahul’s elder brother. I will never forget. That’s all I will say now.


People have spoken through the mandate. Ninety-two percent voting is being discussed nationwide. Are voters less informed than political leaders? No. The ordinary citizens of Bengal are deeply aware, and I salute them : Rudranil
Some of my Tollywood colleagues knowingly supported corruption for their personal gain. Others faked loyalty to survive and protect their families. I know who is who and I hope they make amends : Rudranil

The assumption that actors and artistes ‘know nothing’ about politics or society grew from the way people were sent to the Parliament. They didn’t ask questions, were encouraged to keep shooting films while local criminals handled extortion – damaging public perception about artistes in politics : Rudranil

Pix: Anindya Saha







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