Guess how Anindya came into acting?

Chandrabindoo frontman Anindya Chattopadhyay shared a close relationship with the late Rituparno Ghosh. Between them, it was always a mutual admiration club. Rituparno admired the band’s music and Anindya was a fan of his films. “I had once told him if I could do anything in my capacity to help him, I would feel honoured. In fact, I had assisted him in Titli. So, when he conceived Shubho Mahurat, a detective mystery film, starring Sharmila Tagore and Rakhee Gulzar, I was in the know. All his actors were more or less decided. At that time, I would keep very busy with music shows. One day, he told me, ‘Why don’t you do this role?’ It was quite a meaty role and I had no prior experience in acting. I said, acting was not up my street. But he insisted that I do it. He said he would cast me opposite Nandita Das. Now, who can resist working with her? I am a big fan of hers and finally agreed to do the film,” he recalled. Anindya said Rituparno’s Satyanweshi too happened in a similar way. “Another director was supposed to play the part of Ajit — Byomkesh Bakshi’s friend and aide. But one day, when I was at Panagarh, he called up to say, ‘My unit members told me you would do a better job’. I told him I would get back to him. But before that, it was splashed in the news. I couldn’t say no to it. That’s how the film happened,” he told us.