I'm pinching myself: Raj Zutshi

Raj Zutshi will be going to Purulia on February 9 to begin filming for Buddhadeb Dasgupta���������s ���������Woh���������.
Buddhadeb Dasgupta has begun shooting for his Hindi film titled ���������Woh��������� in Purulia. The latest addition to the cast is Raj Zutshi. The latter will be going to Purulia on February 9 to begin shooting for his portions. Music for the film is almost ready.Incidentally, Buddhadeb Dasgupta���������s daughter, Alokananda, is making her debut as a composer in this film.
Says Buddhadeb, ������������������Woh��������� is a Hindi film. I needed a Hindi speaking actor who would suit the character perfectly. We auditioned many but couldn���������t get the actor that I wanted. Raj is not only a great character artiste but his looks also match the role. Moreover, he was extremely eager to work with me and has a tremendous urge for working in a good film. He left masala films though he earns double or triple the amount he will get by doing my movie. I respect him for this. I have always preferred working with artistes like Raj.���������
Obviously, the actor is almost ���������embarrassed��������� to hear such praise. ���������Overjoyed isn���������t the right word for me to explain how I feel hearing this. Recently, I was in Kolkata doing a Hindi film titled ���������Gumshuda���������. It was my first film where I had a double role. Back then, I had told people that I wanted to work in Bengal. There is such good work happening in Bengali cinema and the industry has some excellent directors too,��������� Raj says.
Incidentally, the actor also has a Bengal connection. ���������My mother grew up in Dhanbad. So, she has been speaking the language. I���������d say she is 98 per cent Bengali and 2 per cent Kashmiri. Ami bujhte paro Bangla. Or should I say, ami bujhte pari?��������� he asks.
Soon, Raj is speaking about his love for Kolkata. ���������I had been to Kolkata as a little boy in shorts. When ���������Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak��������� released, I was told it ran for more than 70 weeks in Kolkata. That was my first trip to the city as an actor. I must have been there during the 50th or 70th week,��������� he recalls.
As for watching Dasgupta���������s movies, Raj admits not to be too familiar with the recent films of the director. ���������I am familiar with ���������Bagh Bahadur���������. During that time, I was really envious of Pawan Malhotra and the fact that he was doing Buddhada���������s movie. I am so happy that I am not only doing a Buddhada film but also working on a Tagore. Sometimes, I am actually pinching myself to believe that this is happening.���������
On his Tagore connect, Raj says that every trip to Kolkata has always meant a visit to the Jorasanko Thakurbari. ���������I loved going there. Some time back, I was offered to do ���������Gora��������� in a Hindi adaptation of the Tagore work. I bought the book and read it too. I don���������t know what���������s happening to the film though. I���������ve read ���������Sey��������� on which ���������Woh��������� is based. ���������Sey��������� works at two levels. For the child, Pupe, ���������Sey��������� helps her realize that the power is within herself. For adults, it makes them think and understand if their human qualities are missing even when they are successful in life. Having read Tagore, I feel he was such a modern writer,��������� Raj adds.
Does Raj share his enthusiasm about doing this movie with his folks back home, especially with Imran Khan (Raj was married to Imran���������s mother)? ���������I haven���������t told Imran anything. I will discuss this with Naseer. With him, I share a guru-shishya parampara. I have utmost respect for him. I am waiting to share this news with Naseer before I leave for Purulia.���������
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