My b’day wish is to work on a script about today’s India: Soumitra Chatterjee

I am not very sure if I can say I am forever young. One can’t go against nature. But I have tried to remain as active and creative as possible. This is my way of facing the usual troubles that age hurls upon a person. I know that I am as good as dead if I am not creative. That thought keeps me going.
There are many who have been a constant source of inspiration for me.Among them, I’ll take Mrinalda’s (Sen) name. So was Satyajit Ray though he had departed early on. Globally, I find many octogenarians who are very active. Their body of work is inspiring for me. Look at Dame Judi Dench and what she is still doing. Clint Eastwood too is a big inspiration. I find it amazing to note how he imperceptibly transformed himself from doing complete dishoom dishoom action roles to something so serious.
Straddling various genres is not uncommon among actors. It happens in the West. In India too, it is pretty common. More so, for the regional industry where the remuneration isn’t high and people have to straddle different worlds to earn enough. I am often told that few have taken the kind of load that I have. Fact is, I would have been unhappy had I not done that. I am currently shooting for Anik Dutta’s film where I play the principal character. When I am asked how I take on this pressure at my age, I say it is because of the way I groomed myself during my early years. I was great friends with Yusuf bhai (Dilip Kumar). The producer of Kshudhita Pashan — Hemen Ganguly — and Yusuf bhai were friends. That’s how I also got friendly with him. This friendship continued for quite some time. I remember attending the Mumbai premiere of Abhijaan. Yusuf bhai had also come to watch the film there. After the screening, he walked up to me, held my hand and said: “Soumitra, I would have been proud to do a role like this. I am very happy for you. Always keep it in mind never to take on small role. You must always take on bigger responsibilities”.
That advice has stuck on to me. Not that I always get the opportunity to take on bigger responsibilities but I try to discharge the responsibility when I get a chance. I did it when Atanu (Ghosh) offered me Mayurakshi or Anik offered me this role in his next film. I am looking forward to the film with Naseeruddin Shah that Saibal (Mitra) is directing with us. I don’t know why no one had ever thought of casting us together. Perhaps, it is the language barrier that came in the way.
Is there any role that I look forward to? Well, yes. I look forward to a project through which I can relate to the present-day reality of our country. That would include everything about contemporary India including intolerance and the freedom of expression debate. I hope a script comes my way where one can explore how India, at the core, isn’t transforming despite all the cosmetic changes. I can do a play on this subject or even a film. I wish someone approaches me with such a script. That’s my birthday wish.