Nawazuddin in Buddhadeb Dasgupta's film

The director is all set to begin his fourth Hindi venture ' Anwar Ka Ajab Kissa
He has been the toast of international film festivals and is hailed as one of the most powerful filmmakers in contemporary India. National Award-winning director Buddhadeb Dasgupta, who had earlier done three films in Hindi ' Andhi Gali, Bagh Bahadur and Woh ' is set all to begin his fourth, Anwar Ka Ajab Kissa.Starring in the film is none other than the poster boy of parallel cinema ' Nawazuddin Siddiqui. The film, which was supposed to be made in Bengali as Anwar Er Aschorjo Kahini, made Dasgupta do some rethinking. In the running for the role were also Rudranil Ghosh and Indraneil Sengupta. 'Once I decided to make the film in Hindi, I immediately thought of Nawazuddin. I'm thoroughly impressed with his films and thought he would be able to do justice to Anwar, a middle-class Muslim man, who works as a small-time detective in an agency. He looks into trivial cases like looking up the background of a possible groom or why a person has suddenly gone missing,' says Dasgupta. Ask him about the change in cast and Dasgupta reasons that the actors were not apt for the role. So, why not a superstar? The director reasons, 'While there's a certain degree of happiness that shows up in the faces of Dev and Jeet, Prosenjit wouldn't have fit the age group of Anwar.' While on Prosenjit, he narrates an anecdote. 'For Uttara, both Bumba (Prosenjit) and Tapas Paul had come to meet me. I was equally happy with both. But there was a certain look which I wanted for the character ' he could wear nothing but a red loincloth. After Bumba left my office that day, I did not meet him for long. He, however, was brilliant in Swapner Din,' the director recalls. So, what is that he looks for in his cast? 'Dedication,' says Dasgupta, adding, 'When I worked with Mithun Chakraborty in Tahader Kotha, he was already a superstar. But he put in more efforts than I did. Yogita (Bali) , I remember, had come down for the shoot once. She told me that she couldn't sleep next to Mithun as the actor would wear the same shirt for days on end and be in his unbathed, unshaven look. 'He stinks', she had complained, while Mithun had asked her to look for a better place to sleep! With Nawazuddin, I demand the same level of dedication and he has agreed. He was great in Kahaani and though I didn't like Gangs of Wasseypur, Nawazuddin was a showstealer. After Talaash, he is already a star.' The film will go on the floors on March 25. Before that, Nawazuddin is expected to be in Kolkata on March 4 for a week-long workshop. For the shooting, Dasgupta will head to Simultala, which he calls his 'New Purulia'. 'After I explored Purulia in films, every second film unit goes there. The film will be shot in both Bihar and Bengal,' says Dasgupta, who is not nonchalant about making a film in Hindi. 'If a film is good, it's bound to receive the same response in India and abroad. What it can limit is only the number of commercial releases across the country.' Before shooting begins, Dasgupta has yet another project to execute ' daughter Alokananda's wedding. 'She is getting married to an American ' Craig ' on February 19. He is a musician/ journalist and is currently looking for a job to settle down in Mumbai. Alokananda will be composing the music for my film, while Sohini Dasgupta will be assisting me in this venture,' he says. Anwar Ka Ajab Kissa will be produced by Delhi-based Leo Films.