Tapas pays his gurudakshina

Some director-actor combos have worked wonders for Bengali cinema.If the Satyajit Ray-Soumitra Chatterjee pairing is bound to send one on a nostalgic trip, close on the heels follows the Tarun Majumdar-Tapas Paul jodi.
The duo created history at the box-office with films likes Dadar Kirti, Bhalobasha Bhalobasha and Pothbhola, to name a few. And now news is that the pair is back to recreate magic all over again on the small screen.Tarun Majumdar has cast Tapas Paul in Birendra Singhs role in his first-ever megaserial,Durgeshnandini.Confirming the news, Tapas, who is just back from Delhi, says, Yes, I am part of Dadas (Tarun Majumdar) project.Birendras role is extremely challenging. It depicts the characters efforts to hold his head high in the face of all odds. Shooting for my portions starts from January 11.When Dada called me up to ask whether Id be interested to act in Durgeshnandini, I gave my nod without a second thought.
Paul didn���������t even enquire after his role. ���������What I am today is because of the director.��������� In fact, so great is his admiration for Tarun Majumdar���������s works, when asked about remuneration, Paul stopped him midway to say, ���������Dada, please let���������s not talk about all these.��������� ���������How can I forget those days when he had the courage to cast a rank newcomer like me in ���������Dadar Kirti��������� and ���������Bhalobasha Bhalobasha���������?��������� Paul, now an actor-turned-MP, exclaims nostalgically.
The actor walks back memory lane to talk about the time when he let go of Basu Chatterjee���������s ���������Kirayadar��������� (which later went to Raj Babbar) because of his commitment to Majumdar. ���������Shooting dates of ���������Kirayadar��������� were clashing with the schedule of ���������Bhalobasha Bhalobasha���������. When I told Dada about the offer, he said, ���������Tumi dekhe nao ki korbe���������. I was prompt in turning down Basuda���������s offer. Till today, whenever he calls me for any work, I don���������t think twice before giving my nod.���������
This megaserial apart, Paul plays a channel head in his colleague of 23 years, Satabdi Roy���������s film, ���������Paribartan���������. Ask him what he feels about Satabdi getting under the skin of Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee and he says, ���������She has portrayed the character well. I saw a few glimpses while dubbing. Bhaloi koreche (good job done),��������� reflects Paul, adding that the film will be releasing in January.
Tapas Paul is also acting with Satabdi in a jatra, ���������Hiyar Majhe Mor Priya���������. ���������The response is overwhelming,��������� says the actor. But, for the time being, it���������s ���������Durgeshnandini��������� that tops Tapas���������s list of priorities and the actor is leaving no stones unturned to translate the age-old camaraderie on-screen.
Sure, the actor knows how to offer his gurudakshina.
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