The best makeup for any actor is their acting skills: Ambarish Bhattacharya

When we speak about Ambarish Bhattacharya, his roles that immediately come to mind are the ones that made us laugh. But the actor, who wants to explore a wide range of roles over and above the comic ones he’s often offered, tells us that his biggest concern is “Are people laughing while watching me play a serious role?” The rather articulate actor goes on to pour his heart out in a candid chat with us. Excerpts:



I feel that I shouldn’t be choosy (about roles). Whatever meaty role comes my way I accept it. But serious characters challenge me as an actor

My appearance and my weight have been a boon for me when it comes to getting work. In fact, I was cast as Gaja because of the innocence on my face and my weight. But I’ll surely try to lose some kilos if any character demands



I feel blessed that I got a chance to play varied roles: Ambarish


In a recent interview with us, director Kaushik Ganguly had said, ‘Tollywood failed to utilise the dynamics of actor Ambarish properly and sadly, he has been typecast in comic roles.’ What do you have to say about this?
I think most directors in Tollywood don’t want to take the risk of casting me in different roles. I became popular with the comedy serial, Raja Goja, in which I played Goja. So, the audience started accepting me and loving me in comic roles. It was Kaushik da who cast me as serious characters in three consecutive films and the audience loved them. This proved that I’m capable of essaying serious characters too.

Do you think Tollywood refuses to utilise talent?
I’m not saying this, history does. If you see the career of an actor like Rabi Ghosh (excluding five-six films), what will people say? He’s an actor who does comic roles, right? But he’s a really talented actor who can do much more than only comical roles. But I feel blessed that I got a chance to play varied roles.

When did you think you evolved as an actor?
In these 17 years of my career, the continuous process of acting and facing the camera helped me to evolve as an actor, and most importantly, as a person. Whatever role I’m playing, at the end of the day, it is acting and that has helped me immensely in learning the nitty-gritties of acting and made me more professional as an actor. I love to observe people, as it helps with my acting in a big way. Moreover, Kaushik da has helped me to evolve as an actor. He doesn’t conduct acting workshops before a film but that one tip he gives me before the final take does all the magic.



It was Kaushik da who cast me as serious characters in three consecutive films and the audience loved them. This proved that I’m capable of essaying serious characters too



I tried to lose weight, but I failed. It is not that I eat a lot, but somehow, I can’t lose weight. My weight and my face have become a brand now and I love the fact that I’m often invited to food festivals

About working with Big B, SRK & Mithun
I acted in Projapoti with Mithun da, did two ad films with Amitabh sir and one ad film with Shah Rukh sir. All of them make you feel at ease when they come on the sets. Shah Rukh sir is little reserved, while Amitabh sir starts chatting if he comes to know you are from Kolkata. And all three of them are so down-to-earth. I guess that’s why they are where they are today.