‘National Award isn’t my ticket to Bollywood...’

doweshowbellyad=0; Prosenjit Chatterjee. (TOI Photo)Weeks ago, the industry was abuzz with rumours that you would win the National Award this year...
(Smiles) On Monday night, Swapan Ghosh had called me up to say that there was a chance of me getting an award. Honestly speaking, I thought this would never happen. Uttam jethu benche nei. Kintu Soumitra jethu toh achhen.He keeps a low profile but we admire him for being one of India���s finest actors. Imagine his performance in Sangsar Simanta or Koni. I always thought that he should be bestowed with the Best Actor award.
Now that that���s happened, what���s your reaction?
Tears rolled down my eyes when I heard the news on Tuesday morning. The best part is that this year���s awardee list gives a thumbs up to Tollywood���s male actors. Ritu���s first reaction after hearing my award was that his male actors are now winning National Awards too.
But didn���t you ever think you could have got this award earlier?
Last year, I had heard that I might get it for Swapner Din. But finally, I missed it. I���ve been a mainstream actor and have just crossed 40. Now, I have the real maturity to handle challenging roles.
What is it about your performance in Dosar that you think caught the jury���s attention?
The role required me to use eyes and facial expressions without any support from my body language. When the film was shown in Mumbai, Shabanaji and Javed saab had said that nobody in this world could have done the role better. When Mani Ratnam saw the film at Cannes, he asked me what special efforts had gone to get the right make-up. Ritu had pointed out the way I had studied how my make-up should change with time.
How is Prosenjit changing as an actor?
Earlier, I was hailed as the Guru when audiences lapped up my films in the districts. Now, people from the higher strata of society want to watch my films. They think I���m an actor who can act.
An actor who can act or a star who can act?
One has to be an actor to be a star. One can���t be a star and make the unbelievable believable without having an actor���s charisma.
Do National Awards mean a ticket to Bollywood?
No. I���ve got a lot of respect in Tollywood. It���s my responsibility to give back to this industry. I often get offers from Bollywood. But I���ll never be keen unless, of course, it���s a director like Mani Ratnam offering a good role for his film.
Hindi films winning National Awards also are box-office successes. Why���s that not happening in Bengal yet?
It���ll happen with adequate support from the government. Anuranan has bagged the National Award without being an artsy film. I had given the government a plan for improving Tollywood. The government has to work on it and promote young talents with vision. Things are changing but the system needs to come forward further to help.