​Directors will judge Hiya’s talent, not me: Saswata Chatterjee

The actor and his daughter get candid about the latter’s impending acting debut and moreHow much of a daddy’s girl is Hiya?Saswata Chatterjee: I think she’s more of a momma’s girl. Mohua (wife) is her best friend.Hiya Chatterjee: Yes, my mother is my best friend. I tell her everything. There are certain things I want to say to baba but can’t, so I ask her to convey it.SC: Yes, that’s true. Mohua knows everything about her.Hiya, you must have been missing your father because of his work schedule.HC: I do miss him a lot. But from my childhood, I’ve seen his erratic work schedule and how hard he works for the family, so I’m used to it. But no matter where baba is, he has to speak to me before I hit the bed. That’s a ritual we follow since childhood.Hiya, was Saswata clued in to your studies?HC: (Laughs) When I was in school, baba at times used to get confused about which class I was in! But generally, he was clued in.SC: I got married to a teacher, so why should I keep track of my daughter’s studies? (Laughs out loud). I was never a good student, but Hiya is brilliant in her studies. So, at times I used to scold her seeing her results: ‘Eto marks keu pai naki?’Can you share with your father if you like a guy? HC: Not at all! But I tell it to my mother even if I exchange a text with a guy. Baba is very protective about me, and I guess he doesn’t like any of my guy friends who try to be extra pally with me (smiles).SC: I’m not bothered, because at the end of the day it is her life and she has to decide what she wants, who she chooses; as parents, we can only guide her.Hiya, we heard you are interested in joining the film industry.HC: Yes, I am. I’m also interested in working for OTT projects. I feel content-wise OTT is doingso well.SC: I’m not guiding her in this regard at this moment. But I feel this generation is much smarter, focused, and intelligent than us. My father Shubhendu Chatterjee never recommended me to anyone. Rather, Rabi jethu (Rabi Ghosh) did so to many directors. After working as a professional theatre actor for six years, my father cast me as the hero in a play, Boishaki Jhor, that he directed. I always believe that one finds his or her own way through experiences. So, will Hiya; thik nije lore nebe. And if she wants my advice, I’m always there.Hiya, how are you training yourself to get into acting?HC: I’m currently doing an acting workshop with Daminee Benny Basu to sharpen my acting skills and have also done Odissi training under Sharmila Biswas. I’m also watching a lot of films and web series to learn the nuances of acting. I am working hard but the rest is destiny. As baba always says, it’s better to struggle and establish yourself, as that stays for long.Name three projects of Saswata that you love.HC: Night Manager, Meghe Dhaka Tara and Abar Proloy.What I think about Hiya’s talent doesn’t matter as the directors have to realise her potential and whether she’ll be able to deliver or not– Saswata Chatterjee I adore Mimi Chakraborty and Subhashree Ganguly, as both have done varied roles. Among actors, baba, Parambrata Chatterjee and Abir Chatterjee are my favourites– Hiya ChatterjeeHiya had a filmy birth: SaswataThe day Hiya was born, I went through a veritable nightmare. She was born premature, and the nursing home didn’t have an incubator to ensure her survival. Not a single ambulance was available, so I had to drive her – a baby just a few hours old – from the South Kolkata nursing home to a Salt Lake hospital along with a nurse and a doctor and got her admitted there. So, this was her entry into this world (smiles) – quite filmy.'I’ve seen Hiya acting in an English play in school and I must admit she was good'-Saswata Chatterjee I would love to work with Srijit Mukherji, Raj Chakrabarty and Kaushik Ganguly someday. I’m working hard to be an actor, but the rest is destiny'-Hiya ChatterjeeSaswata’s gifts to HiyaI gift her chocolates now, as I’m sure she has lost count of how many new dresses, shoes and cosmetics she already has. Now, I see that even the fridge is full of chocolates (laughs). I so feel that because of my work schedule, her education, my wife’s work commitments, we hardly got time in the past to go on family trips. Now that she has completed her graduation, and I’m also very choosy about my work, we can go on more family trips. Last year, we went to Goa and had a blast.Picture Courtesy: Debarshi SarkarLocation Courtesy: Tribe Cafe