Saswata not keen to move to Bollywood despite offers

Saswata's portrayal of the character whose villainy is concealed in his chubby-faced innocence and demure presence, has brought him offers from Mumbai but the actor says he wants to be rooted to Kolkata unless a big difference is made in the offers. Talking on location from the shooting of 'Namte Namte', documentary film-maker Rana Basu's debut feature film.

Saswata said, "I have commitments to a number of Bengali films and I can't just go away to Mumbai. I am principally an actor from this city." However, the actor says he may consider offers from Bollywood after December by which time he will have finished with his commitments in Kolkata. Right now, Saswata is busy with the shooting for 'Namte Namte', which is based on celebrated Bengali writer Dibyendu Palit's story 'Trata'.

Saswata has featured in almost all the serious films of the present time like 'Uro Chithi', 'Laptop', 'Bhooter Bhabisyat', 'Abar Bomkesh' (Chitrachor) and 'Nobel Chor'. He says he is impressed by scripts where characters leave an impression in the minds of viewers that lingers long after they are out of theatres.

He said National Award winner Anjan Dutta had offered him three films in a row - 'Bong Connection' where he had a very minimalistic presence, 'Chalo Let's Go' where he was a protagonist and 'Madly Bengalee' where he had lasted for less than three minutes. "A lead role is okay, but even if I last for a few minutes on the screen, I have no qualms if it is remembered by the viewer after the show," he said.

On his equation with 'Kahaani' maker Sujoy Ghosh, he said, "We don't talk films when we meet, we have a cosy adda whenever he comes to Kolkata. We talk on food and other stuff. This time he said he would like to have chicken dishes at my residence."

Asked if he had any regret in his acting career, Sasawata said, "Nothing like that. Let me do whatever comes my way."u00a0