I respect Malayalam films the same way I respect Bengali films. I think Malayalam films have not compromised on the essence and have kept their own statement and are coming up with very good themes.
— Prosenjit Chatterjee
I was not born for politics.
When critics called me a duplicate of my father, I knew I can't do anything about my genes but I ensured that I shed the romantic image and create my individual style.
I do not want to be a part of Hindi cinema's rat race. But yes, if I get offers and characters which I feel would suit me as well as make some difference to me, I will do a Hindi film.
My audiences are giving me awards every day.
If the entire product is good, then no matter what the language of the film is, people will love it.
If get an off on a Sunday, I try to keep my script-readings, meet my directors, plan film releases.
I want to urge filmmakers in Bengal to choose a subject and mount the film in a way that there's a Bengali connect. They must not fall into the typical remake pattern.
It is an honour to conduct a masterclass at IFFI.
Star Theatre in Shyambazar makes up a big chapter in my life. I worked there for three years during my struggling days.
I am a person who believes in giving due respect to everyone.
I used to sit on the editing table to see where I may have gone wrong because after editing, only the good parts go on screen.
As a good actor, I think you need to know camera, dubbing etc.
Life is like a circle and you have to know when to move on. Success and failure are a part and parcel of it.
I'm comfortable in my life.
I am open to do a Telugu, Tamil or Malayali movie. If I get a good script and good character, I will surely do it.
With excessive digitisation, now, everyone is making films, which is good, but the makers think that they will quickly make films in digital and bag satellite rights but television channels buy satellite rights of notable films only. If we made fewer films a year, percentage of hits would be better.
I am a wholesale entertainer.
The main reason I didn't work in Bollywood was due to the tremendous pressure on me in Bengal.
We can change everything but we can't stop time.
I'm very happy that whenever we talk about Bengali cinema anywhere in India, people talk about me with a lot of respect.
Sankhachil' did not have a script, to begin with. It was just a thought.
Since 80% of my career has been devoted to successful commercial cinema, I have always been told that I do not know how to act.
All my life, Sundays have been a working day.
Praktan' saw stupendous success in Bengal, can it not be remade in Hindi? It sure can.
A handsome period of my childhood was spent at our house in Tollygunge.
We lack good film scriptwriters. People like Anjan Chowdhury who could develop scripts of pure entertainers are quite difficult to find now. There are obviously some exceptions like Padmanabha Dasgupta. But how many scripts can one single Padmanabha Dasgupta churn out!
I share good relationships with politicians from all parties.
There used to be times when I used to be bothered about box office, director, producer, the actress... If those ticks were marked, I used to say 'yes' to a film. Later on, my focus absolutely changed. Now if a character stays with me for two to three nights, I say 'yes' to the film.
Cinema is a temple and who am I to say which person deserves entry?
There were times when 22 of my films would release in a year.
All of Bengal knows about my differences with my father. He's based in Mumbai. I never visit him. He never visits me. We are not enemies. But neither are we friends.
When people started recognising me as a 'chocolate hero,' I switched on to action movies and became an action star. I kept reinventing myself. it was a continuous process.
Everywhere I go today, people talk about Bengali cinema. I completely refuse to accept that Bengali filmmakers are not making good films.
Bengal has always produced good cinema, be it Satyajit Ray or Ritwik Ghatak.
No Bengali comedy show is complete without mocking my mannerisms.
After 20 years and 250 mainstream films, I thought I should have in my library at least 50 films, films that will be talked about when I am no more.
I watch all kinds of Indian cinema. There are many good films in Bengali, Marathi and Malayalam.
Earlier, people used to say no to regional films, but now people all over the world have started watching Bengali cinema.
I go to bed very late. I usually stay up till 2:30 A.M. but am up by seven in the morning.
To portray a singer who gets on stage at night, who is away from the limelight, is never an easy task.
When a director is remaking a film, he should tweak it, add Bengali sentiments to it and make it look like a regional movie. A copy-paste job is something I don't support at all.
Shyambazar evokes a strong sense of nostalgia in me. There's not a theatre in that area where I haven't watched a movie. I also have fond memories of going grocery-shopping at Grey Street with my grandparents.
I came to know about my father joining BJP through the media.
I love KIFF. No one can stop me from being a part of it. I have always watched good movies there. Earlier on, that was the only space to watch good cinema.
Technology is a very important part of cinema.
Ask anyone in the industry if Bumbada is accessible. A technical hand can call me at 2 A.M. and I will be there to help him.
I've two failed marriages in the past.
Talent is a very cliched word. Hard work is the key and I am a very hard working person.
When I started my career, I was faced with a challenge of making my own identity.
