I have some Bengali dialogues too: Samrat

Samrat Chakrabarti talks to TOI about playing a Bengali character in the US TV series, In Treatment, that has Irrfan playing his dad
You are the first Bengali to be cast in the critically-acclaimed series, In Treatment. How did you bag the offer?
I was shooting an American film in Italy when I got an e-mail from my agent in the US that the critically- acclaimed show, In Treatment, was casting for a Bengali American actor.I read the script and loved it. So, I did a video audition online. A week later, I got a phone call from the channel telling me that I had got the role. I begin shooting sometime this month.
Do you play an Indian character?
The show itself is about the complexities of psychological therapy sessions between a doctor and his patients. In this season, I play Arun Sanyal. He is a Bengali man whose mother has recently passed away and whose father is going through some sort of an emotional crisis. Arun brings his father from Kolkata to live with him and his wife, Julia. Subsequently, there is some family friction. That’s the reason why Arun and his father go to see a therapist.
Irrfan plays your father in In Treatment. Did you get to interact with Irrfan when you did a small part in New York?
I didn’t have any scenes with Irrfan in New York. So, I didn’t get to interact with him then. But I feel extremely excited to have him play my father, Sunil Sanyal, in In Treatment. I have always looked up to him as an actor and look forward to exploring the complicated father-son relationship with him on-screen.
Weren’t you surprised that a television show abroad is now penning a Bengali character rather than a generic Indian one?
Yes, I was surprised and excited that there is so much specificity and research going into the characters. It’s nice that the makers are being specific and not just having ‘general’ Indian characters. Irrfan and I will have some Bengali dialogues too.
Gabriel Byrne has also won a Golden Globe for his performance in In Treatment in 2008. What are your expectations in terms of learning as an actor when you are part of a project that has him in the cast?
I’ve seen the show and he is unbelievably good in it. He brings a mysterious yet vulnerable quality to his character. I have been a fan of his acting since the Coen Brother’s Hollywood film, Miller’s Crossing. I feel honoured to be a part of such an esteemed cast. I’m sure I’ll learn a lot from the experience. I’ll soon meet Irrfan and Gabriel for our first rehearsal.
What do you find most intriguing about the format of the series that is about a psychotherapist’s sessions with his patients?
It’s great that prestigious and renowned American channels are sharing stories that portray Indians in a human way. In Treatment is a very well-written show with characters that are very real and three dimensional. I feel lucky to be part of a show that is bold and steering away from stereotypes. It shares the struggles and humane journey of what it means to be an Indian living in America from an honest perspective. There needs to be more shows like this in America, that showcases the universatality of being immigrants, the inner struggles of family, and how all human beings deal with big events such as death.
Your performance in The Waiting City that was based and shot in Kolkata has received rave reviews. How far has that helped you in making inroads into Hollywood in terms of bagging roles?
It was great to be a part of The Waiting City and it definitely has opened a few doors. On some level, work begets work. I just want to continue working with people that I can continue to learn from. Word has it that The Waiting City should release worldwide sometime in the Fall. I am looking forward to sharing Kolkata with the world.
It’s been some time since you returned to Kolkata to shoot another Bengali film. Post-In Treatment, what would it take for you to do a Bengali film?
I have a special place in my heart for Kolkata. That’s mainly for my parents and forefathers. I’d love to go back to Kolkata to shoot a Bengali film if it’s the right project.
Since you’ve done Kabir Khan’s film, are you in touch with him? Do you want to seriously explore a film career in Bollywood? Or is it a better idea for you to hop, skip and jump between various film industries?
I have been in touch with Kabir Khan, and hope to work with him at some point again. I think true cinema goes beyond language or culture. It’s a form of expression, a form of storytelling, a form of communication. I’ll travel to any country or any industry to continue the exploration of true cinema. Let’s get rid of labels like Hollywood or Bollywood and focus on making true cinema, which has a language of its own.
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