Gaurav Chakrabarty is an Indian (Bengali) actor best known for his portrayal of the character 'Prodipto Lahiri' in the Bengali megaserial Gaaner Oparey that aired on Star Jalsha from June 28, 2010 to April 16, 2011. He hails from a family which has had a legacy of association with the Bengali cultural arena, starting from Jochhon Dastidarand Chandra Dastidar (his paternal great uncle and aunt), Jagadish and Monica Chakrabarty (his paternal grandparents), and his parents, veteran actors Sabyasachi Chakrabarty and Mithu Chakrabarty. He debuted on big screen in Kaushik Ganguly's Rang Milanti, one of the most appreciated films of the year 2011.
Gaurav Chakrabarty talks to Shinjini Mukherjee…
1. You are often called the youth icon of this generation nowadays. How does it feel to be given this tagline?
I think it is too big a tag to be associated with me yet. I have a long way to go before I can deserve the term ‘icon’. It should be reserved for those who have earned that tag. I haven’t yet.
2. How young were you when you developed a knack for acting? How did you make your way into the industry?
That will be a difficult question to answer. I don’t really know when it happened. The technicalities of film making have always interested me. Sound and editing specifically. I wanted to become a technician of some sort. I even went and got myself a certificate in editing from the Film and Television Institute in Pune. In 2007, I got a chance to act on stage for the first time when our theatre group ‘Charbak’ staged Apsara Theatre-er Mamla based on Satyajit Ray’s Feluda story of the same name. I played Topshe to my father’s Feluda. It was then, perhaps, that I discovered the sheer joy of performing. I was then offered to play a small part in a telefilm called Bagh Nokh by Kaushik Ganguly. That was my first foray into television and professional acting. Gaaner Oparey followed soon after. That got me recognition. I was fortunate to have been given a chance to work with Rituparno Ghosh and Prosenjit Chatterjee in my very first television serial. Kaushik Ganguly was kind enough to offer me my first feature film as well. Rang Milanti in 2010. So I had done a telefilm, a television serial and a feature film in the first year that I stepped into the industry. I consider myself very lucky. I have been fortunate to have a job that I love doing.
3. How important a part of your life was your father during the formative years?
He was definitely a very important part. Both my parents have given me enough time during my formative years. They have always been around no matter how busy they were. My mother only started working after my brother and I grew up. She devoted all her time to bringing us up. My father, no matter how busy he was, always made time for us. We never felt like so-called “star kids”. That is not how our parents brought us up. We have always been a very normal family and I give both my parents credit for it. Whatever I am, whatever I will be, is solely their credit. I hope I can make them proud.
4. How supportive has your family been regarding choices of yours?
They have always been very supportive. They have always urged me to make my own choices. They have never imposed their thoughts, their ideas, their decisions on me. “Make your own choices” was what I was told at a very young age. They supported me when I wanted to be an engineer, they supported me when I wanted
to be an editor, and they supported me when I decided to become an actor. I’m fortunate to have such parents.
5. How important were studies a part of your life as a student? Could you juggle between studies and acting?
Studies were my life when I was a student! My father told me I can start working only after I finish my studies. There was no question of an overlap. So there was no need to juggle at all. I started acting after I finished my post-graduation.
6. The character you played in the television soap Gaaner Oparey found wide acceptance with the youth of today. How does that inspire you?
I will always be grateful to Gaaner Oparey. If people recognize me or like me today, it is still because of Gaaner Oparey. It has given me a lot of recognition. It has given me belief in my capabilities as an actor. It has given me confidence.
7. If you were asked to revisit one memory from your childhood days, what would it be?
I would love to go back to my school days. Those carefree days will never come back again. I’m fortunate to still have friends from Nursery or Kindergarten. We keep discussing this.
8. How has it been growing up in a family that has always been in the limelight?
Like I have said before, my growing years were no different from those of my friends. The only difference was that people on the road recognized my father more than those of my friends. We were never led to believe we were “special” in any way. We were never taken to film parties or film premieres as kids. So we were always far away from the limelight.
9. One character you’d always want to play and why.
My father had played this character called Rudra Sen in a television series by Anjan Dutta called Rudra Sen-er Diary. That is one character that I would love to play. He is the coolest private detective I know!
10. Imagine you are not an actor. What would you then be?
Either an editor or a graphic designer. I am a trained editor. Graphic design is a hobby.
11. Future plans?
Lots of plans! Let’s hope things fall into place soon. Slow and steady always wins the race!
12. When do we next get to see you on the small screen?
There are no such projects in the pipeline. Maybe if something interesting comes up in the near future. Nothing as of now.
13. Between an extremely challenging role in the city and a role that gets you recognition in Bombay, which would you choose and why?
That entirely depends on which project I say ‘yes’ to first. Both are equally exciting. Whichever comes first will be my choice. There are no two ways about it.
14. A senior actress you really want to work with.
Suchitra Sen! Alas, that dream will never come true.
15. Finally, what is your message to teenagers aspiring to take up acting as a profession, specifically, and the youngsters at large??
Don’t be in a hurry to achieve anything. Slow and steady always wins the race. Finish your studies. Being half-educated is worse than being uneducated. Your education will take you a long way. And by that I don’t just mean academic education! Learn your values well. Everything else shall follow. All the best!
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