Actors Om Puri, Naseeruddin Shah or Rajat Kapoor — Capital’s theatre circuit has gifted many talented actors to the film industry, be it Bollywood or the regional film industries. So, when 24-year-old Delhi boy Anubhav Kanjilal decided to make the transition from stage to camera, he felt it was the most natural step to take. But, what makes this theatre enthusiast different from the rest? While most film aspirants look towards the City of Dreams Mumbai to get closer to stardom, Anubhav decided to move to the City of Joy, Kolkata. “I have been a part of a Bengali theatre group, Green Room Theatre since I was a teenager. So, I wanted to explore the Bengali film industry and knowing the language acted as an advantage,” says the debutant of film, Abar Basanta Bilap, which has an ensemble cast with actors like Moon Moon Sen, Kharaj Mukherjee, among others.
Life seems to have come full circle for Kanjilal - his Bengali film will soon be screened in his city - Delhi, at the Bengali film festival. The young actor, who has already signed six films, one of which is with filmmaker Arjun Dutta, whose short film, The 6th Element, made it to the Cannes short film corner last year, says shifting to a new city wasn’t easy. “I was sh*t nervous; but I had no choice. I had left my job, got out of my comfort zone, left my family and friends. So, I knew that I had to give my best shot or go back to Delhi,” says Anubhav, whose film will be a part of an upcoming three-day-long Bengali film festival in the Capital.
Though his debut film was a commercial comedy, Anubhav’s next is an art-house venture, where he stars with veterans like actors Adil Hussain and Arpita Chatterjee in a film that explores a complex relationship between a mother and his son. Keeping a balance, Anubhav expects to continue with his performance on the Delhi stage, too. “Taking out time for both mediums is difficult. I might not be in a position to do new dramas, but if productions of plays that I have already been a part are done again, both in Kolkata and Delhi, I will be part of it.”
{{/usCountry}}Though his debut film was a commercial comedy, Anubhav’s next is an art-house venture, where he stars with veterans like actors Adil Hussain and Arpita Chatterjee in a film that explores a complex relationship between a mother and his son. Keeping a balance, Anubhav expects to continue with his performance on the Delhi stage, too. “Taking out time for both mediums is difficult. I might not be in a position to do new dramas, but if productions of plays that I have already been a part are done again, both in Kolkata and Delhi, I will be part of it.”
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