Saswata Chatterjee Opens Up About His Experience Working in Kalki 2898 AD

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JUNE 27,2024

Veteran actor Saswata Chatterjee has ventured into new territory with his role in the highly anticipated sci-fi film "Kalki 2898 AD." Known for his remarkable performances in Bengali cinema, Saswata's debut in the Telugu film industry marks a significant milestone in his career. In an exclusive interview, he shared insights about his character, his experience on set, and working alongside industry legends.

Saswata's Unique Experience in Telugu Cinema

Saswata Chatterjee plays the role of Commander Manas in "Kalki 2898 AD." Reflecting on his character, he said, 'Commander Manas works under Supreme Yaskin, played by Kamal sir in the film, and he is willing to do anything for this man. It is a negative character, in a way, who will be seen throughout the film doing all sorts of bad things just to please the Supreme.'

Saswata shot for the film over two years and described it as a unique working experience. Initially, he struggled to understand the director's vision. 'It was hard to grasp the vision that director Nag Ashwin had in his mind.' He elaborated on the challenges of working extensively with green screens, saying, 'Even while I was shooting, it was hard to visualise how the film would look after all the CGI work.'

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Further, preparation for his role involved understanding the look and feel of his character through costume trials. 'It was when we did the look test with those heavy costumes that I got a much better idea of how to approach my character, the body language to employ, and how to deliver my lines.'

Surprisingly, Saswata landed the role despite not knowing Telugu. 'I was actually surprised to hear from their team because I don't know Telugu.' The team provided him with Telugu dialogues written in English along with an English translation to help him understand the emphasis needed. He eventually dubbed his portions in Telugu himself.

Saswata was impressed by the meticulous background work and dedication on set. 'There was so much background work going on all the time it was amazing. In general, I don't know how the Telugu film industry works. But for this project, they did not worry about time and money. They just wanted to make a great film.'

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Working with Industry Legends like Deepika Padukone and Kamal Haasan

Most of Saswata's scenes were with Deepika Padukone, who plays Sumati in the film. He admired her down-to-earth nature and shared a memorable first-day experience. 'We both came around 10.30 am, and I was continuously going and giving my shots till 5 pm. And all the while, Deepika was waiting there on the sets, laughing around. After every shot, she would sweetly ask me, 'Dada, phir aapko bulaaya... Mujhe nahi bulaaya?' (Dada, again, they called you but not me?). It was very sweet of her.'

One of Saswata's most cherished moments was meeting Kamal Haasan for the first time. 'It was the day I met Mr. Kamal Haasan for the first time.' Overwhelmed with respect, Saswata touched Kamal Haasan's feet, only to be gently admonished. He recalled, 'I shot with him for not more than a day, but I remember I was too nervous seeing the legend before me. But what a man he is! So soft-spoken and simply observing everybody, just soaking up everything. I straightaway touched his feet, but, very faintly, he said to me, 'Don't do that'.'

Also Read: Kalki 2898 AD Generates Record-Breaking Advance Bookings of 9.49 Crore on Day 1

About Saswata Chatterjee

At 53, Saswata Chatterjee has had a prolific career spanning nearly three decades, primarily in Bengali cinema. Active in the industry since 1997, he gained nationwide recognition with his role in the 2012 Sujoy Ghosh directorial "Kahaani." Despite his fame, Saswata has been selective in signing films outside Bengali cinema.

Saswata Chatterjee's experience in "Kalki 2898 AD" has been a remarkable journey of learning and adaptation. From overcoming language barriers to working with green screens, his dedication to his craft shines through. Fans eagerly await his performance in this groundbreaking film, adding another feather to his illustrious cap.