'EVERY DECADE, I HAD TO PROVE I COULD ACT'

Tota Roy Choudhury says 'Ahalya' opened doors to Mumbai

- ANINDITA ACHARYA

Tota Roy Choudhury possesses all the qualities an actor could wish for - good looks, a great physique, acting chops, dancing skills and the flexibility for action sequences. Yet, despite these attributes, he has had to prove his talent time and again, whether it was through 'Chokher Bali', 'Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani', or the 'Feluda' franchise. With over three decades in the film industry, Tota once had his moments of angst, but not anymore. Today, he prefers to focus on quality over quantity. Even after the success of 'Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani', he turned down six out of the nine offers he received. This winter is special for Tota, as he has two major projects lined up - 'Chaalchitro: The Frame Fatale' - on the big screen and 'Feludar Goyendagiri: Bhuswargo Bhoyonkawr' on OTT. While he's delighted that audiences are eager to watch both, Tota was crestfallen when director Srijit Mukherji announced that 'Bhuswargo Bhoyonkawr' would be his final venture in the 'Feluda' series.

In this candid chat with 'Millennium Post', Tota reflects on his three-decade journey of ups and downs and what lies ahead. You have portrayed a cop in several films, including 'Bolo Na Tumi Amar', 'Tara', 'Shubho Mahurat' and 'Shapath'. Do you feel this role has become your forte?

A cop is just one of the characters I have portrayed. Since I've played this role multiple times, I always try to understand the unique traits of the cop being offered. For instance, in Pratim D Gupta's 'Chaalchitro: The Frame Fatale', I play Kanishka Chatterjee, a character distinct from the ones I've portrayed before. Kanishka, as a cop, is closest to reality after 'Shubho Mahurat'. He has flaws and redeeming qualities, making him very human. He's not a super cop but works with a team of three police officers to tackle a series of patterned murders in the city.

Your performance as a cop in Sujoy Ghosh's short film 'Ahalya' was widely praised.