I am a failed actor: Anjan Dutta

"I consider myself as a failed actor. I had never been offered roles of my choice since the 90s and could not realise the dream to explore my full acting repertoire," Anjan told IBNS at the premier of his film Hemanta, inspired by Shakespeare's Hamlet last Wednesday.

The self-styled actor-director-balladeer of Bengali songs also referred to the situation in one of 80s' films where as a newcomer he was never given free space by a leading light in those times but he had to keep mum.

"I had great expectations when I was brought by Mrinalda in the world of cinema from being a journalist in early 80s. My first film was Chalchitra in 1981 and afterwards I was getting roles I wanted. But slowly I ended up in becoming a failed actor, an incomplete actor during the 90s and early 2000," he rued.

However, the new generation of directors from Param (actor Parambrata Chatterjee) to Pratim and Aniket (Chatterjee) are again giving me experimental roles I had always wanted" Anjan said suggesting it may be too late.

About Hemanta (Hamlet), Anjan said, "had I been a little younger I could have portrayed Hemanta. But again I think being a failed actor I should not have gone for such a role. At least I think I can be a better judge of actors if not being a good actor myself," he said.

About his upcoming Byomkesh Bakshi thriller 'Chiriakhana', Anjan said, "It is not a remake of Ray's Chiriakhana which I don't think was an ideal adaptation of the literary work by Saradindu. My work will more adhere to the fiction with Jisshu Sengupta in the sleuth's role and Saswata Chatterjee as Ajit."

"I believe at this stage of my career when I am 60 plus, I don't have much time left," he signed off.

Hemanta, produced by Greentouch, also starred Jisshu (Horatio), Saswata (Cladius) and others.