One of the top stars of popular Bengali cinema, actor Tota Roy Chowdhury has also tasted significant success in the south Indian film industries, but at present, he is riding a wave like never before — the countrywide fame and accolades that come with starring in an honest-to-God Bollywood blockbuster, and that, too, from the house of Karan Johar.
Speaking to Connected to India in an interview conducted by Shoma A. Chatterji, veteran film scholar, author, and senior journalist, Roy Chowdhury recalls the absolute warmth with which he and his Bengali co-star Churni Ganguly were received by the whole unit of Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, the latest mega-hit from Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions.
Roy Chowdhury, who had sent a quick audition tape to one of the top casting directors of the Mumbai film industry, was selected instantly by Johar, and things just went up and up from there.
Not only is the film huge — both on the scale of production and its box-office success — but it has also given Roy Chowdhury a role that is unique in his 26-year career. Perhaps the fittest Bengali actor of his generation, he trained as a Kathak dancer for six months to give life to his character, Chandan Chatterjee, in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani.
Watch the full interview on the YouTube channel of Connected to India.