India, May 31 -- You can feel the fatigue in his voice. He is sleep-deprived. He had a late hour on the sets of director Rohit Shetty's 'Golmaal 5'. But then, the moment we talk about films, you can feel his infectious energy. For decades, Mishra has been one of Indian cinema's most versatile performers, moving effortlessly between laugh-out-loud comic roles and intense characters in films like 'Ankhon Dekhi', 'Masaan', 'Kaamyaab' and 'Vadh'.
In a hero-centric film industry, Mishra has built a career in portraying ordinary people with extraordinary authenticity. More recently, he impressed audiences as cop Ashok, an aide to Saif Ali Khan, in the web show 'Kartavya'. And now, the veteran actor has impressed one and all in his very first outing in Bengali films. Pritha Chakraborty of 'Mukherjee Dar Bou' fame has returned to direction after seven years on the big screen with 'Phera'. A personal film, it explores the pain, love and emotional complexities of a father-son relationship. Ritwik Chakraborty plays Mishra's son in the film.
The 'Kadvi Hawa' actor had received offers to do Bengali films earlier. But he settled for 'Phera' as his Bengali debut and his reasons seem rooted.
"When I was growing up, I was influenced by the films of Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen and Ritwik Ghatak. I wanted to be a part of the kind of life that existed in their films," he said. Mishra stated that Pritha had closely connected the story to her relationship with her father, giving the screenplay an emotional authenticity that resonated with him. 'Phera' also transported him to the days when his father introduced him to Bengali literature, music and thought. Given that exposure, he felt he could naturally understand the emotional nuances required for the film.
Whenever any Bollywood actor works in a regional film, the pronunciation becomes an issue, but not in the case of Mishra. He spoke fluently in Bengali and the multifaceted actor credits Pritha for the accuracy.
"The language was my biggest worry. After 15 days of shooting, we spent another 15 days dubbing the film. Pritha is a gem. You won't believe how much she worked on my language and performance," said the 'Phas Gaya Re Obama' actor.
The actor also keeps himself updated on Bengali cinema. He doesn't mince words when he says the industry drifted away from the quality associated with its golden era in the last few years.
"At one point, I felt something had gone wrong in Bengali cinema. The quality that was once there seemed lost. But now I feel films are again trying to bring back that quality," he observed.
The actor also mentioned how he had an enriching experience working with Ritwik. Heaving praises on the actor, Mishra added, "Actually, it never felt like we were acting. We simply existed together in those moments."
And would he return to Bengali cinema after 'Phera'? Without hesitation, Mishra replied, "If I get another Pritha, I will definitely do it." To this, Pritha, who was also on the call with us, thanked the veteran actor for all the adulation.
As an actor, Mishra polishes his craft by revisiting the works of cinematic masters. Calling himself a one-man film festival, he said he often watches classics by directors and actors who have influenced him, including Ray and other legends. In most of his films, be it 'Masaan', 'Ankhon Dekhi' or 'Kaamyaab', Mishra's ability to connect with ordinary people has been the defining moment. Asked why common men repeatedly attracted him as an actor, Mishra offered a simple explanation. "I am never really part of a crowd. As an actor, I observe people from a distance because one day I may have to play one of them." He also explained that many of his memorable characters come from real-life observations. The neighbour, the uncle, the family friend who constantly gives advice... these are people he has known all his life. When he plays such characters, audiences recognise them because they already exist in their own worlds. Away from the cinema, Mishra's simplicity and grounded nature have often stood out in an era dominated by social media and paparazzi culture. Asked how he remains unaffected by stardom, the actor responded with characteristic humility. He recalled his film 'Kaamyaab', where he plays an ageing actor, whose life unfolds within the confines of a modest home. The role reminded him that success and recognition are fleeting. "Whoever you are, that is who You are,"he said.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.