New Delhi, June 9 -- Six months into 2026, Jisshu Sengupta has already had three major releases, including 'Mardaani 3', 'Bhoot Bangla' and the 'ZEE5' web series 'Brown'. Up next is one of his most ambitious Bengali projects, 'Abhhiman', which will see the actor take on an intense role both on and off screen. While 'Brown', starring Karisma Kapoor, was shot in Kolkata in 2022, the story of 'Abhhimaan' has been with Jisshu for over 16 years.
"This story has been in my mind since 2010 or 2011," the actor revealed during a phone conversation on a sultry afternoon.
Though he is 'very, very excited' about the neo-noir crime drama Brown, Jisshu admitted that 'Abhhiman' occupies a special place in his heart.
"I'm excited as well as very tense because in 'Abhhiman', I am both an actor and a producer," he said.
In 'Brown' on 'Zee5', 'Delhi Belly' director Abhinay Deo follows the story of Rita Brown (Karisma Kapoor), an Anglo-Indian detective with the Kolkata Police Force who investigates a complex case while battling her own personal demons. Jisshu essays the role of psychiatrist Dr Sandeep Chakraborty. Despite the series being set and shot in Kolkata, Jisshu said the city itself had little influence on his decision to join the project.
"Not at all. It was the story, my character and of course, Abhinay Deo," he said.
'Brown' is based on Abheek Barua's novel 'City of Death' and also stars Surya Sharma, Soni Razdan, Helen and Shaan. Jisshu recalled that he didn't take long to sign on for the project. "I loved the character, so I said yes," he said.
The actor is equally effusive in his praise for Karisma Kapoor, describing her as 'humble, grounded and really sweet'. He admitted that working with her brought back memories of the many Govinda-Karisma blockbusters he watched in the 1990s.
"Karisma Kapoor has done a fabulous job and taking up this kind of role at this stage of her career is brilliant. People will get to see a new Karisma Kapoor," he added.
If 'Brown' marks one exciting chapter in Jisshu's career, 'Abhhiman' represents a long-cherished dream. The film marks the first joint production venture between Jisshu and actor Saurav Das and is rooted in an idea that has stayed with him for more than a decade.
"I had discussed it with Rituparno Ghosh while working on 'Abohomaan' in 2009. He told me it was a good story and encouraged me to save it for the day I directed a film," recalled Jisshu. While that directorial debut never materialised, the idea eventually evolved into a production venture.
'Abhhiman' is an emotionally layered drama about memory, legacy and the cost of love, set against the haunting worlds of music and cinema. The film also stars Prosenjit Chatterjee and Subhashree Ganguly. The stakes are understandably high. The project reunites Jisshu with Bengali cinema veteran Prosenjit Chatterjee, with whom he has shared the screen numerous times over the years.
"Bumba da is like my big brother. Working with him again feels like a homecoming," he said affectionately.
At a time when success on both theatrical and OTT platforms remains increasingly unpredictable, Jisshu insists there is no fixed formula behind his choice of projects. Having worked across theatre, TV, films and streaming platforms, he believes the medium is secondary to the role itself.
"It doesn't matter to me whether a project is for OTT or cinema. What matters is my character within the story and whether the project is worth doing," he said.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.