New Delhi, Oct. 16 -- Actor Anirban Chakrabarti returns as Bengal's beloved detective Eken Babu for the 13th time with his latest film, 'The Eken: Kerala-e-Kurukshetra'. Having played the character across web series and films, it'd be easy to become complacent, especially when the franchise enjoys tremendous popularity. But Anirban remains 'alert', as he puts it and refuses to take the character lightly. "The day I start treating the character mechanically, it will lose its life. So, I am alert. Despite knowing that I have played the character 13 times, I don't get into my comfort zone," he said.
Anirban first played the literary character in 2018, when director Joydeep Mukherjee adapted 'Eken Babu' for the web series format. Nearly nine years on, the actor is best known for portraying the affable Bengali detective, who has carved out a loyal fan base alongside iconic sleuths such as Byomkesh Bakshi and Feluda. In 2022, the character made the transition from a web series to a full-length feature film, which received a thunderous response at the box office. Despite his familiarity with Eken Babu, Anirban continues to discover new layers in the character. "I prepare as much for Eken Babu, if not more, as I do for many other films because I know there is a risk of becoming complacent. So many people have fallen in love with this character. I cannot take it for granted," he said.
While Anirban's identity is closely associated with Eken Babu, the actor is conscious of the need to avoid being typecast. He has explored contrasting roles in films such as 'Bibi Payra', 'Chaalchitra: The Frame Fatale', 'Sharthopor' and 'Projapati 2', seeking to challenge the image audiences have come to associate with him. There is an interesting contradiction in his career: he plays a character whose popularity sometimes overshadows the actor himself, while simultaneously trying to make audiences see him in different avatars. "I have been conscious about this from day one. So, I have tried to do films like 'Chaalchitra' and 'Bibi Payra', which break away from the image I have created," he said.
Although Eken Babu enjoys a cult following, Anirban does not fit the conventional mould of a Bengali film hero. Having come to act relatively late after spending years focused on academics, he has earned huge popularity. "The conventional star system is being altered. Today, the concept of a hero is changing and OTT has played a big role in this transition," said the actor, who was also seen in 'Mrigaya: The Hunt'.
Besides Eken Babu, Anirban has portrayed another iconic literary character, Jatayu, in the 'Feluda' web series. However, he is stepping away from the role in the next instalment. "I have played Jatayu five times in the web series. Of course, I had a great time, but as an actor, I felt I had contributed what I could to the character," he said.
The 'Eken: Kerala-e-Kurukshetra' is playing in theatres this Puja. Speaking about comedy in Bengali cinema, Anirban expressed concern over the underutilisation of actors such as Kharaj Mukherjee and Subhasish Mukherjee, who are often recognised primarily for their comic timing.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.