This story is from October 5, 2007

Not all roles interest Tota Roy

AMRITA ROY CHOUDHURY / TNN / Oct 5, 2007, 00:00 IST

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Tota Roy Choudhury, Tollywood’s ‘hot’ hunk tells TOI that he hates to jump the gun.

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Tota Roy Choudhury (TOI Photo)I would be the last person to beg for roles’
After a hiatus, you are again back with a bang on telly, hosting the celebrity dance show, Jhoom Tara Rara. Why such a gap?
When I was a newcomer, I would do all kinds of roles that came my way. But now I have an audience base and people know what I’m capable of.So, I’ve decided to concentrate on quality work. Quantity isn’t important anymore.
I’m a director’s actor and I would only give my 100 per cent if I respect him. I also firmly believe that overexposure dilutes the importance of any actor. Both in Tollywood and Bollywood, there are actors who do not do more than two to three good films a year and still remain highly sought-after stars.

A good dancer yourself, why didn’t you take part in the show?
The show is a platform for the junior artistes to prove their dancing skills. Being a senior, I thought it’s best to sit back appreciating the younger lot.
Are you geared up for hosting more such celebrity shows on telly?
I don’t know what future holds for me. Yes, the most difficult thing that I’ve ever done in my life is to host a television show! As an actor, I am more used to essaying different characters and it’s really difficult to play Tota onscreen. But I would love to act in megas if I get meaty offers.

Once a director even mentioned that you are the most underrated actor in the industry...
I am not overestimating myself but yes I can dance well, my histrionics are well-appreciated and I am confident about delivering the action sequences.
On getting good opportunities, I could have faired better. Mithunda keeps telling us that luck is the biggest factor and you never know what clicks. I agree with him. Film-makers here think that I don’t have the ability to carry a movie on my shoulders, even when I’ve delivered so many blockbusters. And I would be the last person to beg for roles.
What projects do you have in your kitty?
There are quite a few. Ashok Vishwanathan’s untitled venture, Subhrajit Mitra’s Mon Amour — Shesher Kobita Revisited and another project about which I won’t be able to divulge much, are demanding all my time at the moment.
Tell us something about your role in Rituparno Ghosh’s Sunglass.
Rituparno Ghosh is my mentor. He noticed me in a serial and then cast me in Shubho Muhurat and again as Behari in Chokher Bali. In Sunglass, I play Konkona’s husband. My role in the film is that of a middle-aged young executive. It wasn’t difficult at all to get under the skin of the character as many of my friends are in the corporate sector. I just watched them carefully for a while.
Do you want to direct a film someday?
I will never don the director’s hat. I think I lack the amount of dedication that’s required. A director needs to be good in arts, science and commerce.
He needs to be both artistically and technically sound and has to have a fair idea of what should click commercially. To be a successful director, you have to be a fantastic actor first. Both Rituparno Ghosh and Swapan Saha understand an actor’s psyche so well and this is what makes them good directors. I will never be able to do that kind of homework.
Song and dance flicks abound Tollywood. What’s your take on running around trees?
Sometimes it takes two or three days to shoot an entire song. Had there been no takers, the film-makers wouldn’t be investing so much. We Indians are by nature music lovers. I see no harm in the song and dance sequences.
What about your female fan following?
Once when I was shooting for a song sequence in Joka, some girls caught my glimpse and came running for autographs. I soaked in all the attention and the heroine was left sulking. Our dance director, who was a Mumbai import, initially treated me as a newcomer, but after this incident he too started addressing me as ‘sir’.

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