Jisshu Sengupta on working with Karisma Kapoor in 'Brown' and why Bengali cinema still thrives: 'At least two or three National Awards come to Bengal every year'

Jisshu Sengupta has never been an actor who measures a role by the number of scenes attached to it. The actor, currently receiving praise for his performance in ZEE5's crime thriller 'Brown', says he is far more interested in a character's contribution to the narrative than the amount of screen time it receives. Interestingly, that philosophy played a role in his decision to join the series, which marked his first collaboration with filmmaker Abhinay Deo.Many actors spend weeks studying scripts before signing a project. Jisshu took a different route with 'Brown'. The actor revealed that he agreed to be part of the series after a brief discussion with Abhinay Deo, whose work in 'Delhi Belly' had long impressed him. A narration of the premise and an explanation of his character were enough to convince him. For Jisshu, the value of a role lies in its impact on the story.Talking to Mid-Day, the actor shared, "I believe that if my character is out of the story and the story is still moving without me, then there's no point in me doing that role." He explained that even a brief appearance can be meaningful if it influences the larger narrative. "But if the story is incomplete without my character, I would definitely love to be a part of it. It can be two scenes in the entire series and those two scenes make the entire story. Then I would love to be a part of it."A major talking point surrounding 'Brown' has been Karisma Kapoor's transformation. Known for her vibrant commercial films during the 1990s, the actor takes on a much darker and more layered role in the series. For Jisshu, working alongside her was both nostalgic and unexpected. "The first thing which came to my mind was the 90s - Govinda, David Dhawan and Karisma Kapoor."He recalled how films from that era brought audiences joy during a time when conversations around emotional well-being were not as common as they are today. "In the early 90s, we never knew what feeling low was or what depression was. Those films really helped us. Those comedies and entertainers brought happiness."However, the Karisma Kapoor he encountered on the sets of 'Brown' was vastly different from the star audiences had grown up watching. "This Karisma Kapoor we have not seen. Doing 'Brown' with her was a revelation for me." Jisshu went a step further, describing the performance as a career-best. "According to me, it is her finest acted work. And she's very down-to-earth as a human being. She never makes you feel that she's a star."While discussing the series, Jisshu repeatedly returned to one subject: Kolkata. The actor believes the city is far more than just a backdrop in 'Brown'. In fact, he sees it as one of the story's most important characters. "If you take out Kolkata from 'Brown', the show doesn't exist."According to him, filmmakers often portray Kolkata using the same familiar imagery. 'Brown', however, attempts to capture a more textured and less stereotypical version of the city. "The way Abhinay Deo and Amogh have shot Kolkata is very different. Personally, I have not seen Kolkata this way. We have seen the city in different lights before, but not specifically the way it has been shot in 'Brown'."The conversation eventually shifted to Bengali cinema, an industry Jisshu has been part of for decades. While many assume regional industries operate very differently from Bollywood or South Indian cinema, the actor disagrees. According to him, the primary challenge is financial rather than creative."All the industries are the same. The way it works is the same. The only difference is the money part and the budget thing." He revealed that Bengali filmmakers often work within remarkably tight schedules. "We finish a film in 15 to 18 days with four or five songs in it." That pace would be difficult to imagine in industries where productions can stretch over several months.Despite budget limitations, Bengali cinema continues to earn recognition across India and abroad. Jisshu highlighted the work of filmmakers such as Srijit Mukherji and Kaushik Ganguly, noting how they consistently create acclaimed films under challenging circumstances."If you have heard of Srijit Mukherji's films, the average he shoots right now is 18 to 20 days. Kaushik Ganguly gets us National Awards making films in 14 or 15 days." The actor admitted that Bengal's film business remains smaller than those of Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam cinema. "The business of films in my region is not as big as Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada or Malayalam cinema. As the business grows, the money will come in and things will become bigger."Yet for him, the industry's success cannot be measured solely in revenue. "One thing I'm so proud of is that every year, at least two or three National Awards come to Bengal. We also receive recognition at film festivals around the world. In spite of the budget constraints, we are still able to keep that artistic space alive."That balance between limited resources and artistic ambition, Jisshu believes, is what continues to define Bengali cinema's identity today.