It seems the upcoming film ‘The Bengal Files’ is stirring up quite a storm even before its release. Actor Saswata Chatterjee, a familiar face in the movie, has chosen to distance himself from all the buzz. He plays an important role in the film.
The movie, directed by Vivek Agnihotri, has been under a cloud of controversy. There was quite a commotion recently at the film’s trailer launch event in Kolkata. Despite starring alongside big names like Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, and Pallavi Joshi, Chatterjee is keeping his distance from the ongoing arguments.
Saswata Chatterjee: “I Am an Actor, Not a Historian”
When asked about the ongoing controversy, Saswata Chatterjee was very clear. He said he is an actor and not a historian. He believes he cannot check the political correctness of a film’s story. Chatterjee also mentioned he has no idea why the film’s title was changed. It was originally called ‘The Delhi Files’.
– Photo: Video Grab
This statement from Saswata comes at a time when ‘The Bengal Files’ makers are facing legal action. Several complaints have been filed regarding their portrayal of the 1946 riots. The trailer launch event in Kolkata was quite chaotic. Reports suggest it was even canceled due to “political pressure.”
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There’s also strong criticism about how the film shows Bengali freedom fighter Gopal Mukherjee. He played a key role in stopping the 1946 riots and the violence against Hindus. Gopal Mukherjee’s grandson, Shantanu Mukherjee, has even filed a complaint. He accuses director Vivek Agnihotri of twisting facts.
An Actor’s Perspective on Historical Films
In a recent chat with The Wall, Saswata Chatterjee shared more on this. He explained he is not a historian and cannot comment on whether a film misrepresents history. “I am simply an actor,” he stated. “I liked a character, and I played it.”
He added, “It is not my job to think about history or if it is being twisted. If those whose job it is feel that Bengal is being disrespected, they can go to court with information. Just making noise means nothing.”
– Photo: Social Media
Chatterjee is playing a villain in ‘The Bengal Files’. He was asked if he fears the film might not be released in West Bengal. He simply replied, “I don’t know.” He explained that actors are often not told the full story of a film these days. They only learn about their own character and its role.
“When I heard about this character in ‘The Bengal Files’, I really liked it,” he shared. “It’s a villain’s role, and not many get to play such parts.”
– Photo: Social Media
The actor also confirmed that the film’s title was changed. He noted that during filming, it was called ‘The Delhi Files’. After shooting wrapped up, he found out it had been changed to ‘The Bengal Files’. “This is not in my hands,” he said. “Until I watch the film, I won’t understand why this happened.”