Indranil Sengupta Exclusive: Marriage is not a bad thing, mine may not have worked out, but it is not bad

Actor Indranil Sengupta, who came into the field of acting from the modeling world, says that he/she ‘had to go to Japan, but he/she reached Alaska’, that is, he/she never wanted to come to this region, but his/her strong body brought him/her here. Indranil, who is in the news these days with the film ‘Chalti Rahe Zindagi’ based on the pandemic on OTT, talks about various issues like his/her past, beginning, difficult times, proud moments, his/her divorce and daughter in this special conversation.Many other films like ‘Bheed’ have been made on the pandemic. What will be different from those films in your film?
-It has not been many years since the pandemic. The wounds are still fresh for those who lost their loved ones, lost their jobs or businesses or those who were uprooted from their roots in this Corona pandemic. Then our film is not about the pandemic but is a story of the complexities of human relationships against the backdrop of the pandemic. Yes, it definitely shows what kind of turmoil occurs in relationships due to the pandemic and how the characters handle it. The situation of the Corona period was depicted in ‘Bheed’. Our movie revolves around human emotions and behavior.

If I talk about your career, after being selected as a mega model you got into acting. Did you always want to do this?
-To be honest, I wanted to go to Japan, but I ended up in Alaska. I never wanted to come to this area. I belong to a typical middle class Bengali family, so our only dream is to study and get a good job. I was also very smart in studies. After post graduation, I worked for a year. I was in Ahmedabad at that time. But during that time, I got attracted to physical fitness and started gymming. Because of my physical fitness, I got a chance to do modeling and after that, I entered the glamour world through music videos and films.

‘Now I am very happy with acting, enjoying it and always want to improve it’
But for the last few years, I have felt that I am very happy with acting and want to keep improving my craft. I feel that this is just the beginning of my life. Now it does not matter to me whether I become a star or not or how many followers I have? Do I have a bungalow or a car or not? I am enjoying acting.

There was a time when you were the talk of the town on TV. You have been in the industry for almost 25 years now. Did you ever feel that you did not get your due?
-First of all, I don’t think I was famous on TV. There have been many big and small actors on the small screen who have done better work than me and have done a lot of work. Who have also been awarded. Who have been very popular and who have also earned a lot of money. The entire astrology industry is standing on the point that ‘you did not get as much as you should have’, because those who are there say that you have not got as much as you work hard for. No one thinks that I get as much as I try. To be honest, I never felt that I did not get what I deserve. But I have definitely thought that I definitely have to do better work than what I should get. When I thought why I was not getting that work, then I also realized that at that time I was not ready for that work.

To be honest, I never felt that I didn’t get what I deserved

Indranil Sengupta

How did you handle divorce after a decade-and-a-half-long marriage (with actress Barkha Bisht)?
– Our divorce proceedings are going on, but yes, we have separated. This is an incident that I don’t think anyone would be happy about. It disturbs you, it affects you, because not only two people are involved in a wedding, but many people from both families are involved. Anyway, in our Indian society and culture, marriage is given so much importance that divorce is considered a big taboo. Because of this, the pressure on you increases even more. People become more judgmental towards you. You get to hear advice from all sides. But we are educated independent people. We are living an urban life and urban life has its own challenges.

Divorce is considered a huge taboo, which puts even more pressure on you

Indranil Sengupta

‘The definition of relationships has changed with time, this has to be accepted’
When I lived in Ahmedabad, my challenges were different, but now the issues of my life in Mumbai are different. Times have changed, the definition of relationships is changing. The meaning of the institution of marriage is changing. You have to accept it. You cannot deny it. The way gender dimensions are changing today, it is not only affecting the institution of marriage but also other things. In all the relationships I have had, I entered every relationship thinking that it will last till the end. But then it did not work out. But there have been both good and bad moments in relationships. You have to learn. Many times you are not able to accept co-habitation, but this does not mean that marriage is a bad thing.

How is your bonding with your teenage daughter Mira? -We have a very good bonding. I don’t know what kind of bonding other parents have with their children. My daughter is a very good girl. She is a little naughty too. She is at that age now when children become a little rebellious. She doesn’t want to do what her parents say. I also know that this rebellion will keep on increasing in the coming times, but she is a very good girl at heart. She just passed in front of me and asked, are you people talking about me? (Laughs) I am happy that she will turn out to be good because she has a sweet heart.