From carrying a boy-next-door image as a television actor to making a mark as the bad man in Ollywood, Pritiraj Satpathy’s rise to stardom might as well make for a block buster film script. Although he feels he has been typecast in the industry, Pritiraj says he has has no regrets. In an interview with Diana Sahu, the actor speaks about his career, the grey characters he has played in films and forthcoming ventures where he also plays the lead role.
Debut Role
My entry into entertainment industry was actually an accident. I was working in a bank and the director of TV serial, ‘Mausi’ was the client of the bank. He saw me and offered a role in the serial. I was fascinated by the industry and readily accepted the offer. That was in 2002. Since then offered started pouring in and till date I have done around 10 to 12 mega serials.
Ollywood Stint
I kept doing serials alongside my bank work. Since balancing both the works took a majority of time, I never thought of entering the film industry. But in 2008-09 when I was working for the mega serial ‘Uttaradai’, I got a call from the makers of ‘Romeo, The Lover Boy’ who offered me the anti-hero role. Since then I had just been getting negative roles. Till I quit my job in November last year, I had done 11 Odia films, and in each film I essayed the character of a villain.
People might think I am stereotyped, but I believe playing the negative characters has helped me grow as an actor. As it is said, contrary to real life, only in films can a negative act bring in positive reactions.
Influences in Acting
Not really. I believe in creating my own style. I think if you do your homework and prepare well to enact a character, it will get into us naturally. You yourself would have to be convinced about the style first and only then will it be accepted by the audience.
Selecting Scripts
Today’s audience is different. They are receptive only to well-made films. They appreciate a film only when it offers something new. Something they haven’t witnessed before. Otherwise they reject it. So today one has to be very careful in choosing the right script. That explains why I am doing less number of films.
Dream Role
Every film brings in a new dream role. I only wish I work with good directors.
No Godfather
Being a novice who has none to advice in the line, I choose films very sensibly. “I firmly believe God is guiding me. It’s just the gut feeling I get when I listen to a story that makes me accept a project. Neither my parents nor my wife are film buffs. Cinema is still a stranger in my household. I see these as pluses because it makes me tread with caution.
Ups and Downs
I have had my share my hits and flops. My acting has been appreciated and criticised at the same go. But I try to take all the criticisms in my stride. In fact, someone had once told me that in cinema, you are bound to see more disappointments than successes. You have to handle both with equanimity. I follow this rule.
Forthcoming projects
This year I have got two films where I play the lead. Right now, I am shooting for ‘Nai Separi Kanaka Gori’ where I am playing the second lead. There is another project ‘Gadbad’ where I am enacting the lead character. Then there are ‘Parshuram’, ‘Dewana Diwani’ where again I have been given negative characters to play. There is another project in the pipeline which is being produced by a Mumbai-based producer, but the title of the movie is yet to be decided.
