Namashi Chakraborty: My brother Mahaakshay didn’t get the attention he deserves, it’s hard when you don’t let your father call filmmakers for work – Times of India

Has Mithun Da given you any advice ahead of your first film?

The first thing he told me was, ‘Don’t expect me to give everything to you on a platter. Whatever you earn in your life has to be on your own merit.’ This is one of the reasons why my brother (Mahaakshay Chakraborty), despite having so much talent and potential, didn’t really get the kind of attention that he deserves. This is because he went out and got work on his own. It is hard when you don’t let your dad call producers and directors and stand in line to audition with everybody else, you become a part of the aspiring actor group. For me, he said, ‘You explore it yourself, I am always there. Do whatever you can on your own because the satisfaction of landing on your own is another thing altogether.’

Mithun Da has also been vocal about his struggling days…

Right now he has ‘Hunarbaaz’, ‘Bestseller’, ‘The Kashmir Files’. If I ask my dad, who is currently ruling all the platforms, how hard do you think it would be for me to get a role? But we have been brought up in a household where things like approaching others for work don’t exist. I am still looking for a job after my first film, this is the scenario at home. We do not spoil each other in terms of privilege. Right now if you ask me I am still waiting for ‘Bad Boy’ to release and I still don’t know when my second project will start shooting. While I don’t know when my work will begin, I don’t feel the need to tell my dad, ‘
Please baat karlo mere liye.’ I enjoy not knowing what’s next. He keeps reminding us, ‘Go figure it out yourself and if you need me, I’m here.’ I never think of life as a struggle or keep checking which newcomer is doing what work. If I dwell on that, then I will get insecure about a lot of things.

As you mentioned Mithun Da is making headlines with his work, what was your reaction to your dad’s projects?
I am the only child out of four children of my parents who has seen every film of my father. From ‘Mrigayaa’ to ‘The Kashmir Files’, I have not missed a single film. I love films and I am a huge fan of my father. I enjoy watching him on screen and he has been my biggest inspiration, on and off screen. While ‘Hunarbaaz’ is a reality show, ‘Bestseller’ and ‘The Kashmir Files’ are so diverse that as an audience and as an actor, it’s delightful to see what he brings to the characters.

While we can’t call it Mithun Da’s comeback, it has been quite a long time since he had starred in a film or series before ‘Bestseller’ and ‘The Kashmir Files’. What kept him away?
The thing is, he does work only when he is really excited about it. He did ‘The Kashmir Files’, ‘12 o’Clock’ but these films were not released due to the pandemic. He never promotes his films. He is always low key which makes people believe that he is making a comeback. With all his recent work, he is everywhere.

Mithun Da’s favourite food is Beuli Dal and Aloo Posto. What’s yours?
Absolutely (the same), but the only catch is,
ek saal se maine chawal aur roti ki shakal dekhi nahi hai. I had biryani last and since then I have not touched carbs. I miss it more now. (laughs)

If you get to pick your favourite cheat meal…
It would be Beuli Dal, Aloo Posto, Bhaat and Kosha Mangsho with some mango pickle, that’s just heaven!

Coming back to work, can you share something about your second film?
The film has been around since 2020. It’s a film by director Rajesh Bajaj opposite Nikki Tamboli. The project got pushed indefinitely, unfortunately. But, recently he informed me that by the mid of this year, we should start shooting. It’s a family comedy film.

How are you planning to pick future projects? Do you discuss work with your father or brother?
I do discuss if I get an interesting offer. Honestly, I don’t think I’m in a position right now to really choose a project. I don’t have the privilege, I am a newcomer. I’m looking forward to people watching ‘Bad Boy’ and hopefully like me. After that, I might be in a space to decide what’s next. The pandemic has kept me home for 2 years,
abhi toh mujhe bas kaam karna hai.