Actor-director Kaushik Ganguly will be seen essaying out the role of Shankar Mudi in the upcoming Bengali film Shankar Mudi directed by Aniket Chattopadhyay. The Kolkata Mail correspondent Priyanka Dutta caught up with Kaushik Ganguly in an exclusive chat about the role that he portrayed in the film. Excerpts…

Who is Shankar Mudi, according to you?

Kaushik Ganguly- He is the owner of the local grocery shop in the neighbourhood. He is like the local guardian to the kids on the street. He keeps track of the happenings in the locality. Apart from giving groceries to the customers, they hide the inabilities of the customers. Many customers cannot give the money on time. They keep track of the amount in their cash books and let the customers pay back the money when they can. Shankar Mudi may not be rich but he hides the financial constraints of the customers.

The film showcases a struggle. With whom is this struggle?

Kaushik Ganguly- The struggle is against change. In Cinemawala, the director showed how with the advent of the multiplexes, single screens were shut down. In this film, Aniket Chatterjee wants to show how with the advent of shopping malls, the local grocery shops faces tough challenge. In a shopping mall, you can get everything under one roof. And the local grocery shop owner has to compete with the malls with his small shop.

You are the Shankar Mudi of Bengali films. What do you have to say about that?

Kaushik Ganguly- Well this is my job to make films. I do not make political films. But I try to point out political aspects whenever required in my films. Like Shankar Mudi, whenever someone dies, the name is struck off from my list. So in a way, I am like him.

You act in films and you direct films too. How do you balance them both?

Kaushik Ganguly- Well, after directing two or three films, I get tired. It is during those times that I want to act in films. It is a therapeutic way of relaxing my inner self!! I like acting and I try to discover my acting capabilities with the films that I do.

When do we get to see you acting in films next?

Kaushik Ganguly- Not at the moment!! After I finish my directorial jobs, then maybe I will again shift to acting!!

Wishing Kaushik Ganguly all the best for his stint as Shankar Mudi!!