Buddhadeb Dasgupta was a perfectionist and demanded the best out of his actors: Rituparna

Buddhadeb Dasgupta was a doyen of Indian cinema. I grew up watching his films, including Griho Juddho. I was not even a teenager then. My uncle, a doctor, gave me insights about the filmmaker, who was all set to make a difference in society.

Buddhadeb

Dasgupta

wrote a letter to my father mentioning that he wanted to work with me in

Uttara

. Unfortunately, I could not because of other commitments. I still regret it. But within two years, I worked with him in

Mondo Meyer Upakhyan

. It was a privilege. The film helped me evolve as an actor.

Buddhada was a perfectionist and demanded the best out of his actors. Mondo Meyer Upakhyan was a tough call for me and I was completely drained and exhausted after I portrayed the role envisioned by him. It was during the initial days of my career and carrying the weight of the character of a prostitute and a mother kept me sleepless for nights.

Budhhadev Dasgupta loved visiting

Purulia

. It was his favourite location for a lot of films. That time, taking a full unit there was a challenge. But he was so effortless. He was always out there as the first member of the unit to check the natural light with his own lens. I often got scolded by him but now I know that every bit of that scolding chiselled me as an actor. Today, it seems like a personal loss.