Bengali superstar Prosenjit Chatterjee, fondly called Bumba Da by many, has taken on the producer’s role for a Hindi show. His maiden production on Star Plus is called Kabhi Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shehad Shehad. In a recent conversation with SCREEN, Prosenjit shared how his experience as an actor has deepened his understanding of a producer’s role. He also expressed gratitude for being fondly called “Bumba Da,” calling it a blessing.
Talking about how West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee also refers to him as “Bumba Da,” Prosenjit shared, “You see the best part is not just in West Bengal, on all the sets when I was doing Jubilee and Khakee, after a certain time, everybody calls me Bumba Da. Even in Mumbai, Manoj, Rajkummar, they all call me Bumba Da. In West Bengal, nobody calls me Prosenjit, even our honorable Chief Minister, Mamta Banerjee, in official meetings also addresses me as Bumba. That’s a blessing for me, I didn’t change my name, my audience and fans over three generations made me Bumba Da, and I don’t mind.”
During the interview, Prosenjit Chatterjee also talked about how his experience as an actor helped him better understand the nuances of production. Prosenjit said, “I have been doing this for the last 40 years, so I understand the role of a producer better. When we started our careers, whether in Bangla or Hindi, the economy was not the same. Not just me, but even Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Ajay Devgn – when they started entire economy was very different, and as an actor, you need to understand the psyche of the producer. You need to understand the good and bad of the production; otherwise, you are not a producer-friendly actor. We always thought that the producer has to benefit; they should get money, only then will they come to produce the other two films.”
“That is the way we have grown. I completely understand production, and people in Kolkata say that I am the finest planner for shoots. If I hear a script, within 24 hours, I give them a breakdown on what they should do. We have seen the hard times, so we don’t waste. I had produced a show for Star Jalsa, and it was directed by Rituporno Ghosh. Nobody else could bring a Rituporno Ghosh to direct a TV show. To date, it’s a cult show that happened in Bengal. So, I always try to do something that I like creatively,” he added.
On a parting note, Prosenjit Chatterjee said, “I always say, I am not a producer. I want to remain an actor, I am born to act, and I want to do so till my last breath. As a student of cinema, I have been doing lots of shows and films, mostly with newcomers. That’s the way I want to produce. When I act, I try to do so for other producers. It’s my psychology that till I don’t sign a film, I cannot value myself. That’s a habit I don’t want to change.”
