Rehan’s No Amanush

Reason enough why the model-turned-actor can’t be totally unruffled about his absence from the promos and posters. He tells TOI that his biggest publicity would be audience appreciation...

Your debut film, Amanush, will be releasing soon. Aren’t you jittery?

I’m both excited and nervous. Wish I could come down to Kolkata for the release, but I’m caught up with quite a few assignments in Mumbai. I don’t think I’ll be able to make it.

It’s heard, before Amanush happened, you were selected for Lakhindar’s role in the megaserial, Behula?

Yes. The company that’s producing both these projects saw my pictures and asked me to come down to Kolkata. Though I was not too keen on acting in Bengali serials, I thought of meeting the team once. The moment I entered the office, Rajibda (director of Amanush) said, ‘He is just the right guy to play Adi. I will freeze him.’ And my enthusiasm knew no limits after I read the script! I play the second lead, Adi, who thinks girls are easily available, but changes his outlook once he meets Ria (Srabanti).

And Adi ends up sacrificing his love for Binod (Soham)...

Sadly, I can’t disclose the story.

Did you dub your lines?

At first Rajibda was hesitant, but I convinced him. In fact, I had to let go of a soft drink commercial because of this.

Do you know that the director had auditioned many actors before he zeroed in on you?

(Laughs) Rajibda told me later on that the film had kept delaying because he couldn’t decide who will play Adi. I feel privileged!

But your mention is conspicuously absent from the promos and posters of the film that have only Srabanti and Soham...

I think, I’m the surprise element.

But still, deep down, aren’t you feeling bad that other actors are hogging all the limelight?

It’s not that I’m not feeling bad at all, but I fully respect the marketing strategy of the production house. Frankly, my biggest publicity will be if the audience likes my performance and not just my face on posters or my songs aired on several channels!

Have you appeared in any of the songs?

Oh, yes! I’m there in Jiboner Jolchobi and in Monta kore uru uru with Soham.

You also met with an accident while shooting for the film...

Yes, I had a head injury in Siliguri the day we were supposed to shoot the film’s climax. The team wanted to postpone the shoot, but I went ahead and did it since I didn’t want the production house to face any problem because of me.

How was it working with Srabanti and Soham?

Soham is extremely helpful and Srabanti is full of energy.