Kolkata: Recalling Gautam Ghosh’s film Antarjali Jatra where he essayed a significant role, veteran Bollywood actor-cum-politician Shatrughna Sinha has said that he has learnt a lot from Bengali movies. Grabbing all attention as the chief guest at the 27th Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF), Sinha on Monday expressed his deep reverence for auteur Satyajit Ray. “I have learned a lot from Bengali films. I was also a big fan of Manikda (Ray). I will stay as his fan for the rest of my life,” said the actor affectionately called ‘Bihari babu’. Sinha disclosed that he was supposed to act in a Ray film, alongside the director’s favourite actor Soumitra Chatterjee, but finally that did not fructify. “My dream of acting in a film directed by Satyajit Ray remained unfulfilled,” he said with a tinge of sadness. The former Union Minister drew loud applause from the audience at Nazrul Mancha as he spoke in Bengali. Even West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her excitement by clapping. Sinha also paid glowing tributes to legendary directors Mrinal Sen and Ritwik Ghatak. UNI BM SSP
