When Ray introduced Soumitra Chatterjee to films, he was a radio announcer and had only played a small role in a Bengali stage production. A favourite of the revered director, Soumitra Chatterjee made 15 films with Satyajit Ray - their association spanning over three decades.

Apparently many stories and screenplays were written by Ray keeping the dashing actor in mind. Soumitra Chatterjee featured as "Feluda" - Ray's cherished private investigator from Kolkata - in two films made from the "Feluda" series of children's books written by Ray.

The first was Sonar Kella (1974) followed by Joy Baba Felunath , four years later. Other Satyajit Ray-Soumitra Chatterjee classics include Teen Kanya, Aranyer Din Ratri, Hirak Rajar Deshe, Ghare Baire (an adaptation of Rabindranath Tagore's novel of the same name) and Shakha Proshakha .

The versatile actor aced the portrayal of diverse characters - from urban to radical revolutionary to mentally handicapped son of an aging patriarch. Apart from Ray, Chatterjee has worked with all internationally acclaimed directors of his time, including Mrinal Sen, Tapan Sinha and Tarun Majumdar.

Soumitra Chatterjee accepted the prestigious Padma Bhushan in 2004 and has now been selected for the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Chatterjee told news agency IANS that he was "extremely happy" at the honour.

"I am extremely happy. Till this evening I had not thought of this award.

But after I got the news I am extremely happy," he said. Tweet (less)

"I am extremely happy. Till this evening I had not thought of this award.

But after I got the news I am extremely happy," Chatterjee said. Chatterjee, one of India's most talented actors, made his debut in 1959 with Ray's super-hit movie Apur Sansar .

The film gave him the much needed platform, and he never looked back. Chatterjee soon became Ray's favourite, and became the lead actor of most of the movie maker's classics including Sonar Kella , Charulata , and Ghare Baire .

Chatterjee's association with Ray is often compared with the chemistry between famous actor-director duos of the world such as Akira Kurosowa-Toshiro Mifune and Marcello Mastroianni-Federico Fellini. Apart from Ray, Chatterjee has worked with all internationally acclaimed directors of his time, including Mrinal Sen, Tapan Sinha and Tarun Majumdar.

Some of his notable movies are Jhinder Bandi, Koni, Kaapurush, Akash Kusum, Aranyer Din Ratri, Joy Baba Felunath, Teen Bhubaner Pare, Ganashatru and Sakah Prashakha . The Padama Bhushan awardee has also worked with other famous directors such as Aparna Sen, Goutam Ghose and Rituparno Ghosh.

Besides films, Chatterjee is also known for his passion for the stage where he has both acted and directed plays. He is also one of the all-time best elocutionists of Bengal.

He has also received The Officier des Arts et Metiers , the highest award for arts from France and lifetime achievement award from Italy. Tweet (less)

When Ray introduced Soumitra Chatterjee to films, he was a radio announcer and had only played a small role in a Bengali stage production. A favourite of the revered director, Soumitra Chatterjee made 15 films with Satyajit Ray - their association spanning over three decades.

Apparently many stories and screenplays were written by Ray keeping the dashing actor in mind. Soumitra Chatterjee featured as "Feluda" - Ray's cherished private investigator from Kolkata - in two films made from the "Feluda" series of children's books written by Ray.

The first was Sonar Kella (1974) followed by Joy Baba Felunath , four years later. Other Satyajit Ray-Soumitra Chatterjee classics include Teen Kanya, Aranyer Din Ratri, Hirak Rajar Deshe, Ghare Baire (an adaptation of Rabindranath Tagore's novel of the same name) and Shakha Proshakha .

The versatile actor aced the portrayal of diverse characters - from urban to radical revolutionary to mentally handicapped son of an aging patriarch. Apart from Ray, Chatterjee has worked with all internationally acclaimed directors of his time, including Mrinal Sen, Tapan Sinha and Tarun Majumdar.

Soumitra Chatterjee accepted the prestigious Padma Bhushan in 2004 and has now been selected for the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Chatterjee told news agency IANS that he was "extremely happy" at the honour.

"I am extremely happy. Till this evening I had not thought of this award.

But after I got the news I am extremely happy," he said. Tweet (less)

"I am extremely happy. Till this evening I had not thought of this award.

But after I got the news I am extremely happy," Chatterjee said. Chatterjee, one of India's most talented actors, made his debut in 1959 with Ray's super-hit movie Apur Sansar .

The film gave him the much needed platform, and he never looked back. Chatterjee soon became Ray's favourite, and became the lead actor of most of the movie maker's classics including Sonar Kella , Charulata , and Ghare Baire .

Chatterjee's association with Ray is often compared with the chemistry between famous actor-director duos of the world such as Akira Kurosowa-Toshiro Mifune and Marcello Mastroianni-Federico Fellini. Apart from Ray, Chatterjee has worked with all internationally acclaimed directors of his time, including Mrinal Sen, Tapan Sinha and Tarun Majumdar.

Some of his notable movies are Jhinder Bandi, Koni, Kaapurush, Akash Kusum, Aranyer Din Ratri, Joy Baba Felunath, Teen Bhubaner Pare, Ganashatru and Sakah Prashakha . The Padama Bhushan awardee has also worked with other famous directors such as Aparna Sen, Goutam Ghose and Rituparno Ghosh.

Besides films, Chatterjee is also known for his passion for the stage where he has both acted and directed plays. He is also one of the all-time best elocutionists of Bengal.

He has also received The Officier des Arts et Metiers , the highest award for arts from France and lifetime achievement award from Italy. Tweet (less)

"No actor should trust a director blindly. All good actors should trust only the script.

My film scripts are ready a year before I go and show it to the actors. In 'Shanghai', there are three actors -- Abhay Deol, Emraan Hashmi and the script," Dibakar told IANS.

All the way from "Khosla Ka Ghosla" to " Shanghai", Dibakar's movies have been loved by the audience. He usually picks up unconventional topics and his latest flick, "Shanghai", is no exception.

Dibakar says despite successful films in his kitty, he is worried about the response to "Shanghai" that also features Kalki Koechlin and Prosenjit Chatterjee. It is releasing June 8.

"After a film is made, how would a director won't have pressure? I am not a big filmmaker. I have risen slowly.

People have appreciated my work and that is why I am here," said Dibankar, adding that he doesn't want to misuse it (less)

"No actor should trust a director blindly. All good actors should trust only the script.

My film scripts are ready a year before I go and show it to the actors. In 'Shanghai', there are three actors -- Abhay Deol, Emraan Hashmi and the script," Dibakar told IANS.

All the way from "Khosla Ka Ghosla" to " Shanghai", Dibakar's movies have been loved by the audience. He usually picks up unconventional topics and his latest flick, "Shanghai", is no exception.

Dibakar says despite successful films in his kitty, he is worried about the response to "Shanghai" that also features Kalki Koechlin and Prosenjit Chatterjee. It is releasing June 8.

"After a film is made, how would a director won't have pressure? I am not a big filmmaker. I have risen slowly.

People have appreciated my work and that is why I am here," said Dibankar, adding that he doesn't want to misuse it (less)

And now, the actor has set his eyes on the Akshay Kumar starrer Rowdy Rathore. The Bengali actor doesn't shy away from admitting to it either.

Talking to Mumbai Mirror, Prosenjeet reveals, "We're indeed doing a Bengali remake of the same Telugu film that Rowdy Rathore has been adapted from. My film Vikram Singha, is being directed by Rajeev.

It is produced by Eskay Movies. Yes, we hope to complete and release our film before Rowdy Rathore.

But please, there's no war between the two films." The Bhansali clan however, believes otherwise.

According to a source close to Sanjay Leela Bhansali Productions, "In 2002, when Prosenjeet released the Bengali Devdas before Bhansali's film, it did not affect the film in any way. Though we were so far unaware of Prosenjeet's own Rowdy Rathore in Bengali, we aren't the least surprised or perturbed on hearing about it.

Rowdy Rathore and Vikram Singha may be sourced from the same Telugu film. But there will be a world of difference between the two remakes.

" Sources from the industry reveal that the Bengali version of the Telugu film Vikramarkurdu , that Rowdy Rathore also borrows from, is trying to match up to Bollywood standards. In fact, lead actor Prosenjeet, who plays the double role of a cop and a lout, has just returned from Jordan where he has been shooting some slick action scenes for the film.

We sure hope Akshay is ready to face the challenge (less)

I was one of those kids who would always be excited about these awards and it was a great feeling to be hosting it. For an Indian actor, this is the highest space that one can aspire to be in.

A lot is said about the need for transparency in the way the awardees are selected. Any suggestions on that? There are people with vision who decide on the policies and can take a call on that.

I feel, there is always room for improvement in terms of making the show better. Not only should the awards be telecast live, one can also bring in new technology to ensure that the screening is of the best quality.

Did you manage to interact with any of the awardees in person? Not really. I wish I could exchange words with the Dadasaheb Phalke award winner Soumitra Chatterjee.

I've heard that he is playing King Lear in a stage adaptation of the Shakespeare play. I too have just opened a play that's been directed by Rajat Kapoor.

It is set in contemporary times and is about a clown's rendition of King Lear. It is a one -man show titled "Nothing Like Lear".

I wish to meet up with Soumitra Chatterjee when I am touring with the play in Kolkata. Is it right to say that you are clowning around in the play? One has to understand where the idea of a clown comes from.

There's a lot more to the clown that what you see. The clown within all of us helps understand the tragedies and comedies better.

Clowning is a very serious indulgence and is the quintessential necessity of a diligent approach. To clown is to know how not to laugh at first.

Besides, the clown is the most liberal. How did you react when you were first approached to play such a serious role in "Gour Hari Dastaan"? When Ananth approached me to play this freedom fighter from Odisha, I asked him why he wanted me in the role.

He said he had seen me on stage, films and television and always believed that there was so much yet-explored in me. Gour Hari Das is a brilliantly written character and will easily be any actor's dream role.

Gour Hari is the fittest 80-year-old man I've met. It's a challenge for me to do this biopic about the story of a man who fought for India's independence when he was a teenager and later to prove his own contribution in free India.

Do you ever find the funnyman image limiting for you? It is about perception. When "Bheja Fry" was made, everybody wanted to make another "BF".

Directors wanted to shoot movies on limited budgets and in just three locations. However, I'll say that I've always wanted to bring something new to the table even when I am playing a clown.

In fact, playing a clown is a big honour and responsibility. As an actor, I always try to find different ways of playing a clown to avoid being stereotyped.

How much of this funnyman image do you carry in your real life? I am a mix of many things. While I can be an extrovert, I am also someone who can stay within the four walls of the house without interacting with anyone.

How much of the weathered life that you've led has helped you to be the actor that you are? Acting is a human craft and is ever-evolving. If I had to play Gour Hari two years later, I would have done it differently.

While people do talk about how they channelize their tragedies to be more creative, I don't like talking about having done all that. Every person has to fight his/her demons.

I believe, it's only in India that we give so much of importance to talking about individual worries and how they give an edge to a creative individual (less)

The hitherto Chhote Nawab is acutely aware of the many responsibilities the title brings with it. Meanwhile, Sharmila Tagore stands on a bitter-sweet fork, between coping with the loss of her better half on the one hand and preparing for Saif's and Soha's impending marriages on the other.

How are you dealing with the changed circumstances? I really don't know. Some days are okay, others are not so good.

There are times when all that I shared with Tiger seems unreal. Initially, I had completely lost my power to concentrate on anything.

At a film festival in Kolkata in November, it was an ordeal speaking even a few lines. I would forget what I was saying.

The NDDC film festival in January was a shade better. Things have improved now.

One has to find ways of forgetting the pain..

. I read Tagore's poetry on stage with Soumitra Chatterjee in January.

It was enriching. I had never done anything on stage, where your performance gets an instant response from the audience.

While shooting for a film, you only get the fragmented feedback of a few. Here, the audience responded spontaneously.

It was very rewarding, more so because I was reading with my old co-star, Soumitra, and that too from Tagore. What occupies your mind these days? There's a lot of churning, a lot of looking back.

I'm reading a lot of Tagore, Dostoevsky and all my favourite authors. And I am pruning my life to a manageable degree.

Earlier, there was someone to always take care of me. Now, I've to take care of myself.

And that's a bother. At the same time, you've got to play the part of both parents to your three children? My children are grown up.

They take their own decisions. They're very affectionate toward me and that goes for Kareena as well.

She is very much a part of the family. Saif and Kareena complement one another.

He's mercurial. She's grounded.

You sound very affectionate..

. I am.

I've seen Kareena through the crisis in my family. She was there through Tiger's illness, and very quiet, absolutely not in-your-face.

Tiger passed away on September 22 and Kareena's birthday was on September 23. Saif and Kareena were planning to go away but they didn't.

That was no big deal. But she made sure no big deal was made of it.

It was very nice to have her around at the time. Just before Tiger's death, on his 70th birthday too, she was around.

It's so easy to accept her. I am very happy for Saif.

He's really lucky. I hope he continues to appreciate her.

Otherwise, he'll have me to deal with. What about Soha's beau, Kunal Khemu ? He's also very nice.

But he's young and trying to find his bearings. He's got many goals in front of him.

He will find himself, I'm sure. My daughters are special.

Soha is calm and clever, very much like Tiger. Clear in her priorities and very giving.

So, there are two weddings coming up in the family? I don't know about Soha, but Saif's wedding is definitely happening. It will happen as soon as the weather improves (after the summer and monsoon).

Do you enjoy Saif's new role as the heir-apparent? He is the head of the family now. He is morally responsible for the well-being of his mother, sisters and wife-to-be.

He is the support and the decision maker. It's all a bit daunting for him.

But he's trying. All of us have worked hard to get where we are.

We'd like Saif to carry his father's legacy forward. If he can't add to it, he shouldn't allow it to be eroded either (less)