By Our Special Correspondent
Shillong: Rahul Bose and co-actor Konkana Sen Sharma have been camping in Shillong for two weeks shooting for award winning director, Suman Mukhopadhyay’s movie Shesher Kobita based on the real life story of Rabindranath Tagore who first visited Shillong in 1919. Tagore stayed in Brookside Complex a house near Rilbong where he began to write his famous novel Shesher Kobita.
In a tête-à-tête with this correspondent, Rahul Bose known to be an intelligent actor with a heart for suffering humanity and unaffected by the glitz and fame of stardom, said he immensely enjoyed his stay here.
“I have travelled the length and breadth of the city for my shoot and also visited Smit and Sohra and spent time at Ri Kynjai, by the Umiam Lake as well,” said Rahul.
Completely mesmerised by the geographical ridges of Sohra and the mist that rising up from the deep gorges, Rahul said, “It’s a magical experience. Whoever said this place is the Scotland of the East has not defined it appropriately. I have seen Scotland but nothing there matches what you see in Sohra … the quick change of weather; the mist, the rain and then the sun peeping at you whenever the clouds allow it to,” the perceptive Rahul observed.
When asked how he found the people here and whether he has made any friends, Rahul said, “I was never in doubt that the people of Shillong are strongly rooted in their culture; they offer a refined kind of hospitality and their behaviour with strangers is so pleasant and friendly. I have visited Sikkim so I have some idea of the cultural mores of the North East,” he added.
Speaking about friends, Rahul said, “Prabhat and Parteii Sawian whose hospitality I have enjoyed have become my good friends. Then there’s Neil Nongkynrih and the Shillong Chamber Choir. I had heard of them and asked if they were rehearsing. I immediately got a call asking me to visit Neil and the Choir at their residence. There was an instant chemistry between me and the Choir. Neil is at once a maverick and mercurial but a genius. Their music is simply fantastic.” When this correspondent commented on him being a different genre of actor, Rahul said, “I take that as a compliment. I am an insignificant part of the film world in that I do not do films that cater to the market. Commercial movies are not bad, but they are not my thing. I don’t do what I do for money and fame but for satisfaction.”
Rahul spoke about his film, Chain Kuli Ki Main Kuli where Varun (Rahul) as the captain of the Indian cricket team trains an orphan Karan (Zain Khan) who has a passion for cricket, to play the game. Karan took the team to victory. Later the boy was adopted by the couple in the movie (Rahul and his girlfriend).
“I enjoyed doing the film and every child has watched that movie more than once because they are starved of such films,” confessed Rahul.
A sportsperson and fitness freak, Rahul said having grown up in mountainous Kasauli he learnt to play football early in life. “I have represented India internationally in Rugby for 25 years and have played in 20 international matches. I also play cricket and was coached by late Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi,” he informed.
A committed philanthropist, Rahul has adopted six children from the Tsunami struck Andaman and Nicobar Islands and is educating them at Rishi Valley. He has done so with the consent of his charity institution. Rahul sits on the boards of 6 NGOs.
Asked if he enjoyed the local cuisine, the actor said he had jadoh, brown rice (Khaw Khasi), smoked pork; chicken cooked the Sohra style, Karela with potatoes and also a different kind of chicken soup. “I have not been able to eat too adventurously since I am here for a shoot, but, I promise to return and then be more exploratory. I would love to go hiking, mountain climbing and do all kinds of adventure sports. At the moment my life is too congested,” mused Rahul.
The actor spent an informal evening with Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma. “The Chief Minister wants us to premiere Shesher Kobita in Shillong which is likely to be released during the Durga Puja season. If that happens then I will return to Shillong,” said Rahul. He leaves Shillong on Saturday morning.