Victor Bannerjee talks on his brief role in Gunday

The worst blow dealt by Yashraj Films’ Gunday to the Bengali ego is the treatment meted out to local actors. That very fine Bengali actor Victor Bannerjee who has worked with the likes of David Lean, Satyajit Ray and Shyam Benegal is reduced to a two-scene prop as Irrfan Khan’s senior on the police force. So minuscule is the very distinguished Victor’s role that most viewers barely have a chance to recognize him. Says a very important Bengali star, “Come on, you don’t do this to Victor dada. He was the lead in David Lean’s A Passage To India. Which other Indian actor has played the lead in a David Lean film? He has also done the lead in three Satyajit Ray films.A nd now he is reduced to a junior artiste in Bollywood kitsch!” Victor Bannerjee who earlier played a significant part in Yashraj’s Tara Rum Pum as Rani Mukherjee’s father, apparently took up the Gunday role in good faith. Says a source close to Victor, “He was told it was the role of Irrfan Khan’s mentor and only he, Victor, can play it. During the shooting his role was reduced to smithereens.” Victor defends his blink-and-miss role saying, “Why did I do such a brief role? Simple! The truthful answer is, I have a kitchen to run. Those who don’t like me working in such films unfortunately won’t contribute to an out-of-work actor’s pension. Besides, at the end of the day, all work is a challenge and therefore fun.”