From rxpgnews.com
Kaushik thrilled with role in 'Brick Lane'
By Subhash K. Jha, RxPG News Service,
Nov 24, 2006 - 2:14:59 PM
Mumbai, Nov 24 - Comic actor and 'Tere Naam' director Satish Kaushik has just returned from the most satisfying experience of his life -- he got to play the role of Chanu, the bigoted Bangladeshi husband, in the screen adaptation of Monica Ali's 'Brick Lane'.
The film has been directed by Sarah Gavron, who won the BAFTA award last year for a television film.
Says Kaushik, 'When they offered me this role I was really surprised. I was in Delhi when the well-known casting director Loveleen Tandon contacted me. I was sceptical. But when I was told it's the lead in the Booker-prize winning novel by Monica Ali I agreed to go. I ran across and bought a copy of the novel.
'I scanned the book to see how many times my character Chanu's name occurs. To my relief Chanu was there throughout the film. He's the main male protagonist.'
Kaushik's screen test was sent to London. 'The producer Alison Owen - was keen that I play the role.'
Tanishtha Chatterjee plays Kaushik's Bangladeshi wife.
'It was an invigorating experience. The discipline that I experienced during the shooting of 'Brick Lane' for two-and-a-half months reminded me of my days in theatre. Who does rehearsals in Bollywood? I was walking around Regent Park where I stayed, memorising my lines. I had never done English theatre in life. And yet they offered me this role.'
He says it's a very challenging role and for once not funny.
'It isn't a funny role at all. The tragic flaw in my character is that he's a big failure. But he puts up a façade of being above his surroundings, that he's far better than both the Bangladeshis and the Britishers in England.'
Kaushik is raring to direct another film. 'I'm planning a film with new faces. I'm screen-testing absolutely new faces.'
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