Ajay Howal is a lucky man. The Marathi model-cum-theatre actor is making his debut in a Rituparno Ghosh film alongside Bipasha Basu and Prosenjit. Written by Rituparno, Shob Charitra Kalponik tells the story of an urban Bengali woman who comes to live in Calcutta after marrying an engineer. But marital strife snaps the bond and pushes her towards a colleague.

Ajay gives t2 a peek into the film and his role...

What role do you play in the film?

I play one of the three main characters in this triangular love story. My role is of a photographer in an NGO; his name is Shekhar. He’s a chilled-out guy who bonds with his colleague Radhika (Bipasha), a social officer who is married to Indranil (Prosenjit). Though an engineer, Indranil is better known as a poet and I admire his work. But Radhika drifts from him due to his irresponsible ways and connects with me.

How did you get this role?

Rituda was in Mumbai in mid-September when my pictures were forwarded to him by my agency. He called me for a meeting and watched me act out a small part from a play. That clinched it.

Do you speak Bengali? How are you preparing for your role?

I didn’t know Bengali but now I’m trying to be well-versed in the language. Rituda and the rest of the unit are helping me out. Right now, I’m going through the script along with Rituda. He’s giving me a lot of inputs on how my character should shape up. I’m working on a rugged, messy and unshaven look to fit the typical image of a photographer.

What were you doing before this film happened?

I’ve lived in Mumbai all my life. I worked in an ad agency for a year till I got selected to participate in Grasim’s Mr India in 2003. I’ve been modelling for print and press ads since.

What about acting?

I have been doing theatre for the past three years. I’ve attended a few workshops of Satyendra Dubey and acted in Hindi plays with Nadira Babbar and Alok Ulfat. Currently, I’m working on an English play with Prabha Pandey called Sapna’s Dilemma. I had got some offers to act in serials but I wasn’t keen. I am more interested in films and even though I know that Shob Charitra Kalponik will not be a commercial film, it has good scope for acting.

Have you watched any of Rituparno’s films?

I have seen Raincoat, Chokher Bali and Dosor. I’m looking forward to meeting Prosenjit. I’ve heard he’s the Shah Rukh Khan of Bengali cinema!

When do you start shooting?

We’re supposed to start on December 10. We will shoot mostly in Calcutta with a bit of outdoors.