‘I got to know a lot of unknown facts about Babasaheb’, says Alok Sengupta

After partial lift of lockdown most of the television serials started shootings fresh episodes. &TV’s most popular serial Ek Mahanayak Dr. B.R. Ambedkar too started shoot after a gap of three months, of course, after taking all the necessary precautions and abiding all laid down procedures. Alok Sengupta who plays an important character of Shambhu in the serial spoke to Cine Buster. Excerpts…..

How does it feel about returning to shooting after a three-month gap?

Ans.: With the city going under complete lockdown, it became challenging for me to sit back at home. But with the shoots resuming, I am incredibly excited to be back on the set, with the new shooting guidelines. I was looking forward to the energy and vibe of playing my character Shambhu in &TV’s Ek Mahanayak Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

Tell us about your character in the show?

Ans.: I portray the role of Shambhu, who is the father of Bhasker and the head of the house. He is a malechauvinist and believes that women are meant to do household chores only. He eagerly wants to get his son married to Manjula to hoard dowry from Ramji. He is a negative character in the show, who changes the dynamics in the life of Babasaheb.

How did you bag this role/character?

Ans.: I am an ardent follower of Babasaheb, a great man and an inspirational leader with vast knowledge on varied subjects. Getting an opportunity to be a part of a show on him is a big moment for me. I could not have asked for anything more than this. This show has been immensely popular with the viewers, and I am quite thrilled to be a part of it.

Did you have to prep for this role? If yes, tell us about the preparations.

Ans.: Yes, I did go through a preparation process; wherein, I watched the previous episodes of the show to understand the bond between Ramji and Babasaheb. I also read a few books that were written on him to understand the family tree of Ramji Sakpal. The preparation process was so enriching that I got to know a lot of unknown facts about Babasaheb that I had not known earlier.

Have you started shooting? How has been your experience? Tell us a bit about your first day at the shoot.

Ans.: I have started shooting for Ek Mahanayak Dr. B. R Ambedkar, and so far, it has been a fantasticexperience to work alongside the incredible team of the show. The first day of shoot felt different as there were several safety precautions to be followed along with the staff getting monitored for their temperature from time to time. There are sanitizer bottles kept everywhere to maintain hygiene, and regular temperature checks are being carried out for everyone. People present on the set washed their hands regularly, sanitizers where held at various points, and the common shoot area was disinfected at regular intervals.

Tell us briefly about the storyline for the fresh episodes.

Ans.: Babasaheb faced several struggles while growing up that completely changed the course of his life. And one person who always stood as a strong pillar of support, guided, and mentored him was his father, Ramji Sakpal. But coming up soon is a challenging moment for both father and son when Bhimrao is compelled to take a stand against some wrongdoings that are occurring around him.

Any other projects in the pipeline?

Ans.: Yes, there are a couple of projects in the pipeline, but those are yet to be finalized. I will speak about it once we are ready with it. Until then, my entire focus is currently on &TV’s Ek Mahanayak Dr. B. R Ambedkar