Beyond the Spotlight: Unforgettable Stories From Between Takes

Prosenjit Chatterjee’s journey as one of Bengali cinema’s longest-reigning, most-commercially-viable superstars has been a remarkable and eventful one. Across his decades-spanning career, he has had the opportunity to work alongside luminaries of the filmmaking world. From sharing the screen with stalwarts like ‘Mahanayak’ Uttam Kumar, Soumitra Chatterjee and Sabitri Chatterjee, ruling mainstream Bengali films alongside fellow-superstar and partner-inpranks Tapas Paul, to gradually transitioning into a more artistically-inclined cinema under the deft direction of visionaries like Rituparno Ghosh, Buddhadeb Dasgupta and Goutam Ghose, he has—quite literally—done it all. Beyond the Spotlight is a voyage through Prosenjit Chatterjee’s memories. It gives readers a glimpse at the real people behind the shadows of stardom and myth, whose hard work and dedication translate into the magic we witness on-screen. Endearingly narrated by Prosenjit himself—and faithfully compiled by Roshmila Bhattacharya—this book is a must-read for his fans. BACK COVER TEXT They say superstars are born overnight. Not true. It takes decades of toil, years of trial and error, and months of anxious anticipation for that elusive blockbuster. And then, even after delivering dozens of them, every Friday remains Judgement Day. They say it’s a lonely journey to the top. True. But you are never alone. You have mentors aplenty guiding and inspiring you; co-actors, not just partnering, but also influencing you; writers and filmmakers shaping and even transforming your destiny. This book is a salute to some of those fellow travellers without whom I would not be the Prosenjit Chatterjee you have known and loved for 40 years and 400 films. And to all of you as well, without whom I would be nowhere. —Prosenjit Chatterjee