New Delhi: 'Vara: A Blessing', which is based in an Indian premise, is going to be the opening film of Busan International Film festival. The festival is scheduled to take place in Korea from October 3-12.
Busan International Film Festival has always tried to bring good South Asian Films to the spotlight and this time it has given an opportunity to director Khyentse Norbu, whose film 'Vara: A Blessing' has Devesh Ranjan and Shahana Goswami in pivotal roles.
Devesh Ranjan, the protagonist Shyam of 'Vara' says, "My passion for dance added fuel to fire. For years, I tried to figure out ways to enter the industry. During my college days I used to organise dramas in the village and bunk classes to visit Oriya film producers and directors in Bhubaneswar to get a role in films with no success. My family, however, wanted me to continue with academics. Soon, I left for Delhi to pursue a course in company secretaries after completing my B Com from Vyasanagar College, Jajpur,Odisha; but found love in theatre. It not only taught me the fine nuances of acting, but also induced in me the hope to find new avenues to the film industry."
There was a time when Devesh Ranjan was heartbroken by a spate of rejections by the National School of Drama. After a four-year stint in theatre in Delhi, he joined the Mandi School of Drama in Himachal Pradesh to pursue a course in acting, before finally moving to Mumbai to try his luck in films. During an entire decade in Mumbai, Ranjan, despite bleak opportunities, refused offers of petty roles in television soaps and preferred working as a model, a voice-over artist and a casting director while awaiting a break. "I was, at times, offered to play the lead in TV serials and side characters in films, but never got to play any, as either they rejected me for my complexion, or I refused them for the script. There were times when I didn't get a proper script to judge the film and in the process lost substantial roles."
'Vara' came his way while Ranjan, bogged down by rejections and failure, had moved to his village for a break with least chances of returning to Mumbai. "It was when Dilip Shankar, the casting director of Life of Pi, whom I consider my mentor and guru, mailed me informing that Norbu wanted to audition me for the role. I sent them videos of my audition after shooting it with much difficulty in my village. They liked me and shortlisted me among other reputed Bollywood actors who were vying for the role, and I felt like kissing the clouds when they congratulated me for having bagged the role."
Now, Ranjan is ready to make his presence felt at Busan. This may prove to be a new beginning for the actor.
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