`Prague` was difficult but fun to shoot: Chandan Roy Sanyal

New Delhi: Chandan Roy Sanyal is looking forward to the release of `Prague` as he worked hard to bring life to his character of a troubled architect in the psychological thriller.

The Ashish R Shukla directed film is finally releasing in India on September 27 after garnering praise in film festivals. The 33-year-old actor, who was born and brought up in Delhi, said the lanes of Prague became similar to his own city as they spent time shooting the film there. "`Prague` was a difficult but fun film to shoot. We shot it in guerrilla style, capturing interesting parts of the city, its night life and dark alleys. It was my most collaborative film as we all worked together to bring it to life," Sanyal said. The actor, who was last seen in Nikhil Advani`s `D-Day`, lost weight and stopped sleeping for more than two hours a day to look like his insomniac character in `Prague`. "When Ashish first narrated the idea, he told me that my character would be an insomniac somewhat similar to what Christian Bale did in `The Machinist`. "I lost weight and started sleeping for only two hours a day. It took me almost a month to return to a normal routine after shooting the film. My character is very interesting, he is someone who is haunted by his own insecurities," Sanyal said. Interestingly, the actor was offered the part in his first meeting with Shukla. "Ashish has assisted Anurag Kashyap on `Dev D`. I knew him. We were at a friend`s place and I was working on the theatrical production of `Waiting for Godot`. He said he had a film in mind. He asked me whether I would do it and I said yes. He had nothing on paper at that time so when he started writing, he had me in his mind," the actor said. The `Kaminey` star, who is next working with Subhash Ghai in `Kaanchi`, says he finds himself lucky to balance both commercial and experimental cinema. "I have been a huge fan of Ghai sir`s style. We all have grown up watching films like `Ram Lakhan` and `Tezaab`. I find myself blessed as an actor because I can explore method acting in a film like `Prague` and then go and do a commercial film like `Kaanchi`. They both have separate demands and help you explore the actor in you," he said. Also in the offing is Abbas Tyrewala`s `Mango` which Sanyal says is edgy and quirky. The actor, who drifted to cinema from theatre, still harbours a dream to return to his roots after earning enough money. "I have directed 6-7 plays like Mohan Rakesh`s `Ashadh Ka Ek Din` and `Waiting for Godot`. It is my dream to earn enough money and then put it back in theatre, that`s what I want to do. I should be able to produce a play on a big scale," he said. PTI