Dibyendu Bhattacharya Reflects on Playing Chunnilal in Dev D, Now Re-released at PVR Cinemas

The re-release of Dev D at PVR cinemas today brings renewed attention to a film that has remained etched in popular memory. Nearly two decades after its initial theatrical run, the Anurag Kashyap-directed feature continues to resonate with viewers, and for its lead supporting actor Dibyendu Bhattacharya, the milestone carries profound personal significance.

Bhattacharya, who embodied the memorable character of Chunnilal, reflects on the experience with deep appreciation and emotion. He describes Dev D as "a very special film" and credits his prior collaboration with Kashyap on Black Friday as instrumental in securing the role.

The path to casting, however, involved considerable uncertainty. Kashyap had made a conditional promise to Bhattacharya regarding the part. "He expressed interest in having me play Chunnilal, but made it contingent on Black Friday's release and success. If the film didn't perform well, the production company intended to cast a major star instead," Bhattacharya recounted.

When Black Friday found its audience and received critical recognition, Kashyap honoured his commitment. The filmmaker's public announcement that Bhattacharya would indeed play Chunnilal proved to be a turning point. "I felt tremendous joy knowing he had stayed true to his word," he expressed.

The resulting film, featuring Abhay Deol in the titular role, became a watershed moment for Hindi cinema storytelling. Kashyap's distinctive creative approach transformed Dev D into a widely celebrated work that continues to influence filmmaking in the industry.

For Bhattacharya, assuming the mantle of Chunnilal—a character previously brought to screen by established actors Motilal and Jackie Shroff—proved both gratifying and daunting. "At that juncture in my career, we lacked the standing to make demands. Simply receiving the opportunity to collaborate with such a visionary director felt overwhelming," he acknowledged.

Among his most treasured moments is attending a screening at Chandan cinema in Mumbai alongside a live audience. "The viewers were enthusiastically responding—whistling, applauding, fully absorbed in the narrative. I recall the film receiving a five-star rating. The atmosphere was extraordinary. Remarkably, certain patrons watched it seventeen or eighteen times," he shared.

Following his breakthrough performance, Bhattacharya has assembled a distinguished body of work encompassing complex characters. His portrayal of DSP Barun Ghosh in Undekhi demonstrated his range, as did his turns as Raza Mehdi in Rocket Boys, Biswa Pathak in Jamtara, Neel Banerjee in Poacher, Layak Talukdar in Criminal Justice, and Kailash Shubhkela in the recently released Mamla Legal Hai 2, among numerous other projects. Undekhi Season 4 is slated for release in the coming period.

With Dev D's return to theatres, audiences encounter not merely a film's second coming, but a reaffirmation of characters whose resonance has transcended time.