Victor Banerjee: Had to portray honesty in my eyes

Victor Banerjee on stepping into the role of Paramahansa Yogananda for The Answer

His Assamese film, Rainbow Fields, based on children growing up amidst violence, behind him, Victor Banerjee is gearing up for the release of his next, a teacher-student venture. Noted filmmaker Pavan Kaul's directorial is based on Indian yogi Paramahansa Yogananda's American disciple, James Donald Walters.

Banerjee slips into the role of Yogananda for the film. Shedding light on his preparation for The Answer, he tells mid-day that he read the book, Autobiography Of A Yogi, which was authored by Yogananda, and saw footage [featuring him], to study nuances like his body language, stance and movements.

Paramahansa Yogananda

"I knew that this wasn't a regular assignment. In order to do justice to a man who is revered by many, one has to develop a sense of honesty. I had to bear in mind that I was portraying a great human being. If that sense of honesty didn't reflect in my eyes and expressions, no one would like the performance."

The film also stars Leonidas Gulaptis as Walters, who was later rechristened Swami Kriyananda. It chronicles his journey to finding happiness and spiritual fulfillment through his Guru, Yogananda. Having already done the rounds of film festivals, The Answer is slated for an August 31 release in India.

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