Kaushik Ganguly, Age, Wife, Family, Biography & More

Some Lesser Known Facts About Kaushik Ganguly

• Kaushik Ganguly is an Indian film director, screenwriter, and actor. He is mainly recognized for his contributions to the Bengali film industry, In 2023, he made an appearance in the web series ‘Rajneeti,’ which premiered on the OTT platform Hoichoi.

• Since childhood, he dreamt of working in the film industry. He wrote his first script when he was studying in 9th grade.

• He worked as a school teacher for eight years, prior to entering the film and television industry. He taught at St. James’ School for five years and at St. Xavier’s School in Kolkata for three years.

• Ganguly formed a theatre group with Suman Mukhopadhyay, who went on to become a film director, and Churni Ganguly, whom Kaushik later married, during his bachelor’s degree.
  

  Kaushik Ganguly (encircled) and Churni Ganguly in a street play at Jadavpur University

• Kaushik Ganguly, and his wife, Churni, became acquainted at Jadavpur University. Churni was pursuing a master’s degree while Kaushik was studying for his B.Ed. They collaborated in a theatre group while studying at university and gradually fell in love with each other. They dated for a few years and eventually made the decision to get married once they finished their studies.

• He began his career in the film industry in 1987. Initially, he worked as a screenwriter for Telugu films; however, he later started working in the Bengali film industry. He wrote screenplays for several Bengali films among which the most notable films include ‘Shunyo E Buke’ (2005), ‘Jackpot’ (2009), ‘Arekti Premer Golpo’ (2010), ‘Rang Milanti’ (2011), and ‘Laptop’ (2012).
  

  Poster of the film ‘Rang Milanti’

• In 1995, Kaushik Ganguly joined the TV channel ETV Bangla and started working as a director. While working there, he directed numerous TV series and telefilms including ‘Hariharan,’ ‘Shesh Kritya,’ ‘De-Ray,’ ‘Bandhobi,’ and ‘Bagh Nokh.’

• In his telefilms ‘Ushnatar Janye,’ ‘Ulka,’ and ‘Aatithi,’ Ganguly has shed light on the issues faced by the LGBTQ community. He was the first in Bengali television production to portray the challenges experienced by the LGBTQA community.

• After debuting as a director in the film industry with the Bengali film ‘Waarish,’ he directed the film ‘Shunyo E Buke’ (2005) which received critical acclamation from the audience.

• His film, ‘Arekti Premer Golpo’ (2010), was the first film made on the queer theme after the Delhi High Court invalidated specific sections of the Indian Penal Code’s Section 377 in July 2009.

• In 2016, he directed the film ‘Cinemawala’ which is a tribute to the single-screen cinema halls that are vanishing rapidly in India.

• His film, ‘Nagarkirtan’ (2017), portrays the challenges experienced by LGBTQ communities as they confront deep-rooted prejudice and societal taboos that have persisted for centuries.
  

  Poster of the film ‘Nagarkirtan’

• He has directed various films among which the most notable include ‘Jackpot’ (2009), ‘Laptop’ (2012), ‘Bishorjan’ (2017), ‘Lokkhi Chele’ (2022), and  ‘Ardhangini’ (2023).

• After making his acting debut with the Bengali film ‘Chalo Let’s Go,’ he appeared in the film ‘Antaheen’ in which he played the role of Mrinmoy.

• In 2012, he played the role of Durba in the film ‘Laptop.’ He also worked as a screenwriter and director for the film.
  

  Kaushik Ganguly in a still from the film ‘Laptop’

• He played the role of Jayanta in the film ‘Nirbashito’ (2014), featuring his wife, Churni Ganguly, in the lead role; she also directed the film.

• His performance in the film ‘Shankar Mudi’ (2017) received an immense appraisal from the audience. He played the titular role in the film.
  

  Poster of the film ‘Shankar Mudi’

• Some more notable films in which he acted include ‘Notobor Notout’ (2010), ‘Nirbashito’ (2014), ‘Drishtikone’ (2018), ‘Tarikh’ (2019) and ‘Kaberi Antardhan’ (2023).

• In 2017, a lawyer from the Calcutta High Court wrote a complaint letter to the chairperson of the CBFC, Prasoon Joshi. In the letter, the lawyer threatened to take legal action against the CBFC if they granted certification to Kaushik’s film ‘Nagarkirtan’ for theatrical release. In an interview, the lawyer asserted that the film’s content goes against the principles outlined in the Constitution. He said,
  

  If this film is certified, it will be exhibited in the theatres. But the content of the film is against the very frame work of the Constitution and the protection given by it.”

• When asked about the complaint lodged against the CBFC regarding his film ‘Nagarkirtan,’ the filmmaker responded in an interview, stating that the film would soon receive its certification. He explained that the film had already been viewed and admired by the members of the advisory panel. While talking about this in the interview, he said,
  

  People should not disrespect the CBFC by issuing such tweets and letter. This is a serious and sensitive film. It is a love story that is meant not to harm any community or religion. People should have enough faith in me, keeping my filmography in mind. The advisory panel members have watched the film and have loved it. Certificate will be issued soon.” ^[1]The Times of India

• In addition to the films, Ganguly has also acted in a few web series as well. In 2022, he appeared in the Bengali web series ‘Tiktiki,’ in which he played the lead role of Soumendrakrishna Deb. The web series premiered on the OTT platform Hoichoi.
  

  Kaushik Ganguly in a still from the web series ‘Tiktiki’

• He later appeared in a few more web series such as ‘Prankenstein’ (2022), ‘Shikarpur’ (2023), and ‘Rajneeti’ (2023).

• Most of Ganguly’s films have featured his wife as part of the cast. In the 2022 Bengali film ‘Lokkhi Chele,’ Ganguly worked with both his wife and son. However, in a later interview, he clarified that he never made a film with the intention of including his family members in the cast. He added that there are many filmmakers in the Bengali film industry who make films solely to cast their own families in their films. In an interview, he talked about this and said,
  

  I can never make a film keeping in mind the family members. Yes, there are directors and producers who are making bad films only to cast their family. I believe the casting has to come naturally.” ^[2]The Times of India

• In an interview, he revealed that he always wanted to become an actor but due to his ordinary looks and a squint in his right eye that has developed because of an accident in his childhood, he couldn’t fulfil his wish, as at that time, the heroes were prettier than heroines in Bengali cinema. He further added that the scenario of the film industry has changed nowadays and he started getting the role of protagonist, making his dream of becoming an actor come true.