{{Short description|Indian actor from Tollywood (born 1976)}} {{BLP sources|date=September 2011}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}} {{Use Indian English|date=January 2013}} {{Infobox person | name = Tota Roy Chowdhury | image = Tota Roy Choudhury (cropped).jpg | caption = Tota in 2021 | native_name_lang = টোটা রায় চৌধুরী_Bengali | birth_name = Pushparag Roy Choudhury | birth_date = <!-- ADD REFERENCE FOR BLP BIRTHDAY --> {{birth date and age|df=yes|1976|07|09}} | birth_place = Kolkata, West Bengal, India | death_date = | death_place = | occupation = Actor | parents = | website = | othername = | yearsactive = 1993{{endash}}present }} '''Tota Roy Chowdhury''' is an Indian actor who predominantly works in Bengali and Hindi cinema.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cinestaan.com/people/tota-roy-chowdhury-50352|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190707143837/https://www.cinestaan.com/people/tota-roy-chowdhury-50352|url-status=live|archive-date=7 July 2019|title=Tota Roy Chowdhury movies, filmography, biography and songs – Cinestaan.com|website=Cinestaan|access-date=2019-07-07}}</ref>{{unreliable source?|date=December 2024}} He is also known for his versatile acting performances, fitness, martial arts and dance moves.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/screen/i-am-looking-at-a-pan-indian-presence-bengali-actor-tota-roy-choudhury/|title=I am looking at a pan-Indian presence: Bengali actor Tota Roy Choudhury|newspaper=The Indian Express}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/tota-roy-chaudhary-on-indu-sarkar-controversy-little-alarmed-4748831/|title=Tota Roy Chaudhary on Indu Sarkar controversy: Little alarmed|newspaper=The Indian Express}}</ref> His notable roles include Feluda in the Hoichoi web series ''Feludar Goyendagiri''<ref>{{cite web |title=Watch Feluda Pherot {{!}} Addatimes - Originals |url=https://www.addatimes.com/show/feluda-pherot-web-series |website=addatimes.com |language=en}}</ref> based on Satyajit Ray's Feluda series, Chandon Chatterjee in Karan Johar's film ''Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani'' and Rohit Sen in Star Jalsha's daily soap ''Sreemoyee''.<ref name='bt'>{{cite web |last1=Banerjee |first1=Anish |title=Picasso Web Series: Actor Tota Roy Chowdhury appears as a painter in Klikk's Crime and Thriller 'Picasso' |url=https://www.brutimes.com/news/entertainment/picasso-web-series-actor-tota-roy-chowdhury-appears-as-a-painter-in-klikks-crime-and-thriller-picasso |website=BruTimes |language=en}}</ref>
He made his big screen debut opposite Miss Jojo in Prabhat Roy's Bengali film ''Duranta Prem'' (1993).<ref>{{Cite news |title=Stars and their lowest paycheck |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bengali/movies/photo-features/stars-and-their-lowest-paycheck/photostory/48374213.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2023-06-05 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> His breakthrough role came with Rituparno Ghosh's National Award-winning Bengali film ''Chokher Bali'' (2003).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cinestaan.com/movies/chokher-bali-34078|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190707150908/https://www.cinestaan.com/movies/chokher-bali-34078|url-status=live|archive-date=7 July 2019|title=Chokher Bali (2003) – Review, Star Cast, News, Photos|website=Cinestaan|access-date=2019-07-07}}</ref>
== Career == === Early career === During his second year in college, he made up his mind to join the Indian Army and was preparing for the CDS exams when fate intervened and he was asked by the director Prabhat Roy to play a small role in his film. That one film brought other offers and soon he decided to become a professional actor. After starring in a few commercially successful films, he was spotted by director Rituparno Ghosh and cast opposite Nandita Das in his film ''Shubho Mahurat''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.totaroychoudhury.com/about.php|title=Tota Roy Choudhury {{!}} Official Website of Bengali Actor|last=Technologies|first=QSOL|website=totaroychoudhury.com|access-date=2018-08-08}}</ref>
=== Breakthrough === Chowdhury was cast again opposite Aishwarya Rai in Rituparno's Tagore adaptation, ''Chokher Bali''. He won several awards, including the BFJA Award for the Best Actor.
After ''Chokher Bali'', he did several films both commercial and mainstream like ''Aborto'', ''Biye Not Out'', ''Choukaath'', ''Benche Thakar Gaan'', ''Bolo Na Tumi Aamar'', ''Paglu 2'', Villain, and ''Shapath'' which cemented his position in the Bengali film industry.
He did an extended cameo in the AR Murugadoss directed ''Kaththi'' which introduced him into Tamil film industry. He also starred in the Sujoy Ghosh directed short film ''Ahalya'' alongside Soumitra Chatterjee and Radhika Apte, which went viral and he was noticed for his powerful presence as the police inspector. He then played the role of Arun in the film ''Kahaani 2: Durga Rani Singh''; directed by Sujoy Ghosh opposite Vidya Balan,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/what-is-tota-roy-chowdhury-doing-in-vidya-balan-s-kahaani-2/story-F7Yj0SgefL0pxFXL7pyj1H.html|title=What is Tota Roy Chowdhury doing in Vidya Balan's Kahaani 2?|newspaper=Hindustan Times}}</ref> which got him noticed by the Hindi film industry. His second Hindi film ''Indu Sarkar''<ref>{{cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/bengali-actor-tota-roy-chowdhury-in-madhur-bhandarkars-next-4384163/|title=Bengali actor Tota Roy Chowdhury in Madhur Bhandarkar's next|newspaper=The Indian Express}}</ref> directed by Madhur Bhandarkar was released in 2017. He was cast opposite Kirti Kulhari and his portrayal of the troubled government servant Navin fetched him recognition and praises. Industry veteran Anupam Kher tweeted "Tota in ''Indu Sarkar'' is a brilliant piece of casting" and Ashutosh Gowariker tweeted "Superb performance by Tota Roy Choudhury".
His next film was ''Helicopter Eela'', directed by Pradeep Sarkar, where he was cast opposite Kajol. His portrayal of the psychologically disturbed Arun fetched him positive reviews. He then starred in a cameo appearance in ''The Girl on the Train'', a Hindi remake of the English film of the same name, which itself was based on the eponymous novel.
He also plays the iconic Bengali detective Feluda created by Satyajit Ray, in the web series, ''Feludar Goyendagiri'', directed by the multiple National Award winner Srijit Mukherji.<ref name='ti'>{{cite web |title=Tota Roy Choudhury: Feluda will start his 'Bhuswargo Bhoyonkawr' shooting from January |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/news/bengali/tota-roy-choudhury-feluda-will-start-his-bhuswargo-bhoyonkawr-shooting-from-january/articleshow/94343748.cms |website=The Times of India |date=21 September 2022}}</ref>
In 2023, he starred in Karan Johar's directorial comeback ''Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani''; along with Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt. His performance, with regards to acting and Kathak dance, in this film has grabbed a lot of attention and accolades.
==Filmography==
=== Films === {|class="wikitable sortable" |- !Year !Films !Role !Language !Notes |- |1993 |''Duranta Prem'' |Tota Choudhury | rowspan="41" |Bengali | |- | rowspan="4" |1996 ||''Puja''|||Chayan Da|| |- ||''Mukhyamantri''||Rajat || |- ||''Nach Nagini Nach Re''|| || |- ||''Lathi''||Prashanta || |- | rowspan="2" |1998 ||''Ranokhetro''||Noni Roy|| |- ||''Hothat Brishti''||Basav|| |- | rowspan="3" |1999 ||''Shudhu Ekbar Bolo''|| || |- || ''Sontan Jokhon Shotru''||Dipyendu "Dipu" Ray || |- || ''Gariber Samman''||Sumon || |- | rowspan="2" |2000 ||''Sasurbari Zindabad''||Prashanta || |- ||''Satbhai''|| || |- |2001 ||''Dada Thakur''||Rathin Roy || |- | rowspan="2" |2003 ||''Shubho Mahurat''||Arindam|| |- ||''Chokher Bali''||Behari|| |- |2004 ||''Ram Laxman''||Laxman Sanyal || |- |2005 ||''Shunya E Buke''||Artist's Friend|| |- |2005 || ''Raat Barota Panch'' ||Tota || |- | rowspan="4" |2006 ||''Dosar''||Kaushik's colleague|| |- ||''Podokkhep''||Debjit || |- ||''Andhakarer Shabdo''||Director || |- ||''Abhinetree''|| || |- | rowspan="2" |2007 ||''Aloy Phera''|| || |- ||''Kailashe Kelenkari''||Himself ||Cameo Appearance |- | rowspan="4" |2008 ||''90 Ghanta''||George || |- ||''Golmaal''||Mainak || |- ||''Mon Amour: Shesher Kobita Revisited''||Jeet|| |- ||''Tintorettor Jishu''||Robin / Rajshekhar Niyogi|| |- | rowspan="3" |2009 ||''Paran Jai Jaliya Re''||Sid || |- |''Angshumaner Chhobi''||Neel || |- ||''Hitlist''|| || |- | rowspan="2" |2010 ||''Bolo Na Tumi Aamar''||IPS Soumyadeep Sen|| |- ||''Tara''||Jahangir Khan|| |- | rowspan="3" |2012 ||''Chaal - The Game Begins''|| Akbar Ali Khan|| |- ||''Paglu 2''||Rudra || |- ||''Tor Naam''||Lecturer of Physics || |- | rowspan="3" |2013 ||''Villain''||Arnab|| |- ||''Aborto''||Shyamal Sen|| |- ||''Sunglass''||Sanjay||Bengali Version |- | rowspan="3" |2014 ||''Biye Not Out''|| Nikhil Sengupta || |- ||''Ek Phaali Rodh''||Pratim|| |- ||''Kaththi''||Vivek Banerjee||Tamil|| |- | rowspan="3" |2015 ||''Shapath: The Promise''|| ||rowspan="3" | Bengali || |- ||''Ahalya''||Inspector Indra Sen ||Short Film |- ||''Choukath: The Threshold''||Ronojoy|| |- | rowspan="3" |2016 ||''Te3n''||Peter||rowspan="2" | Hindi ||Cameo |- ||''Kahaani 2: Durga Rani Singh''||Arun|| |- ||''Benche Thakar Gaan''||Dr. Sinha||Bengali|| |- |2017 ||''Indu Sarkar''||Naveen Sarkar|| rowspan="2" | Hindi|| |- |2018 ||''Helicopter Eela''||Arun Raiturkar|| |- | rowspan="2" |2019 |Misha | | rowspan="2" |Bengali | |- |''Jaanbaaz''|| IPS Officer Abhijit Sarkar || |- | rowspan="3" |2021 |''The Girl on the Train''|| Dr. Hamid (psychiatrist)|| rowspan="2" | Hindi | rowspan=2|Netflix Release |- |''Ajeeb Daastaans''|| Rohan |- |''Mukhosh'' |Dr. D.S. Paul |rowspan=2|Bengali | |- | rowspan="3" |2023 |''Beautiful Life '' | Painter | |- |''Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani''|| Chandon Chatterjee ||Hindi|| |- |''Ranchi''|| SSP Pravin Kumar Singh |Kannada|| |- | rowspan="2" |2024 |''Tekka''|| Rajiv Sanyal|| rowspan="2" |Bengali|| |- |''Chaalchitro: The Frame Fatale'' |Kanishka Chatterjee (Joint Commissioner Crime) |- |2025 |''Tere Ishk Mein'' |Yashwant Beniwal |Hindi | |- | rowspan="3" |2026 |''Keu Bole Biplobi Keu Bole Dakat'' |Durga Roy IPS | rowspan="2" |Bengali | |- |''Emperor vs Sarat Chandra'' |Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay |<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-11 |title=কতদূর এগোল সৃজিতের 'এম্পেরর ভার্সেস শরৎচন্দ্র'র কাজ ? |url=https://www.etvbharat.com/bn/entertainment/abir-chatterjee-reveals-how-far-srijit-mukherji-emperor-vs-sarat-chandra-film-work-progressed-west-bengal-news-wbs26011101798 |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=ETV Bharat |agency=ETV Bharat Entertainment Team}}</ref> |- |''Krishnavataram Part 1: The Heart (Hridayam)''|| Arjuna, third brother of Pandavas || Hindi || Cameo Appearance |- |}
=== Television === {| class="wikitable" ! Year(s) !! Title !! Role !! Channel !! Notes !! {{Refh}} |- | 2008–2009 || ''Ekhane Aakash Neel'' || Dr. Romit Sen || Star Jalsha|| || |- | 2016 || ''Taranath Tantrik'' || Taranath || Colors Bangla || Based on character by Taradas Bandopadhyay || <ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/bengali/Tota-makes-a-comeback-after-15-years-on-telly/articleshow/52239582.cms|title=Tota makes a comeback after 15 years on telly|newspaper=The Times of India}}</ref> |- | 2019–2021 || ''Sreemoyee'' || Rohit Sen || Star Jalsha || || |}
=== Web series === {| class="wikitable" ! Year !! Title !! Role !! Platform !! Notes !! {{Refh}} |- | 2020-2025 || ''Feluda Pherot''|| Feluda || Addatimes || Based on ''Chhinnamastar Abhishap'' and ''Joto Kando Kathmandute'' by Satyajit Ray || |- | 2022-2025 || ''Feludar Goyendagiri'' || Feluda || Hoichoi || Based on ''Darjeeling Jomjomat'', ''Bhuswargo Bhayankar'' and ''Royal Bengal Rahasya'' by Satyajit Ray||<ref name='ti'/> |- | rowspan="2" | 2023 || ''Nikhoj'' || News Anchor Romit Sen || Hoichoi || || <ref>{{cite web |title=Swastika Mukherjee-Tota Roy Choudhury starrer 'Nikhoj' to premiere next month |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/bengali/swastika-mukherjee-tota-roy-choudhury-starrer-nikhoj-to-premiere-next-month/articleshow/101658208.cms |website=The Times of India |date=13 July 2023}}</ref> |- | ''Picasso'' || Palash Choudhury / Picasso || Klikk || || <ref name='bt'/> |- | 2024 || ''Jaha Bolibo Shotto Bolibo'' || Lawyer Jayraj Singha || Hoichoi || || |- | rowspan="3" | 2025 || ''Black Warrant''|| SP Mukhopadhyay || Netflix|| || |- | ''Nikhoj 2''|| News Anchor Romit Sen || Hoichoi|| || |- | ''Special Ops''|| Vinod Shekhawat || Disney+ Hotstar|| || |}
==Awards== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Awards ! Category ! Title ! Result |- |2004 |BFJA Award |Best Actor |''Chokher Bali'' |{{won}} |- |2008 |Anandalok Awards |Best Supporting Actor |rowspan="2"|''Ekhane Akash Neel'' |{{Won}} |- |2009 |Tele Samman |Best Actor |{{Won}} |- |2012 |Hyderabad Bengali Film Festival |Best Supporting Actor |''Aborto'' |{{won}} |- |2017 |Pune Short Films Festival |Best Actor in a Negative Role |''Ahalya'' |{{won}} |- |2021 |West Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards |Best Actor in a Negative Role |''Mukhosh'' |{{won}} |- | rowspan="2" |2024 |News 18 Showsha Reel Awards |Best Supporting Actor (popular) |''Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani'' |{{Won}} |- |TV9 Bangla Ghorer Bioscope |Best Actor in a Web Series |''Jaha Bolibo Shotto Bolibo'' |{{Won}} |- |2025 |Anandalok Awards |Best Actor in a Web Series |''Jaha Bolibo Shotto Bolibo'' |{{Won}} |- |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{commons-inline}} *{{IMDb name|1421628}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chowdhury, Tota Roy}} Category:Indian male film actors Category:Living people Category:Male actors from Kolkata Category:Bengali male actors Category:Male actors in Bengali cinema Category:University of Calcutta alumni Category:1976 births Category:20th-century Indian male actors