‘I’ve Always Been a Director’s Actor’: Devasis Patra

Bhubaneswar: Popular Odia actor Devasis Patra, whose latest film Ganda Bhairav released across Odisha during the Rath Yatra festival, has credited director Sudhanshu Mohan Sahoo for shaping one of the most challenging performances of his career.

Speaking about his approach to acting, Devasis said he has always believed in placing complete trust in the director’s vision.
“I’ve always believed that cinema is a team effort. Since the beginning of my career, I’ve been a director’s actor—someone who trusts the captain of the ship completely, surrenders to the vision, and gives everything to the character. That’s the only way I know how to work,” he said.

The actor, who has been a prominent face in the Odia film industry for over two decades with acclaimed performances in Sahid Raghu Sardar, Katak, Dear Purusha, Kalia Karuchi Leela and several other films, said Ganda Bhairav presented him with one of the most demanding roles of his career.

In the film, Devasis portrays Jaga, a devotee associated with the Jagannath Temple whose emotional and spiritual journey explores themes of love, loss, redemption and unwavering faith. Directed by Sudhanshu Mohan Sahoo and produced by Ramesh Barik, the film also stars Sivani Sangita, Ananya Mishra, KK and others.

Explaining the preparation for the role, Devasis revealed that he had to undergo a dramatic physical transformation to convincingly portray Jaga from the age of 30 to 60.

“I gained around 20 kg in 90 days and then lost nearly 20 kg in about 80 days to suit different phases of the character’s life. It was physically and mentally demanding, but such dedication helps an actor get closer to the character and deliver a convincing performance,” he said.

Known for choosing performance-oriented roles, the actor said he prefers quality over quantity and consciously selects characters that challenge him as an artiste.
“I believe an actor should focus on quality rather than quantity. I would rather do one meaningful film a year than several roles that don’t leave an impact,” he said.

Reflecting on his career, which includes Odisha State Film Awards and a role in the National Award-winning Odia film Lahari, Devasis said the audience’s love remains the greatest recognition.

“Awards are an honour, but nothing is more rewarding than the love and acceptance of the audience. When people remember a character, that’s the biggest achievement for an actor,” he added.
Commenting on the evolving landscape of Odia cinema, Devasis expressed optimism about the industry’s future, saying films with strong stories and meaningful performances are helping reshape perceptions.

“There is immense talent and creativity in the Odia film industry. Films like Lahari and Ganda Bhairav can certainly help Odia cinema reach a wider national audience. I would urge people to watch these films before judging the industry,” he said.

Released during the Rath Yatra festival, Ganda Bhairav has drawn attention for its emotionally rich narrative rooted in Jagannath culture and for Devasis Patra’s intense, transformative performance as Jaga.