The chapter "Patol Babu, Film Star" by Satyajit Ray follows the journey of a middle-aged man who gets a chance to rekindle his acting passion. Here is a point-wise summary of the chapter:

• An Unexpected Opportunity: Patol Babu’s neighbor, Nishikanto Babu, informs him that his brother-in-law, Naresh Dutt, is looking for an actor for a film. The character is described as "fiftyish, short, [and] bald-headed," which perfectly matches Patol Babu’s appearance.
• A Forgotten Passion: Patol Babu was once a dedicated stage actor in amateur theatricals with a "real passion for the stage," but he had not acted in years after losing his steady job in 1943 due to war-related cutbacks.
• The Meeting with Naresh Dutt: Naresh Dutt visits Patol Babu and casts him as an "absent-minded, short-tempered pedestrian" for a scene being shot the following day at Faraday House.
• Initial Disappointment: Upon arriving at the film set, Patol Babu is disappointed to learn that his role is very minor and his only dialogue is the single word "Oh!". He initially feels that such a small part is beneath his dignity.
• Words of Wisdom: Patol Babu remembers the advice of his mentor, Mr. Pakrashi, who told him to never consider any part beneath his dignity and to "squeeze the last drop of meaning" out of every line.
• Dedicated Preparation: Inspired by his mentor, Patol Babu begins to rehearse the syllable "Oh!" with various inflections, discovering that the single word can carry many different shades of meaning, such as pain, surprise, or irritation.
• The Performance: During the shot, Patol Babu collides with the hero, Chanchal Kumar. Despite a painful head-on collision that makes him see stars, Patol Babu stays in character and delivers his line with a perfect blend of surprise and irritation.
• Professional Recognition: The director, Baren Mullick, and the lead actor both praise Patol Babu’s performance, with the director remarking that he is "quite an actor".
• Satisfaction over Money: Although he desperately needs money, Patol Babu feels a sense of complete satisfaction from a job well done. He decides that the twenty-rupee fee is nothing compared to his artistic fulfillment and leaves the set without collecting his payment.