5 minutes agoAuthor: Virendra Mishra
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Mithun Chakraborty is celebrating his 74th birthday today. Born on 16 June 1950 in Kolkata, Mithun Da has done more than 350 films in various languages like Bengali, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Odia and Bhojpuri.
Mithun Chakraborty, who won the National Film Award three times and the Filmfare Award twice, is considered one of the most successful actors in the history of Hindi cinema. He has also been awarded the Padma Bhushan. Mithun Chakraborty started his career with the film ‘Mrigayaa’. For this film, director Mrinal Sen discovered him from the Film Institute, Pune.
That day all the students were receiving their diplomas and degree certificates, when Mrinal Sen noticed Mithun who was flirting with some beautiful girls without any care. Mrinal liked this style of Mithun and two years later he cast Mithun for his film.
Mithun was awarded the National Film Award for Best Actor for his brilliant performance in this film, but he did not have the money to go to Delhi to receive the award. Then Rekha took him along as her spotboy.
Even after this film, Mithun’s financial condition was very bad. In those days, when a journalist went to interview him, he first put a condition of feeding him and then giving the interview. Today Mithun Da is the owner of property worth 347 crores.
He was a Naxalite before coming into films
After graduating in Chemistry from Kolkata’s Scottish Church College, Mithun was inclined towards Naxalism. He left his family and started living with the Naxalites. Meanwhile, his brother died in an accident and he returned to his family. Somehow he managed himself and his family and left the Naxalite world.
Did an acting course from Pune Film Institute
Mithun Chakraborty is a 1974 batch pass out from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII). It was in FTII that director Mrinal Sen noticed Mithun. Mrinal liked Mithun’s style of flirting with girls and two years later he cast Mithun for his film ‘Mrigayaa’.
Mithun had taken up ragging of Shakti Kapoor
Mithun Chakraborty was Shakti Kapoor’s senior in FTII. During an interview, Shakti Kapoor had told that Mithun had ragged him a lot. Mithun used to ragged him for hours. His condition had become such that he had to beg Mithun for forgiveness.
Shakti Kapoor said- Once he said that his hair is very good. He has come to college like a hero. Let’s cut his hair. He took scissors and cut my hair. I looked like a monkey. I started crying and I held his feet.
After coming from FTII, he did not get work so he changed his name to become a spotboy
Everyone knows that Mithun’s real name is Gaurang Chakraborty. After coming into films, he changed his name to Mithun Chakraborty. After leaving FTII, when he did not get work, he changed his name to Rana Rez for some time. For some time, he also started working as a spotboy for actress Helen.
Reached Rekha as a spotboy to receive National Award
Two years after passing out from FTII, Mithun got a chance to work in director Mrinal Sen’s film ‘Mrigaya’. Mithun was awarded the National Film Award for Best Actor for his brilliant performance in this film, but he did not have the money to go to Delhi to receive the award. Those days Rekha was going to Delhi to shoot a film. She made him her spotboy, booked his flight ticket and took Mithun to Delhi.
Told the journalist who went to take the interview- feed me first
During his struggle, there were many occasions when Mithun spent nights hungry. Even after his first film ‘Mrigayaa’, he had to struggle. After receiving the National Award, when a journalist went to interview him, he was so hungry that he could not speak. He asked the journalist to feed him first and then he would give the interview.
Heroines were not ready to work with him because of his dark complexion
After Mrigayaa, Mithun played small roles in films like ‘Do Anjaane’. The film ‘Suraksha’ released in 1979 made Mithun a superstar. After this film, there was a queue of well-known producers and directors, but the established actresses of that era did not want to work with Mithun because of his dark complexion.
The heroines thought that I would never be able to become a hero
Mithun Chakraborty himself has mentioned in many interviews that big heroines were not ready to work with him. Mithun said- They thought I was a small artist. People doubted whether I would ever be able to become a hero. Often heroines would leave after the announcement of the film. It still pains me to think about all this.
Zeenat Aman held the hand of Mithun Chakraborty
At that time, Zeenat Aman was the number 1 heroine of her time. She supported Mithun. Mithun’s film ‘Taqdeer’ was released with Zeenat. After this film, Mithun became an A category hero. All the heroines who did not want to work with Mithun, worked with him. Mithun says – I will always be grateful to Zeenat ji.
Mithun became a messiah during the riots
Mithun Chakraborty is as good a human being as he is a wonderful and excellent actor. He has helped many people without any selfishness or greed. He is loved by all and is a down to earth person. Bhootnath director Vivek Sharma used to work as an assistant director in those days. He told how Mithun had become a messiah for those people during the riots that broke out in Mumbai after the 93 blasts.
Makeup rooms of studios were opened for assistants
Vivek Sharma said- It was the time when riots broke out in Mumbai after the 93 blasts. I was an assistant director in the film ‘Tadipaar’ at that time. Mithun Da arranged for all the people who came from far away to stay in the makeup room of Kamalistan studio so that no one faces any problem because in those days the situation was such that no one knew what would happen the next moment.
I saw people change, but Mithun Da did not change
Vivek Sharma further said- Mithun Da is a down to earth person. I have seen many people changing in the industry, but Mithun Da never changed. He has also been the chairman of the Federation of Western India Cine Employees. During that time, he did a lot of work for the interests of the workers. Whenever he stood for the labor union elections, he won one-sidedly.
Mithun’s reaction on being called Amitabh of the poor
In the 80s, Mithun was called the Amitabh Bachchan of the poor. Reacting to this, Mithun said during an interview – This is the biggest compliment I have ever received. Amitabh is the biggest star of the century. Amitabh used to do big banner films and I used to do small budget films. Both the films used to earn money according to the budget.
Received National Award thrice
Mithun Chakraborty got his first National Award for his debut film ‘Mrigayaa’. He got his second National Award for Budhadev Dasgupta’s Bengali film ‘Tahder Katha’. Mithun played the role of a freedom fighter in this film.
The third National Award was received for the film ‘Swami Vivekananda’. Mithun played the role of Ramakrishna Paramhansa in this film. This film could not be released in theatres due to some reasons. Its premiere was on Doordarshan.
No actor could break Mithun’s record
Mithun Chakraborty had 19 films released in 1989. The actor got his name registered in the Limca Book of Records. It has been almost 35 years, but till date no actor has been able to break this record.
Mithun Chakraborty’s first film to enter the 100 crore club
The film ‘Disco Dancer’ not only gave Mithun Chakraborty superstardom, but it is also the first film in Indian cinema that created history by earning Rs 100 crore. This was Mithun’s first film to enter the 100 crore club.
mithun chakraborty net worth
Today Mithun Da owns property worth Rs 347 crore. Apart from bungalows in Mumbai and Kolkata, he also has a farmhouse in Ooty. He is the CEO of Monarch Group of Hotels. His hotel Monarch in Ooty has facilities like 59 rooms, four luxury suites, a fitness center and an indoor swimming pool.
Mithun’s car collection also includes Ford Endeavor and Toyota Fortuner, which cost more than Rs 1 crore. Apart from this, he has a 1975 vintage car Mercedes Benz, which costs around Rs 3 crore.