National Award-winning actor and dancing star of Bollywood, Mithun Chakraborty, is a year older today but the veteran actor still manages to make a mark on the big screen as well as on television. Here's looking back at his incredible life.
National Award-winning actor and dancing star of Bollywood, Mithun Chakraborty, is a year older today but the veteran actor still manages to make a mark on the big screen as well as on television. Here's looking back at his incredible life.
Mithun Chakraborty was born in Kolkata and was a Naxalite before becoming an actor. The death of his brother in a freak accident made him give up his Naxal sympathies and return to family life. He has a degree in chemistry and a black belt in martial arts.
Mithun Chakraborty is married to actress Yogeeta Bali and has four children - Mahaakshay, Rimoh, Namashi and Dishani. His eldest son Mahaakshay is also an actor. He had a famous affair with actress Sridevi and was also supposed to have secretly married her while still married to Yogeeta Bali.
Filmmaker Mrinal Sen gave Mithun his first break with Mrigaya (1976). The actor won the National Award for Best Actor for his debut movie and the rest was history.
After acting in a few average movies like Surakshaa (1979), Hum Paanch (1980) and Shaukeen (1981) to name a few - Mithun's next big break came in 1982 in the form of Disco Dancer (1982).
This musical drama gave Bollywood a brand new dancing star.
After Disco Dancer, Mithunda delivered one hit after the other such as - Mujhe Insaaf Chahiye (1983), Ghar Ek Mandir (1984), Pyaar Jhukta Nahin (1985), Swarag Se Sunder (1986) and Pyaar Ka Mandir (1988).
From romantic dramas Mithunda decided to move to action films. Watan Ke Rakhwale (1987), Jeete Hain Shaan Se (1988), Waqt Ki Awaz (1988) and Guru (1989) - are some of his hit action flicks.
By now Mithunda was counted amongst the top heroes of Bollywood. The 1990s started on a very good note for the actor as he won the Best Supporting Actor Filmfare Award for his role in Agneepath in 1990.
The actor then decided to move to Ooty and to work in low budget movies only. This strategy worked very well for the actor as he kept churning out movie after movie every week.
Some of his low budget hit movies include - Dalaal (1993), Phool Aur Angaar (1993), Ravan Raaj: A True Story (1995) and Jallad (1995). He even won the Filmfare and Star Screen Best Villain Award for Jallad.
After staying in seclusion for a long time, Mithunda made a comeback to mainstream cinema in 2005 with Elaan. He had supporting roles in Lucky: No Time For Love (2005), Chingaari (2006), Guru (2007) and Veer (2010).
Mithunda has won rave reviews for his comic timing in Golmaal 3 (2010) and Housefull 2 (2012) recently. He has also signed Akshay Kumar's upcoming movie Khiladi 786.
In fact, Mithunda has found a new friend in Akshay Kumar, after they both acted together in Housefull 2. Akki, it seems, has become Mithun's new casting agent in Bollywood. According to sources, the two get along very well with each other.
Although much of his career was devoted to Bollywood, Mithun Chakraborty never ignored Bengali films. Some of his well-known Bengali films are Tahader Katha (which got him his second National Award in 1992), Swami Vivekananda (he won his third National Award in 1995, this time for the Best Supporting Actor), Titli (2002), Kaalpurush (2008), Shukno Lanka (2010), Ami Shubhash Bolchi (2011) and Nobel Chor (2012).
That's not all, Mithunda has also acted in a few Bhojpuri movies as well. His debut Bhojpuri film Bhole Shankar (2008) was a huge hit.
