Mithun Chakraborty: It was said that dark-skinned actors will not last in Bollywood
New Delhi, Oct 08 (ANI): President Draupadi Murmu presented the Dadasaheb Phalke Award to veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty at the 70th National Film Awards at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Tuesday. Photo credit: ANI
Veteran actor and politician Mithun Chakraborty was honored with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award at the 70th National Film Awards ceremony held at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Tuesday, October 8.
The award, presented by President Draupadi Murmu, is Indian cinema’s highest accolade, celebrating lifetime achievement in the industry. The legendary actor received a standing ovation from the audience including dignitaries and co-stars. During his acceptance speech, Mithun reflected on his journey in the film industry, sharing poignant anecdotes from his early career. “My God, my honorable president, my honorable minister and all the best people on the stage, I was on this stage three times. After receiving my first national award, I was overwhelmed with praise, and it distracted me,” he recalled.
He humorously recounted a conversation he had with a producer after the screening of his debut film ‘Mrigaya’. “After finishing the film, I asked a senior colleague how he felt about it. He praised my performance but made a cheeky comment about my outfit, saying he could only imagine what I would look like in the costume. It Later it hit me that I was empty,” recalls Mithun, eliciting laughter from the audience.
Mithun also candidly shares his journey through the highs and lows of the industry, especially after winning his first National Award. “I thought I had become Al Pacino. I started firing producers. But reality hit when a producer threw me out of his office. That day, I realized I was not Al Pacino, and that ended my delusion. ,” he shared, emphasizing the lessons learned from his experience.
The actor addressed the prejudice he faced regarding his skin colour, revealing, “Many people told me that dark-skinned actors cannot survive in Bollywood. I prayed to God, can you change my colour? But finally accepted that I Can’t change. Instead, I focused on my dancing skills, so that the audience would ignore my skin color, which is how I transformed into a ‘sexy, dusky Bengali babu’, winning praise from the audience including Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnava.
Reflecting on his career, Mithun commented, “I got nothing on a plate; everything I achieved was through hard work. I often question God for my struggles, but after receiving this award, I feel at peace and will never complain again.” No.” In an inspirational conclusion to his speech, Mithun encouraged aspiring actors: “Never stop dreaming. Remember, when you go to sleep, don’t let your dreams sleep. If I can do it, so can you.”
Affectionately known as ‘Mithun Da’ to his fans, Mithun Chakraborty made his film debut in 1976 with ‘Mrigaya’, where he enthralled the audience with his versatile performance. He won the National Film Award for Best Actor on his debut for his portrayal of a Santhal rebel, and later won two additional National Film Awards for ‘Tahader Katha’ (1992) and ‘Swami Vivekananda’ (1998). Outside of acting, Mithun has made a significant impact in the music industry with iconic dance numbers like ‘I’m a Disco Dancer’, ‘Jimmy Jimmy’ and ‘Super Dancer’. These tracks have become timeless classics, loved by generations of fans. Most recently, Mithun Chakraborty appeared in Vivek Agnihotri’s ‘The Kashmir Files’.
has been published – October 09, 2024 11:14 am IST