Senior actor Mithun Chakraborty who has entertained us over the years with his acting and dancing performances, will be honored with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award in recognition of his remarkable journey and significant contributions to Indian cinema. Known for his diverse performances, Mithun has become a respected figure in the film industry, though his rise to success was not without challenges.
During the late 1970s and 1980s, several actresses declined to work with Mithun, considering him a “B-grade” actor. The actor, often referred to as a “chota star” by his peers, encountered difficulties in gaining a foothold in mainstream cinema. Reflecting on this phase during an appearance on Zee TV’s Sa Re Ga Ma Pa in 2023, Mithun shared, “Kitni ladai ek insaan lad sakta hai? They thought I was a ‘chota star’. ‘Yeh kabhi kya hero banega?’ Who will make him a hero? Kya kya bolte the mere baare main. I don’t even want to say it, phir dard hota hai.”
Mithun Chakraborty also expressed how he almost lost hope of transitioning from B-grade to A-grade films. He recalled how actresses would walk out of projects after they were announced due to pressure from other actors. “There was pressure, and other actors were insecure that I would make it big someday. So they may have warned those heroines, ‘Iske saath kaam karogi toh humare saath kaam nahi kar sakti,’” he added.
A turning point came when Zeenat Aman, one of the top actresses of the time, agreed to star alongside Mithun in Brij Sadanah’s Taqdeer. Zeenat’s confidence in Mithun’s potential marked a pivotal moment in his career. Mithun fondly recalled, “Zeenat ji said, ‘What a good-looking man he is! I will do the film with him.’” Her support helped Mithun gain recognition as a leading actor, and after Taqdeer’s release, his career surged. “Zeenat ji broke the jinx. After she agreed to work with me, other actresses followed. I will forever be grateful to her for helping me attain that status.”
That was really great on the part of Zeenat Aman, isn’t it?
