Mithun Chakraborty, a distinguished holder of the Guinness World Records, is presently 73 years of age. Widely regarded for his significant contributions to Hindi cinema, Chakraborty's iconic role in the 80's film Disco Dancer has earned him widespread recognition and acclaim.
Chakraborty's life is reminiscent of a captivating Bollywood storyline. His forefathers belonged to the Brahmin caste, but when British rule ended in India, his parents lost their wealth and became refugees. Eventually, his father managed to secure a job at a telephone company.
Mithun, whose real name is Gouranga Chakraborty, grew up in a large family. Unfortunately, two of his brothers passed away, leaving him with only three sisters to care for in the future. Mithun's talent shone early on, as he loved to dance and sing and enjoyed performing in school concerts. However, he later chose a serious profession, joining the chemistry faculty of the Scottish Church College affiliated with Calcutta University.
In his younger days, the actor became involved with the radical left group known as the Nakhalites and actively fought for social equality. Despite many of his fellow members being imprisoned, he evaded capture. Eventually, he relocated to Bombay with his relatives at his father's urging and adopted a new identity. Unfortunately, Mithun could not complete his college education and only spoke Bengali, limiting his job options to a regular salesperson.
After working in sales for several years, the actor enrolled in Pune's film and television institute. Mithun's impressive talents, including his striking appearance, dancing abilities, and artistic flair, have proven valuable assets in building a successful career in Indian cinema.
Mithun started his career with minor roles in films. He received his first award for portraying a hunter in The Royal Hunt, released in 1976. Mithun's talent took him to Moscow to attend a film festival where the film was showcased for the first time.
Initially, Mithun accepted episodic roles to earn a living as he struggled to make ends meet. However, his luck changed when he was offered the lead role in Disco Dancer, released in 1982. The film became a massive hit in India, popularizing the disco dance style. Mithun's ability to improvise and replicate Elvis Presley's moves earned him immense recognition. The movie attracted over 60mn viewers when released in the USSR in 1984. Later, a similar project called "Play, Play" was released, featuring the actor.
Chakraborty's popularity soared worldwide, making him one of India's most renowned and highly-paid actors. His impressive performance in 19 films in 1989 was unmatched by any other talented actor in Indian cinema. This achievement earned him a place in the Indian version of the Guinness Book, and he remains unbeaten.
Chakraborty's versatility as an actor is evident in his portrayal of characters ranging from romantic heroes to notorious villains. However, he later regretted his involvement in commercial projects and apologized to his fans for playing negative roles.
Mithun's first encounter with model Helena Lok was during his early days in acting. They eventually tied the knot, but their marriage, unfortunately, lasted only two years due to financial difficulties.
Mithun's second marriage was with actress Yogeeta Bali, and they have been together for over 40 years with three sons and a daughter. The actor also adopted a girl named Dishani, whom he rescued from a garbage dump and raised as his child.
Mithun takes pride in his children's success in the film industry, and he maintains an active lifestyle, owning a chain of hotels, a cricket team, and even the Football Association of Bengal.
The actor is actively involved in charity work, donating 50% of his income to support aspiring artists and clinics.
Although Mithun Chakraborty has reduced his appearances in films, he recently starred in the 2022 movie Kashmir Files and the action film Vaar after a long hiatus.
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