'Started acting like Al Pacino'—Mithun Chakraborty recalls first National-Award win
Veteran actor and politician, Mithun Chakraborty, recently reflected on his early career in an interview with India Today. He candidly shared how winning his first National Award for Mrigayaa (1976) significantly altered his attitude. "After Mrigayaa, I got my first National Award... I started acting like Al Pacino. Aisa lag raha tha that I am the greatest actor." The actor is soon to be honored with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
Chakraborty's early struggle and journey to stardom
Chakraborty further revealed that his changed attitude led to a producer asking him to leave. "My attitude changed as if I am such a huge actor, so the producer saw this and said, 'get out.' Then I realized my mistake." He also opened up about his challenging journey from Kolkata to Mumbai, stating that he sometimes had to sleep on footpaths due to lack of food and resources.
Chakraborty's reluctance to pen down his life story
Despite his eventual success, Chakraborty expressed hesitation about writing a biography. "Many people ask me why I don't write a biography. I say no because my story won't inspire people, it will bring them down morally," he explained during the interview. "It's so hard so traumatic so painful. Some days I wouldn't get food and I would sometimes sleep on footpaths. This journey was very difficult."
Chakraborty's notable achievements and political career
In addition to his debut film, Chakraborty has also won National Awards for Tahader Kotha and Swami Vivekananda. His filmography includes notable roles in Disco Dancer, Agneepath, Jallad, and Dalaal. Beyond his acting career, he has also made a mark in politics by becoming a Rajya Sabha MP in 2014.
