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ENTERTAINMENT EYE OCTOBER 11, 2024 | The Indian Eye 40

DADASAHEB PHALKE AWARD

“Never give up on your dreams”:

Mithun Chakraborty reflects on his

journey after receiving top award

Mithun Chakraborty made his film debut in 1976 with ‘Mrigayaa’, where he captivated audiences with his versatile acting

OUR BUREAU
New Delhi
eteran actor and politician
Mithun Chakraborty was hon-
Voured with the prestigious Da-
dasaheb Phalke Award at the 70th
National Film Awards ceremony
held at Vigyan Bhawan on Tuesday.
The award, presented by President
Droupadi Murmu, is the highest ac-
colade in Indian cinema, celebrating
lifetime achievements in the industry.
The legendary actor was met with
a standing ovation from attendees, in-
cluding dignitaries and fellow artists.
During his acceptance speech,
Mithun reflected on his journey in
the film industry, sharing poignant
anecdotes from his early career. “My
God, my Respected President, my Re-
spect Minister, and all the best people
on the dais, I have been on this stage
three times. After receiving my first
National Award, I was overwhelmed
by the praise, and it distracted my fo-
cus,” he recalled.
He humorously recounted a
conversation with a producer after a
screening of his debut film ‘Mrigayaa’. President Droupadi Murmu presents the Dadasaheb Phalke Award to veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty, at the 70th National Film Awards, at
“After finishing the film, I asked Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Tuesday (ANI Photo/Shrikant Singh)
a senior colleague how he felt about
it. He complimented my acting but
cheekily remarked on my attire, saying The actor addressed the preju- remarked, “I received nothing on His portrayal of a Santhal rebel
he could only imagine how I’d look dice he faced regarding his skin co- a platter; everything I earned was earned him the National Film Award
with clothes on. It struck me later that I lour, revealing, “Many told me that through hard work. I often questioned for Best Actor in his debut, and he lat-
was bare in the film,” Mithun recalled, dark-skinned actors wouldn’t survive God for my struggles, but after receiv- er won two additional National Film
sparking laughter in the audience. in Bollywood. I prayed to God, Could ing this award, I feel at peace and will Awards for ‘Tahader Katha’ (1992)
Mithun also candidly shared his you change my colour? But eventu- never complain again.” and ‘Swami Vivekananda’ (1998).
journey through the highs and lows of ally accepted that I couldn’t alter my In an inspiring conclusion to his Beyond acting, Mithun has made
the industry, particularly after winning complexion. Instead, I focused on my speech, Mithun encouraged aspiring a significant impact in the music indus-
his first National Award. “I thought dancing skills, determined to become actors: “Never stop dreaming. Re- try with iconic dance numbers like ‘I
I had become Al Pacino. I began to so remarkable that audiences would member, when you go to sleep, don’t Am a Disco Dancer’, ‘Jimmy Jimmy’,
treat producers dismissively. But re- overlook my skin colour. That’s how let your dreams sleep. If I can do it, so and ‘Super Dancer’. These tracks
ality hit when a producer kicked me I transformed into the ‘sexy, dusky can you.” have become timeless classics, loved
out of his office. That day, I realized I Bengali babu,’” he stated, earning ap- Affectionately known as ‘Mithun by generations of fans. Most recent-
was not Al Pacino, and it marked the plause from the audience, including Da’ by his fans, Mithun Chakraborty ly, Mithun Chakraborty appeared in
end of my delusions,” he shared, em- Union Minister for Information and made his film debut in 1976 with Vivek Agnihotri’s critically acclaimed
phasizing the lessons learned from his Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw. ‘Mrigayaa’, where he captivated audi- film ‘The Kashmir Files’, further solid-
experiences. Reflecting on his career, Mithun ences with his versatile acting. ifying his legacy in Indian cinema.

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