Golden Jubilee Celebrates Mithun Chakraborty’s fiftieth year in Mumbai

Inspiring Story of India’s First Disco Dancer that waltzed through the heart beats of Millions

Cheers Mithunda ! On completion of 50 years in Mumbai, We all love you

Two decades isn’t that far to forget this Golden-Heart actor, phenomenon of the 80’s and 90’s, an inspirational factor to all the self-made and hard-working people, who with his die-hard determination has risen among all the odds and surmounted all the difficulties of life, to groove through the hearts of billions of movie-goers across the world. But at the age of nineteen, Mithunda’s life was different, christened as Gouranga Chakraborty who set his foot on this day, fifty years back i.e, 11th September in the year 1969 to this city - Bombay, to chart out his own career, aspiring to live a happy life and give all the sustenance of a good living to his family. As he landed on this city without any shelter nor any place to call his own, his coming to Mumbai was like a one-way traffic, facing hurdles and challenges, truly a Mud-to-Mansion story of Mithunda's indomitable spirit as he completes his Golden Jubilee in Mumbai.

Flashing his 100-watt white-bulb smile, his mind tracing those moments of young days when he stepped out of the Howrah Express and looked around in the station brooding where was he heading? what was the future that lay ahead of him? Where was his next meal going to come? How long will he last on other’s generosity till he affirms his feet here?  All he could think of resolving the looming grim future filled with uncertainties, a sad look on his face as he recalled " I just thought, if I could get a job, a two-time meal and enough money to save so that I can remit to my parents at home”. Continuing his white flashing smile that showcase the pure embodiment of overcoming struggle-hood with life-as-it-goes further added “I had to ensure that all went well, my struggle always continued despite disappointments, defeats and humiliations, in fact it gave more impetus to my ambition and kept my hunger for success become bigger”.

Bombay for most of the newcomers and dream-aspirants seems to be an alien city in the beginning, as days seeps in , this overly-generous city accepts all and gives multiple chances to all who is willing to put his 100 percent to fulfill their dreams, Mumbai is truly the emotionally-flexible and most accommodating city of the world, which accepts everyone to fulfill their aspirations and dream. With a constant struggle and a die-hard ambition to make it big and successful, Mithun gave himself more than 100 percent of his effort not only to build his personal life but also professionally to become India's first Disco Dancer in Bollywood and First Indian actor to give the Bollywood its first 100 cr Movie and he is only lead actor in India to get maximum number of releases in a year, i.e. total of 19 releases as a lead hero in the year 1989 an impeccable feat, unbroken till today. Again, the only actor whose release clashed with his own release, box-office analysts of 90’s say that many times two films of his were released on the same day. Truly an inspiring story of the life of this man, who has inspired millions of people and has large fans following even today. 

Humble son of a Telephone Supervisor in Kolkata, a rebel during his childhood, preliminary schooling from Oriental Seminary School, later studied at Scottish Church College, came to Mumbai at the age of nineteen penniless, it was a new beginning from the scratch as he did not have money, nor he had any place to call his own, nor any money to rent a place, what he owned was burning ambition and the readiness to work hard. Fortune and Luck favored his struggle to become the only actor to win a National Film Award for Best Actor in his maiden release and India’s first actor to herald the league of 100 cr club in the Indian Film Industry. Mithunda’s life is a pure example of grit, determination and sole aspiration to achieve what he thinks from his heart.

For few who don't know much about him, Gouranga Chakraborty (born 16 June 1950), better known by his stage name Mithun Chakraborty, informally referred by many names such as more prominently Mithunda or as Dance Guru Mithun Chakraborty, Mahaguru, Prabhuji etc, is an actor, producer, social worker, entrepreneur, Philanthropist and an ex-Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament. He is the recipient of three National Film Awards. He made his acting debut with the art house drama Mrigayaa (1976), for which he won his first National Film Award for Best Actor.

He is one of those certified actor high on fighting spirit, who chartered his entry by rigorous training in Dance, fights, action-styles and armed with martial art specialization (all he learnt during those days when he was jobless, homeless and living on friend’s generosity solely to affirm himself in Bollywood, courtesy to his survival instinct) and entered through an art movie which gave him a bigger platform by winning the National Award. As years went by he was known (by his earlier movies) as a dancer and a action Hero,went on to establish himself as a popular actor. However, his recognition only grew for his role as the street dancer Jimmy in the 1982 Bollywood movie Disco Dancer where he became a household name for his role as street dancer who becomes a famous Disco Dancer. It was the first Indian film to cross ₹100 crore (US$82 million) worldwide, making it the highest-grossing Indian film up until Hum Aapke Hain Kaun (1994). Disco Dancer established Mithun as a renowned name in India, Southern Asia and the Soviet Union

Being a prolific actor , only few of the commercially successful actors who have prestigious awards and recognition's under his belt, apart from winning two more National Film Awards for his performances in Tahader Katha (1992) and Swami Vivekananda (1998). Mithunda has appeared in about 350 films including Bengali, Oriya, Bhojpuri, Telugu and Punjabi pictures. Besides awards and commercial, Mithun has also received rave critical acclaim and special praises, his acting in his first film Mrigayaa and others like Tahader Katha and Swami Vivekananda were much liked and fetched him National film awards and remains some of the niche films produced till now in the Indian film industry. In 1990, he was given the Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for his performance in Agneepath and the Filmfare Best Villain Award for acting in Jallad. During 1990s, Mithun shifted his attention to low-budget B-grade movies.

Mithun Chakraborty owns the Monarch Group, which has interests in the hospitality sector and educational sector. He has also started the production house Paparatzy Productions In 1992, he along with Dilip Kumar and Sunil Dutt, set up a trust to help needy actors called Cine and T.V Artistes Association (CINTAA). He was also the Chairperson of Film Studios Setting and Allied Mazdoor Union which take care the welfare of cine workers and resolve their demands and problems. The Television Show Dance India Dance where he is the Grand-master has already entered in Limca Book of Records and Guinness World Records. He also helped start the Bengal Football Academy and was part owner of the Royal Bengal Tigers of the IPL. During his stint in the southern territory of film distribution, he created a hub from the Monarch Group to boost a flurry of film-making in Ooty  very much like a film factory that produces a low budget but high-entertaining movies.

Mithunda is the only actor whose accomplishments surpass his flops. Apart from prime award, numerous other Awards too fill his home. His filmography runs into realms of paper comprising of Hindi, Bengali, Bhojpuri and Kannada movies, and is continued to be wooed by the industry and TV Show makers. He works in and judge’s reality shows and dance shows on television even today.