Moushumi Chatterjee

Moushumi Chatterjee (born Indira Chattopadhyay) is an Indian actress who is recognised for her work in Hindi as well as Bengali cinema. She was one of the highest paid actresses in Hindi films during the 1970s. She joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2019.

Moushumi Chatterjee
Moushumi Chatterjee in 2017
Born	Indira Chattopadhyay Calcutta, West Bengal, India
Occupations	Actress politician
Years active	1967–present
Political party	Bharatiya Janata Party (2019-present) Indian National Congress (previously)
Spouse	Jayant Mukherjee
Children	2
Relatives	Hemant Kumar (father-in-law)

Early and personal life

Chatterjee was born in Calcutta into a Bengali Brahmin family which hailed from Bikrampur in undivided Bengal. Her father, Prantosh Chattopadhyaya, was in the Indian Army and her grandfather was a judge. Her real name is Indira and Moushami is her screen-name.^[1]

At a young age, Indira Chattopadhyaya (her real name) was married to Jayanta Mukherjee, a gentleman of her own community and similar family background, in a match arranged by their families in the usual Indian Bengali way.^{[citation needed]} The couple have been blessed with two daughters. The marriage has proved entirely harmonious and happy. Her husband, Jayanta Mukherjee, is the son of music composer and singer Hemant Kumar. Jayanta is also an exponent of Rabindra Sangeet. With the support and encouragement of her husband and father-in-law, Indira accepted the offer of acting in a film and took Moushami as her screen name. Thus, her film career began only after her wedding.^{[citation needed]} She has always prioritised her family above everything else.^[2]

Career

1967–1984: Debut and breakthrough

Chatterjee made her film debut in the Bengali hit Balika Badhu (1967), directed by Tarun Majumdar.^[3] In an interview, Moushumi Chatterjee quoted: "After Balika Badhu, I was flooded with Bengali movies but I wished to complete my studies. However, movies were in my fate hence when I was studying in class X, a close aunt of mine was on her death-bed and her last wish was to see me married. Hence, to satisfy her wish I got married."^[3] She was called as Indira at home. She got engaged to guardian and neighbour Hemant Kumar's son, Jayant Mukherjee (Babu). "I fell in love with Babu. He was the first man I came in touch with outside my family."^[4] She was then seen in Bengali films like Parineeta, Anindita.

Her debut as heroine in the Hindi film Anuraag in 1972 was directed by Shakti Samanta. The film became very successful. She played a blind girl who falls in love, and her performance earned her a Filmfare nomination as Best Actress. Anuraag won the Filmfare Award as Best Picture. About her Hindi film debut, she said in an interview: "As my father-in-law was a renowned film celebrity, many film personalities used to throng our house. One among them was filmmaker Shakti Samanta, who insisted upon me to act in movies. I declined, but both my father-in-law and my husband encouraged me, thus I got Anuraag."^[3] When asked about her first role in Hindi films she said that "[w]hen Shaktida told me that I have to play a blind lady I was taken aback. I honestly told Shaktida that I may not do justice to the role as I have never studied a blind person, but Shaktida assured me that he will take me to a blind school and train me ... he insisted to do a small Mahurat shot before. [...] When I reached the studio I was excited to see Bollywood luminaries like Nutanji, Dadamoni (Ashok Kumar fondly called), Rajesh Khanna, S. D. Burman and others. The moment Shaktida called action I did my Mahurat shot confidently and was applauded. After the shot, Shaktida told me that I had given the shot so skillfully that there was no need to visit a blind school!"^[3]

In 1973, she acted in Naina opposite Shashi Kapoor, Kuchhe Dhaage with Vinod Khanna and Us Paar with Vinod Mehra. In 1974, she acted with the then-struggling Amitabh Bachchan in the thriller Benaam and opposite Rajesh Khanna in the suspense drama Humshakal. Her most successful film came at the end of 1974, where she played a rape survivor in Manoj Kumar's Roti Kapada Aur Makaan.^[5] Her performance earned her a Filmfare Nomination as Best Supporting Actress. She went on to become a part of several successful films like Swarg Narak, Maang Bharo Sajna, Pyaasa Sawan, Jyoti Bane Jwala with Jeetendra, Swayamvar with Shashi Kapoor and Anand Ashram with Rakesh Roshan. She acted with Rishi Kapoor in four films none of which were successful.

She was paired with Vinod Mehra in 10 films,^[6] including Anuraag, Us-Paar, Raftaar, Umar Qaid, Mazaaq, Zindagi and Do Jhoot. She only acted in 2 films with Amitabh Bachchan, Benaam and Basu Chatterjee's Manzil (1979). Her Bengali film with Uttam Kumar, Ogu Bodhu Sundari, released in 1981 and became successful. In 1982, she did the Marathi film (cameo role for song "Tumhi Adkitta Mi Ho Supari") Bhannat Bhanu. Her successful films with Rajesh Khanna included Bhola Bhala, Prem Bandhan and Ghar Parivar. She worked with Sanjeev Kumar in Angoor, Daasi and Itni Si Baat. In 1985, she acted in the Bengali film Pratigna.

After 1985, she graduated to supporting roles in several movies like Watan Ke Rakhwale, Aag Hi Aag and Ghayal.

1985–present: Transition period

From 1985 to 1991, Chatterjee got more offers as a character actress and she made the transition to roles of mother and bhabhi (sister-in-law), often pairing with Dharmendra or Sunil Dutt. She played Sunny Deol's sister-in-law in Ghayal. Occasionally, she got lead roles in films in the 1990s such as Ghar Parivaar and Aa Ab Laut Chalen, both opposite Rajesh Khanna, then Santaan, Prateeksha (1993) and Udhaar Ki Zindagi with Jeetendra. Some of her films as supporting actress since 1995 include Keemat: They Are Back (1998), Aa Ab Laut Chalen (1999) and Na Tum Jaano Na Hum, Hum Kaun Hai? (2004).

In 2006, Moushumi Chatterjee made a comeback to cinema, with Tanuja Chandra's Zindaggi Rocks. She did the Indo-Canadian production Bollywood/Hollywood in 2003.^[6]

Her Bengali films as the lead heroine include Balika Badhu (1967), Parineeta (1969), Anindita (1972), Anand Ashram (1977), Ogu Bodhu Sundari (1981), Prarthana (1984), Shatarupa (1989), Kari Diye Kinlam (1989), Bidhilipi (1991) and later as supporting actress; Nater Guru (2003), Bhalobasar Anek Naam (2005), The Japanese Wife (2010) and Goynar Baksho (2013). She sang a song titled "Tomar Duare" in the film Mallick Bari (2009). In 2014, she won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for the Bengali film Goynar Baksho and received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015.

Political foray

Chatterjee contested in 2004 Lok Sabha election as a candidate for Indian National Congress, but lost.^[7] In 2019, she joined Bharatiya Janata Party.^[8] Her daughter Payal died on 13 December 2019.^[9]

Awards

Year	Award	Category	Work	Result
1968	Bengal Film Journalists' Association	Best Actress	Balika Badhu	Won
1972	Filmfare Awards	Best Actress	Anurag	Nominated
1974		Best Supporting Actress	Roti Kapda Aur Makaan	Nominated
	Bengal Film Journalists' Association	Best Supporting Actress		Won
2002	Genie Awards	Best Supporting Actress	Bollywood/Hollywood	Nominated
2014	Filmfare Awards	Best Supporting Actress – Bengali	Goynar Baksho	Won
2015	Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award			Won
2016	Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards	Lifetime Achievement Award		Won
2018	Power Brands Journalist Award			Won

Filmography

1. Prarthana
2. Kari Diye Kinlam
3. Hatyara as Gauri Vijay Singh (1977)
4. Be-Rahem
5. Sesh Sangbad (2016)
6. Raksha as Asha (1982)
7. Ghar Ki Laaj (1979)
8. Bhalobasar Onek Naam as Bini (2006)
9. Shatarupa
10. Bidhilipi
11. Bouthan
12. Nater Guru as Manisha's Mother (2003)
13. Kartavya (1995)
14. Muqaddar (1996)
15. Rusvai
16. Badla aur balidaan
17. Dekha pyar tumhara
18. Love in Canada (1979)
19. Kahani ek chor ki
20. Aan aur shaan
21. Ek baap chhe bete
22. The Cheat
23. Balika Badhu (1967)
24. Parineeta (1969) as Lalita
25. Anuraag (1972) as Shivani
26. Anindita (1972)
27. Naina (1973)
28. Kuchhe Dhaage (1973) as Sona
29. Ghulam Begam Badshah (1973)
30. Zehreela Insaan (1974)
31. Us-Paar (1974) as Kamla (Kamli)
32. Roti Kapada Aur Makaan (1974) as Tulsi
33. Humshakal (1974) as Radha/Sita
34. Badla (1974) as Kalpana
35. Benaam (1974) as Sheela Srivastav
36. Umar Qaid (1975)
37. Raftaar (1975) as Rani/Rita
38. Natak (1975)
39. Mazaaq (1975) as Moushumi
40. Do Jhoot (1975)
41. Anari (1975)
42. Sabse Bada Rupaiya (1976) as Sunita
43. Jai Bajrang Bali (1976) -- Devi Maa Sita
44. Zindagi (1976) as Seema (as Moushumi)
45. Anand Ashram (1977/I) as Kiran
46. Ab Kya Hoga (1977) as Lady who asked for a cup of Tea
47. Tumhari Kasam (1978) as Vidya
48. Swarg Narak (1978) as Shobha Mohan Kapoor
49. Phool Khile Hain Gulshan Gulshan (1978) as Shanti
50. Phandebaaz (1978)
51. Dil Aur Deewar (1978) as Saroj
52. Bhola Bhala (1978) as Renu
53. Do Ladke Dono Kadke (1979) as Rani
54. Prem Bandhan (1979) - Meena Mehra
55. Gautam Govinda (1979) as Sandhya
56. Manzil (1979) as Aruna Khosla
57. Swayamvar (1980) as Roopa Bhargav
58. Maang Bharo Sajana (1980) as Sita Ram Kumar
59. Jyoti Bane Jwala (1980) as Anu
60. Chambal Ki Kasam (1980)
61. Do Premee (1980) as Payal/Parvati Singh Dogra
62. Pyaasa Sawan (1981) as Shanti
63. Ogu Bodhu Sundari (1981)
64. Krodhi (1981) as Aarti
65. Itni Si Baat (1981) as Asha
66. Daasi (1981)
67. Bhannat Bhanu (Marathi film, cameo role for song "Tumhi Adkitta Mi Ho Supari") (1982)
68. Angoor (1982) as Sudha A. Tilak
69. Justice Chaudhury (1983) as Janki Chaudhary
70. Pet Pyaar Aur Paap (1984)
71. Jawaani (1984) as Prema Mohan
72. Ghar Ek Mandir (1984)
73. Urbashi (1986)
74. Mahananda (1987) as Ms. Mahananda
75. Sindoor (1987) as Sunita Kapoor
76. Aag Hi Aag (1987) as Mrs. Ganga Singh
77. Mera Karam Mera Dharam (1987) as Mala
78. Watan Ke Rakhwale as Laxmi Suraj Prakash (1987)
79. Param Dharam (1987) as Savitri
80. Taqdeer Ka Tamasha as Geeta (1988)
81. Waqt Ki Awaz (1988)
82. Vijay (1988) as Rita
83. Agnee (1988) as Shobha
84. Aakhri Gulam (1989)
85. Aakhri Baazi (1989) as Parvati P. Kumar
86. Jung Baaz (1989) as Mrs. Krishna Prasad Saxena
87. Sikka (1989) as Laxmi
88. Shehzaade (1989) as Padmini Singh
89. Taqdeer Ka Tamasha as Geeta (1990)
90. Ghayal (1990) as Indu Mehra
91. Ghar Parivaar as Parvati (1991)
92. Pyar Ka Devta as Chief Justice Saraswati Manohar Rai (1991)
93. Zulm Ki Hukumat (1992) as Pitamber's wife
94. Khule-Aam (1992) (as Moushmi Chatterjee) as Roopa
95. Nishchaiy (1992) as Renuka Singh
96. Prateeksha (1993) as Laxmi
97. Santaan (1993) as Laxmi
98. Udhaar Ki Zindagi (1994) as Janki
99. Ikke Pe Ikka (1994) as Kaushalya Devi
100. Kartavya (1995) as Sharda Varma
101. Jallaad (1995)
102. Kareeb (1998) as Neha's Mother
103. Doli Saja Ke Rakhna (1998) as Mrs. Chandrika Bansal
104. Keemat – They Are Back (1998) as Sulakshana Tripathi
105. Aa Ab Laut Chalen (1999) as Rohan's Mother
106. Na Tum Jaano Na Hum (2002) as Mrs. Malhotra
107. Bollywood/Hollywood (2002) as Mrs. Seth
108. Hum Kaun Hai? (2004) as Mrs. Martha Pinto
109. Zindaggi Rocks (2006) as Kriya's mother and Mausi (double role)
110. The Japanese Wife (2010) as Maashi
111. Goynar Baksho (2013) as Pishi (Elder Rashmoni devi)
112. Piku (2015)
113. Sotti Aai To Jibon

Television

Year	Serial	Role	Notes
2021	Super Dancer	Guest	season 4

References

1. Gupta, Priya (13 May 2015). "Moushumi Chatterjee: God is not kind to me, he is partial to me - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
2. "Veteran actress Moushumi Chatterjee moves Bombay HC, wants to meet comatose daughter". The Economic Times. 23 November 2018.
3. "How Moushumi Chatterjee stunned Shakti Samanta in ANURAAG". www.glamsham.com. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
4. "Bollywood News, Filmfare Awards, Movie Reviews, Celebrity Photos & Updates".
5. http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=180^{[dead link]}
6. "Bengali Beauty Moushumi Chatterjee - Ruling Bollywood Lady". businessofcinema.com. 26 April 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
7. "Actress Moushumi Chatterjee Joins BJP Just Months Ahead of Lok Sabha Polls". News18. 2 January 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
8. IANS (19 February 2019). "Veteran Indian actor joins BJP, praises Modi". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
9. "Moushumi Chatterjee's daughter Payal dies at 45". India Today. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.

External links

• Moushumi Chatterjee at IMDb