Biswajit Chatterjee

Indian film actor, producer, director and politician

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Biswajit Chatterjee

Chatterjee at the 38th International Kolkata Book Fair in 2014

Born|  (1936-12-14) 14 December 1936 (age 87)[1]

Calcutta, Bengal Province, British India

Occupations|

* Actor
* director
* producer
* singer
* politician

Years active| 1958–present
Political party| Bharatiya Janata Party
Spouse(s)| Ratna Chatterjee (divorced)
Ira Chatterjee
Children| 3, including

* Prosenjit Chatterjee
* Pallavi Chatterjee

Biswajit Chatterjee (born 14 December 1936), known mononymously as Biswajit, is a veteran Indian actor, producer, director, singer and politician known for his work in Bengali cinema and Hindi cinema.[1][2]

## Early career

[edit]

He debut in the Bengali films with the legendary icon Mahanayak Uttam Kumar in Mayamrigo (1960) and Dui Bhai (1961), both film become superhit. Then Biswajit relocated to Bombay. In 1962, he performed in the film Bees Saal Baad which was actually offered first to Uttam Kumar but he rejected and was the first film produced by Hemant Kumar, and then followed by Kohraa, Bin Badal Barsat, Majboor, Kaise Kahoon, and Paisa Ya Pyaar.

His filmography includes Mere Sanam (1965), Shehnai, Aasra (1964), Night in London, Yeh Raat Phir Naa Aaygi (1966), April Fool (1964), Kismat (1968), Do Kaliyan (1968), Ishq Par Zor Nahin and Sharaarat (1972). He was usually paired with notable actresses such as Asha Parekh, Waheeda Rehman, Mumtaz, Mala Sinha and Rajshree.

Biswajit appeared in Rekha's debut film Anjana Safar (1969) (later re-titled Do Shikaari). Though Anjana Safar was blocked by the censors and not released until 10 years later, a scene from the film which shows him kissing Rekha appeared on the pages of the Asian edition of Life magazine.[3] Rekha had complained that during the filming of one of the romantic scenes, Biswajit unexpectedly kissed her for 5 minutes against her will, and the entire crew started cheering and whistling while she was in tears.[4]

Between acting in Bollywood movies, Biswajit has returned to Calcutta to act in Bengali films, including Chowringhee (1968) and Garh Nasimpur with Uttam Kumar and Kuheli and much later, Srimaan Prithviraj (1973), Jai Baba Taraknath (1977) and  Amar Geeti  (1983).

Apart from acting, Biswajeet also sings and performs in concerts. In the 1970s, he cut a disc of two Bengali modern numbers Tomar Chokher Kajole and Jay Jay Din, both composed by Salil Choudhury.

## Later career

[edit]

In 1975, Biswajit produced and directed his own film, Kahte Hai Mujhko Raja. The film besides him starred Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Shatrughan Sinha, and Rekha. He had done one film Anjana Safar with Rekha previously. R.D. Burman composed the music. Later, he went back to acting. He will make a film on Netaji Subash Chandra Bose's life (in Hindi, English and Bengali) and will act in a new untitled Hindi film (murder mystery) with his younger daughter actress Prima Chatterjee.[5] He has also acted in a Hindi Stage Play, Ulta Seedha, produced directed written by wife Ira Chatterjee. In the play, he acted with his daughter Prima.

## Political career

[edit]

In the 2014 general elections, Biswajit contested from New Delhi as an All India Trinamool Congress candidate. He finished 7th, securing only 909 votes.[6][7]

In 2019, he joined Bharatiya Janata Party.[7]

## Personal life

[edit]

Biswajit has a son and a daughter by his first wife, the late Ratna Chatterjee. His son Prosenjit and elder daughter Pallavi Chatterjee are also actors in the Bengali Film Industry. Biswajit lives in Mumbai with his second wife, Ira Chatterjee who is producer, director, writer of stage plays and is owner of Dream Theatre. Their younger daughter, Prima Chatterjee is a film actress, theatre actress and a dance performer.

## Filmography

[edit]

Year  | Film  | Role

|
|

1958  | Kangsa | Krishna
1959  | Daak Harkaraa |
1960  | Maya Mriga | Rajatshubhra
Natun Fasal |
Shesh Paryantra |
1961  | Ashay Bandhinu Ghar |
Dui Bhai | Kamal Chatterjee
Kathin Maya |
1962  | Mayar Sansar |
Badhu |
Aamar Desh |
Sorry Madam |
Nav Diganta |
Dhoop Chhaya |
Dada Thakur | Darpanarayan
Bees Saal Baad | Vijay "Kumar" Singh Thakur
1963  | Akashpradip |
Ek Tukro Agun |
Tridhara | Premadri Lahiri
Hasi Shudhu Hasi Noy |
Bin Badal Barsaat | Prabhat Thakur
1964  | Agnibanya |
Kaise Kahoon | Amar
Kohra | Amit Kumar Singh
Godhuli Belaye |
Prabhater Rang |
April Fool | Ashok
Shehnai | Deepak
Majboor | Ravi
1965  | Trishna |
Pratham Prem |
Ektuku Chhoan Lage |
Gulmohar |
Do Dil | Manu "Badal"
Mere Sanam | Ramesh Kumar
1966  | Monihar |
Aasra | Amar Kumar
Biwi Aur Makan | Arun
Sagaai | Rajesh
Yeh Raat Phir Na Aayegi | Surajprakash
1967  | Night In London | Jeevan "Vijay"
Hare Kanch Ki Chooriyan | Ravi Kumar Mehra
Jaal | Inspector Shankar
Nai Roshni | Prakash
Ghar Ka Chirag |
1968  | Vaasna | Dr. Shekhar
Kahin Din Kahin Raat | Suraj "Robbie"
Krishna Bhakt Sudaama | Krishna
Chhotto Jignasa |
Do Kaliyan | Shekhar
Chowringhee | Anindya Pakrashi
Garh Nasimpur |
Kismat | Vicky
1969  | Pyar Ka Sapna |
Paisa Ya Pyar | Shekhar
Tamanna |
Rahgir |
1970  |  Pardesi | Ajay
Ishq Par Zor Nahin | Amar Doraiswami
1971  | Pratibad |
Chahat | Ashok
Main Sundar Hoon | Amar
Kuheli | Shankar
1972  | Chaitali |
Shararat | Harry
Roktakto Bangla | Shaheed
1973  | Ami Sirajer Begam | Nawab Siraj ud-Daulah
Mehmaan | Rajesh
Shriman Prithviraj | Akhil Mitra
1974  | Do Aankhen |
Prantarekha |
Raktatilak | Roop Singh
Phir Kab Milogi | Rajesh Sharma
1975  | Kahte Hain Mujhko Raja | Raja Thakur
Rajaram "Raja"
1976  |  Bajrangbali | Rama
1977  | Chhotto Nayak |
Bhola Moira |
Baba Taraknath | Scientist
Naami Chor |
1978  | Saat Bhai Champa |
Karunamoyee |
Ranger Saheb |
1979  | Jai Baba Baidyanath |
Bhagyalipi |
Do Shikaari | Ranjeet
1980  | Gori Dian Jhanjran | Kasturilal
Humkadam | Mr. Dutt
1981  | Abichar |
Meghmukti |
1982  | Sonar Bangla |
1983  | Amar Geeti |
1984  | Anand Aur Anand | Mr. Thakur
Shorgol |
1985  | Saaheb | Mr. Sharma
Harishchandra Shaibya | Maharaj Harishchandra
1986  | Krishna-Krishna | Krishna
Allah Rakha | Inspector Anwar
1987  | Micha Mayara Sansar |
Nishibasar |
Radha Rani |
Sadak Chhap | Lakshman
1988  | Shiv Ganga |  Kamdev
Rater Kuheli |
Be Lagaam |
1989  | Hal Aur Bandook |
Sansar |
1990  | Kayedi |
Zimmedaaar | Chief Inspector
1991  | Jigarwala | Ranjeet Singh
Kaun Kare Kurbanie | Police Commissioner
1992  | Mehboob Mere Mehboob | Maharaj
Rupban Kanya | Ekabbar Badshah
1993  | Dil Apna Aur Preet Paraee | B. N. Sharma
1995  | Pyar Do Pyar Lo |
1998  | Yeh Na Thi Hamari Qismat |
Ek Tha Dil Ek Tha Dhadkhan |
1999  | Sar Ankhon Par | Vishwajeet Chatterjee
Kichhhu Sanlap Kichhu Pralap |
2000  | Bharat India Hindustan | James Bond
2001  | Dark Night |
Mera Saaya |
2002  | Great Target |
Inth Ka Jawab Patthar | Devendra's Adopted Father
2003  | Adorini |
2004  | Birsa Munda – The Black Iron Man |
2009  | Aa Dekhen Zara | Mr. Acharya
2012  | Baarood – A Love Story |
2013  | Kajra Mohabbat Wala | Anita's Father
Rangbaaz |
2014  | Sondhey Namaar Aagey |
2017  | Phir Aaya Satte Pe Satta | Mamaji

## Director

[edit]

Year  | Film

|

1974  | Raktatilak
1975  | Kahte Hain Mujhko Raja
1981  | Abichar
1984  | Shorgol

## Producer

[edit]

Year  | Film

|

1975  | Kahte Hain Mujhko Raja
2013  | Sorry Madam Maaf Karo

## Awards and honors

[edit]

* Indian Personality of the year at 51st International Film Festival of India (IFFI)[8]
* Lifetime Achievement award at 5th Dehradun International Film Festival  (DIFF) in 2019[9]
* Guest of Honour 24th Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF)[10]
* On 88th birthday of Mohammed Rafi, Chatterjee received Mohammed Rafi Award in Mumbai.
* In 1963, Biswajit received President Gold Medal for film Dada Thakur from President Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.[11]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b अनुप्रिया वर्मा (23 December 2018). "Happy Birthday Biswajit: ऐसा क्या हुआ था कि विश्वजीत के बेडरूम में ही तीन दिन तक पड़े रहे थे धर्मेंद्र". Dainik Jagran (in Hindi). Archived from the original on 24 December 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
2. ^ Ruman Ganguly (3 January 2018). "To me, Soumitra jethu is no less than a father: Prosenjit – Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 10 July 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
3. ^ Screen Weekly, "The hero who was made up to look like a girl", India FM, 23 January 2007.
4. ^ "Smooch, Sindoor and Suicide: Rekha biography gives shocking details on the star's life". www.indiatoday.in. Archived from the original on 7 September 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
5. ^ PTI (1 February 2015). "People will know real side of Netaji through my film: Biswajit". Zee News. Archived from the original on 23 December 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
6. ^ "Constituencywise-All Candidates". Archived from the original on 18 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
7. ^ a b IANS (19 February 2019). "Veteran Indian actor joins BJP, praises Modi". Khaleej Times. Archived from the original on 5 May 2019. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
8. ^ "IFFI: Biswajit Chatterjee awarded 'Indian Personality of the Year'". The Indian Express. 17 January 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
9. ^ Sen, Debolina (11 September 2019). "Another Lifetime Achievement award for Biswajit Chatterjee". The Times of India. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
10. ^ "24th Kolkata International Film Festival celebrates 100 years of Bengali cinema". The New Indian Express. 10 November 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
11. ^ Bhattacharya, Roshmila (11 July 2020). "This Week That Year: Biswajeet Chatterjee and a dream that died with Guru Dutt". Mumbai Mirror. Retrieved 18 February 2021.

* Biswajit:44 Saal Baad - Devinder Bir Kaur's interview for The Tribune, Chandigarh

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Biswajit Chatterjee.

* Biswajit Chatterjee at IMDb

* v
* t
* e

IFFI Indian Film Personality of the Year Award

2013–present|

* Waheeda Rahman (2013)
* Rajinikanth (2014)
* Ilaiyaraaja (2015)
* S. P. Balasubrahmanyam (2016)
* Amitabh Bachchan (2017)
* Salim Khan (2018)
* Biswajit Chatterjee (2021)
* Hema Malini (2021)
* Prasoon Joshi (2021)
* Chiranjeevi (2022)
* Madhuri Dixit (2023)

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