Mithun Chakraborty, recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, revealed that he has never promoted his children in Bollywood, allowing them to earn roles based on their own talent.
Mithun Chakraborty, recently honored with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, shared that he has never used his influence to help his children secure roles in Bollywood.
Mithun Chakraborty was honored with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award at the 70th National Film Awards on October 8, 2024. Despite his legendary status, Mithun believes in letting his children carve their own paths in the industry, which is why he has never asked anyone for favors to help his four kids land roles.
In a conversation with NDTV, Mithun shared his perspective on the entertainment industry, saying that while many see it as a “family industry,” he disagrees. “To date, I have never asked any producer or anybody to give work to my sons,” he revealed, emphasizing his commitment to allowing his children to earn their place on merit.
The veteran actor also touched on the careers of his sons, Namashi and Mimoh Chakraborty. Namashi auditioned for a role in Rajkumar Santoshi’s Bad Boy, while Mimoh starred in Vikram Bhatt’s Haunted. Mithun commented that while the success of these films is another matter, he has never promoted his children. “I told them that you have to fight your own battle,” he said.
The Kashmir Files actor further expressed his belief that having a famous parent in the industry doesn’t guarantee success. “Only talent rules,” he said, adding that those without it will ultimately not survive in the competitive field.
In an interview with Pinkvilla, Mithun reflected on the struggles his son Namashi faced before landing his first film, Bad Boy. He shared, “Namashi faced a lot of pain… I knew everything. He went for auditions, and people didn’t even let him stand. When they realized he was my son, they were shocked.”
Mithun also admitted to feeling some guilt about not using his influence to help Namashi, but ultimately decided it was important for him to experience the struggles faced by many newcomers. “The film he got is totally his. I never called anyone. You have to fight on your own,” Mithun said.
Namashi also spoke about his experience working with director Rajkumar Santoshi, calling it a matter of luck. “It was in my stars to be directed by Rajkumar Santoshi. He’s a perfectionist, and with my father surprising me on set, it was an experience of a lifetime,” Namashi shared. He credited both Santoshi and his father for creating a smooth working environment on set, calling it a stroke of “goodwill and destiny.”
Mithun Chakraborty, the legendary Bollywood actor, has two sons following in his footsteps—Mimoh Chakraborty and Namashi Chakraborty. Mimoh made his debut in Haunted, directed by Vikram Bhatt, and has appeared in several films since. Namashi, on the other hand, is an emerging talent who recently auditioned for and landed a role in Rajkumar Santoshi’s Bad Boy.