Mithun Chakraborty inspires young artists: "Never give up
on your dreams" on receiving Dadasaheb Phalke Award

Los Angeles/Oct 08, 2024
NRIpress.club/Ramesh/ A.Gary Singh

Veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty was conferred with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award by President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday, celebrating his outstanding contributions to Indian cinema. The Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest honor in Indian film, recognizes the actor’s remarkable journey from humble beginnings to becoming one of Bollywood’s most iconic figures.

During his acceptance speech, Chakraborty reflected on his struggles, particularly his early insecurities about his dark skin tone. He revealed that despite the challenges, he focused on his dancing, determined to excel and leave a lasting impression on the audience. "I accepted that I couldn’t change my complexion, so I concentrated on becoming so remarkable in my dancing that people would look past my skin color. That's how I became the ‘sexy, dusky Bengali babu,’" he said, drawing applause from the crowd.

The actor also humorously recounted a moment when early success led to a brief illusion of grandeur. After winning a National Award for his debut film Mrigayaa (1976), directed by Mrinal Sen, Chakraborty thought he had arrived as an actor. "I thought I had become Al Pacino. But when a producer kicked me out of his office, reality hit hard. That was the day I realized I was no Al Pacino," he shared, earning laughs from the audience.

Chakraborty took the opportunity to inspire young aspiring actors, urging them not to give up on their dreams despite the hardships. “Never stop dreaming. Remember, when you sleep, don’t let your dreams sleep. If I could do it, so can you,” he said.

In an interview with ANI following the ceremony, Chakraborty expressed his overwhelming emotions. "I’m speechless. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. This is an incredible honor for someone like me, who came from nothing. I dedicate this award to my family and my fans all over the world,” he said.

Mithun Chakraborty, who was also awarded the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian honor, in January 2024, has won three National Film Awards throughout his career. His debut role in Mrigayaa earned him his first National Award, and he gained widespread fame with his performance in Disco Dancer (1982), which catapulted him to stardom and popularized disco music in Indian cinema.

In addition to his success as a dancer, Chakraborty has delivered memorable performances in films such as Agneepath (1990), which won him the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor, and Tahader Katha (1992) and Swami Vivekananda (1998), both of which earned him further National Film Awards.

With a career spanning over 350 films across various Indian languages, Mithun Chakraborty has cemented his place as one of the most versatile and beloved actors in the history of Indian cinema.

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