Biswajit Chatterjee

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

Biswajit Chatterjee
Born (1936-12-14) 14 December 1936[1]
Occupation
  • Actor
  • director
  • producer
  • singer
Political partyBharatiya Janata Party
Spouse(s)Ratna Chatterjee (divorced)
Ira Chatterjee
Children3, including

Early career

After films in Calcutta including Mayamrigo (1960) and Dui Bhai (1961), Biswajit relocated to Bombay. In 1962, he performed in the film Bees Saal Baad, which was 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 filming of one of the romantic scenes, Biswajit unexpectedly smooched 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 as well. Among them are 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

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

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

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

Awards and honors

References
  1. 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. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 18 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. 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. chatterjee - awarded-lifetime-achievment-award/ "DIFF: Biswajit Chatterjee awarded 'Life Time Achievement Award'" Check |url= value (help). Times of India. 24 January 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
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