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]

Biswajit Chatterjee
Chatterjee at the 38th International Kolkata Book Fair in 2014
Born (1936-12-14) 14 December 1936 (age 87)[1]
Occupations
  • Actor
  • director
  • producer
  • singer
  • politician
Years active1958–present
Political partyBharatiya Janata Party
Spouse(s)Ratna Chatterjee (divorced)
Ira Chatterjee
Children3, including

Early career

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Year Film
1974 Raktatilak
1975 Kahte Hain Mujhko Raja
1981 Abichar
1984 Shorgol


Producer

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Year Film
1975 Kahte Hain Mujhko Raja
2013 Sorry Madam Maaf Karo


Awards and honors

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References

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  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.
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