Namashi, the son of Mithun Chakraborty and Yogeeta Bali, made his Bollywood debut with Bad Boy.
Namashi Chakraborty reveals that when he became part of Bad Boy, director Rajkumar Santoshi had no idea he was Mithun’s son.
Child stars have often been the victims of relentless trolling. Many have been accused of being handed opportunities on a silver platter regardless of merit, while deserving strangers continue to struggle for years to get their foot in the door. The latest actor with a film lineage to mark his debut in the Hindi film industry is the youngest son of veteran actor and politician Mithun Chakraborty, Namashi Chakraborty. He saw his first film Bad Boy directed by filmmaker Rajkumar Santoshi on the big screen on Friday April 28. The romantic comedy also stars another debutante, Amrin, born to film producer Sajid Qureshi.
In an exclusive chat with News18, Namashi acknowledges the privilege he has always had of being born to Mithun and actor Yogeeta Bali. “I would like to believe that Amrin could see privilege after a certain point in his life. But I did not. I am very outspoken now. I, including my siblings, were born rich. I haven’t had to struggle for even a day about what I’m going to wear, what I’m going to eat and where I’m going to live. I’ve had luxuries of all kinds thanks to the hard work of my parents,” he says.
Speaking of how his privilege has made him more self-aware and humbled, he says: “My dad was the breadwinner and my mom knew how to keep him going. They are literally the reason I am here today, living such a great life. I am very lucky to be born into this family. It wasn’t a draw that made me the son of Mithun Chakraborty and Yogeeta Bali (laughs). I am very grateful for my life.
However, Namashi believes that wrestling is an integral part of everyone’s life, regardless of their background. “I had ups and downs at home, just like any other home. The lows I’ve seen may not be as bad as those from someone who is financially less privileged than me. That said, everyone experiences ups and downs in their lives. We all go through sadness, depression, and days when we feel like nothing is going to work for us. But I’m very grateful for the life I’ve lived and I don’t take it for granted,” he explains.
In 2008, Namashi’s older brother, Mimoh Chakraborty, made his foray into films with Jimmy. However, the film underperformed and his career did not take off as he expected. His second brother, Ushmey Chakraborty, acted and directed a few films, but they also did not attract attention. But Namashi thinks he struggled more than them. Speaking of this, he says, “Personally, being a person in my thirties, I’ve had a lot of ups and downs, maybe a lot more than my siblings. I had chosen the path of being in Mumbai and struggling and finding work on my own without the baggage of my family name and without making any calls.
He goes on to reveal that when he became part of Bad Boy, director Andaz Apna Apna (1994) and Ghatak (1996) had no idea he was Mithun’s son. “I didn’t tell anyone, not even the casting directors, that I was Mithun Chakraborty’s son. I pocketed Bad Boy on my own merit. Raj ji didn’t even know I existed. When Sajid bhai showed him my portfolio photos, Raj ji replied, “That boy looks good, he reminds me of a young Mithun.” It was then that Sajid bhai told him that I was his son. I was like any other new actor introduced for a movie,” he recalls.
Namashi adds, “Raj ji and my father were colleagues and he still didn’t know that Mithun had more children. We come from a very humble and discreet family. I never wondered why they didn’t know me. I always believed in myself and I knew that one day I was going to achieve something on my own.
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