“Yes, his talent is impressive--but please don’t compare Me with my actor-son Namashi, in his debut movie ‘Bad Boy’,”appeals ‘living legend’ Mithun Chakraborty   --- by Chaitanya  Padukone     

Bollywood megastar Mithun Chakraborty whose struggle-success-stardom story is very inspiring seemed to be in an upbeat, cheerful mood at a recent event.  The reason behind Mithun-da’s excitement was mainly because his talented star-son Namashi  Chakraborty’s rom-com debut film ‘Bad Boy’ directed by showman star-maker Raj Kumar Santoshi will be releasing on Friday, April 28^th.  This was at the Curtain Raiser event held to make a special announcement by the ‘Bad Boy’ movie team.   According to the ‘Bad Boy’ producer Sajid Qureshi,  a grand pre-release music n dance would be held this Saturday on April 22nd at MMRDA” R-2” Grounds at BKC,  Bandra East Mumbai. Which will witness the active participation of Bad Boy lead cast hero Namashi (Mithun) Chakraborty, heroine Amrin (Qureshi), composer Himesh Reshammiya and the event will be compered by popular star comedian Krishna Abhishek with lots of surprises. The slick trailer of 'Bad Boys' with all its fast-paced entertaining romance, drama, musical, dance and comedy content ( Johnny Lever ) has already gone viral and millions of viewers are looking forward to the movie release.

Style-icon ‘Grandmaster’ dance-guru and three times National Awards winning versatile actor Mithun Chakraborty who was wearing his favorite smart beret-cap ( similar to that worn by legendary South American-Cuban- Marxist rebel-revolutionary  Che Guevara)  was the scene-stealer at the late evening event which started perfectly on time.  The ‘Disco Dancer’  mega-star expressed his care and concern as he said on stage.  “ Yes. my talented son Namashi has put up an impressive performance as a lead actor-dancer in his debut movie ‘Bad Boy’. But please don’t compare me with my son Namashi.  Because this is just his debut movie and I have been an actor for past over 45 years,” appealed Mithun-da with emotions in his voice. When asked, what advice the living legend mega-star gave to his son Namashi,  father Mithun-da said, “Only if you are a sincere, good human being,  you can be aspire to be a good successful star-actor. Take appreciation and adulations in your stride, but don't get carried away. Continue to move on and work hard but always remain grounded”.

Known for being outspoken, writer-director Raj Kumar Santoshi said, “ We finalized both star-material enthusiastic newcomers Namashi and Amrin,  only after auditioning their acting talents and looks and confirming that, they matched the lead romantic characters.  In the past, I have introduced Bobby Deol and Twinkle in ‘Barsaat’  (1995) and worked with newcomer Ranbir Kapoor in one of his initial films   ‘ Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani’ ( 2009)  and many other new actors.  For me, working with Namashi and Amrin is like a noted scientist being overjoyed after discovering something exciting.  Am sure even the audience would be delighted to discover the terrific talents of  Namashi-Amrin when they watch  ‘Bad Boys’.  We also have Mithun-da’s blessings both off-screen and on-screen, as he agreed to do a  surprise cameo appearance in ‘Bad Boys’,”  expressed Santoshi, whose memorable movies ( Ghayal and Damini)  with Sunny Deol and then of course  Salman-Aamir starrer  Andaz Apna Apna (1994) are considered cinematic landmarks.

Brimming with cool confidence,  curly-haired handsome Namashi in a frank reaction said that  “The famous family lineage mental pressure on me is more like a privilege . Because my father  ( Mithun-da) is like a screen-God for all his millions of  fans. But I humbly request all his loyal fans not to compare me with my father because he is a global star, and a living legend, a  screen-king .  Whereas  ‘Bad Boys’ is just my first debut film. . Am grateful to both my parents ( Mithun-da and former actress Yogeeta Bali) for their constant moral support and encouragement. My dad is there behind me, if I face any major crisis. But he wants to face and fight my own career-odds and lows. Yes my father ( Mithun-da) has taught me to be a ‘fighter’.  Not even once, did my father put any pressure on director Santoshi-sir to take special care of me nor did he influence producer Sajid-bhai Qureshi,” says Namashi who also shares that his father (Mithun-da) is an excellent cook and that his family loves to relish the delicious food cooked by him sometimes at home.

Meanwhile  Mithun-da who had one of the recent-past biggest box-office hits in the form of ‘ Tashkent Files ‘ and  ‘Kashmir Files’,  is still going strong with four more new movies coming up . Recently he even won a  Best Actor (Male) Bangla  Filmfare Award -2022 for his excellent performance in this Bengali movie ‘Projapati’, But the grounded super-actor still recalls the times when as a struggler nobody would invite him to have food or lunch  as a junior artiste’  in ‘Do Anjaane’  (1976)  Also  how he played the fully de-glam   tribal lead character in Mrigayaa ( 1976)  followed by  some other movies. Six years later he became a super-star when he transformed into a flamboyant dancing rock-star Jimmy in mega-hit ‘Disco Dancer ‘ (1982) !

While highly appreciating the benefits of  rapid progress  in hi-tech digital and mobile and media communications, Mithun-da regrets  the evident loss of personal -human-touch and the growing gap in human relationships .  “ Ever since mobile phones have started, we tend to communicate with the actor or actress sitting in the nearby parked vanity-van on sms or whatsapp. Previously we used to meet up personally, “  points out Mithun-da.  We fully agree with you Mithun-da !