Biswajeet Chatterjee

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Biswajeet Chatterjee, born on 14 December 1936 in Calcutta, is an Indian actor, director, producer, singer and politician known for his work in Bengali and Hindi cinema. He began acting in Bengali films with Uttam Kumar in Mayamrigo (1960) and Dui Bhai (1961), then moved to Bombay where he starred in Bees Saal Baad (1962) and other hits such as Kohraa, Majboor, Kismat, and Do Kaliyan. His filmography also includes Mere Sanam (1965), Shehnai, Aasra (1964), Night in London, Yeh Raat Phir Naa Aaygi (1966) and Sharaarat (1972). He often acted opposite stars like Asha Parekh, Waheeda Rehman, Mumtaz, Mala Sinha and Rajshree. Biswajeet appeared in Rekha’s debut Anjana Safar (1969), which later became famous for a controversial kissing scene.

He returned to Calcutta to act in Bengali cinema, appearing in Chowringhee (1968), Garh Nasimpur, Kuheli, Srimaan Prithviraj (1973), Jai Baba Taraknath (1977) and Amar Geeti (1983). Besides acting, he sings and performs in concerts, and in the 1970s recorded Bengali songs Tomar Chokher Kajole and Jay Jay Din with music by Salil Choudhury. In 1975 he produced and directed Kahte Hai Mujhko Raja, which featured Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Shatrughan Sinha and Rekha.

Politically, Biswajeet ran in the 2014 general elections from New Delhi as a Trinamool Congress candidate but finished seventh. He joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2019. He has a son, Prosenjit Chatterjee, and a daughter, Pallavi Chatterjee, from his first wife Ratna Chatterjee (deceased), both prominent actors in Bengali cinema. He is now married to Ira Chatterjee, a producer/director who runs Dream Theatre, and they have a daughter, Prima Chatterjee, who is an actress and dancer. The family lives in Mumbai.