Namashi Chakraborty recalls growing up with busy father Mithun Chakraborty: ‘I got to know him only when I was 10’

Veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty still holds the record of having 19 films release in a single year. In a recent interview, his younger son Namashi Chakraborty, who will soon be seen with his father and sister-in-law Madalsa Sharma in Vivek Agnihotri’s upcoming film The Bengal Files, was asked if he ever questioned his father about that phase of his career.Speaking with RVCJ, Namashi explained that it was simply a different time in the industry. “That was an era where stars would not have time. Today stars only have time because films are not made the way they used to. Independent producers used to be there, anybody could approach a star and make a film. In today’s times everybody is either in a corporate or an agency. Stars had the freedom to do whatever they wanted. In 1993, I remember my father, Govinda and Rahul Roy had gotten a letter by CINTAA that they can’t do beyond 40 films, and my father had 41 films on floor. In which I think 35 he was the hero.”Namashi admitted that while he was not surprised by his father’s workload, it meant that he rarely got to spend time with him as a child. “Honestly I am not surprised by the numbers because I didn’t have any time with my father growing up. I got to know the nature of my dad when I was 10 years old. Because he used to leave for a shoot in the morning and I was sleeping by the time he came back. So I had no clue who he is. I have seen him work hard for decades and he is still at it. Watch him in Bengal Files, what a performance he has given.”The actor also pointed out that the upcoming film has become a family affair. “By the way, I want to tell you that my sister-in-law is also in Bengal Files. Madalsa Sharma has done a cameo. So we three family members are together in this. And the interesting thing is that none of our scenes are together.”When asked whether the Chakraborty family discusses scripts at home, Namashi admitted that work conversations are rare. “Sometimes it happens. When I get stuck, I go to dad and he tells me. But he has a belief that when you are a new actor, your directors make you. No matter how good your acting is, your director will guide you. Like my father doesn’t have to be directed by anyone. Vivek sir used to set the camera and say ‘Dada, action’ and he would finish in one take. With me, it’s different because I’m still new. And I’m a bit irritating also on set. I keep asking whether I should do this or not, whether I should do this again or not. So many times the shot is okay but still I’m like no, let’s do one more. But no one listens to me. If they get the shot, they get it.”He added that at home, the atmosphere is deliberately non-filmy. “We don’t discuss work as much. Because you should keep a line. You know, this is different, this is different.”