Biswajeet Chatterjee

{{short description|Indian actor, producer, director, and politician (born 1936)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2016}} {{Use Indian English|date=February 2016}} {{Infobox person | name = Biswajeet Chatterjee | image = Biswajit Deb Chatterjee - Kolkata 2014-02-09 8719.JPG | caption = Chatterjee at the 38th International Kolkata Book Fair in 2014 | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1936|12|14}}<ref name="birthday"/> | birth_place = Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India | political_party = Bharatiya Janata Party {{small|(2019–present)}}<br/>Trinamool Congress {{small|(2014–2019)}} | occupation = {{hlist|Actor|director|producer|singer|politician}} | years_active = 1958–present | spouse = Ratna Chatterjee <small>(divorced) </small> <br />Ira Chatterjee | children = 3, including {{ubl|Prosenjit Chatterjee|Pallavi Chatterjee}} }}

'''Biswajeet Chatterjee''' (born 14 December 1936), known mononymously as '''Biswajeet''' or '''Biswajit''' ({{IPA|bn|ˈbiʃodʒit̪|lang}}; {{IPA|hi|ˈʋɪʃʋədʒiːt̪|lang}}), is a veteran Indian actor, producer, director, singer and politician known for his work in Bengali cinema and Hindi cinema.<ref name="birthday">{{cite web |title=Happy Birthday Biswajit: ऐसा क्या हुआ था कि विश्वजीत के बेडरूम में ही तीन दिन तक पड़े रहे थे धर्मेंद्र |url=https://www.jagran.com/entertainment/bollywood-happy-birthday-biswajit-chatterjee-as-his-tell-us-some-interesting-stories-about-his-life-18747168.html |website=Dainik Jagran |author=अनुप्रिया वर्मा |date=23 December 2018 |access-date=23 December 2018 |language=hi |archive-date=24 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181224023916/https://www.jagran.com/entertainment/bollywood-happy-birthday-biswajit-chatterjee-as-his-tell-us-some-interesting-stories-about-his-life-18747168.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bengali/movies/news/to-me-soumitra-jethu-is-no-less-than-a-father-prosenjit/articleshow/62348533.cms|title=To me, Soumitra jethu is no less than a father: Prosenjit – Times of India|work=The Times of India|author=Ruman Ganguly|date=3 January 2018|access-date=23 December 2018|archive-date=10 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710145331/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bengali/movies/news/to-me-soumitra-jethu-is-no-less-than-a-father-prosenjit/articleshow/62348533.cms|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Early career == He made his acting debut in the Bengali films with the legendary icon Uttam Kumar in ''Mayamrigo'' (1960) and ''Dui Bhai'' (1961), both superhits, then he 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.<ref>Screen Weekly, "[https://web.archive.org/web/20070403100405/http://www.indiafm.com/features/2007/01/23/2146/index.html The hero who was made up to look like a girl]", India FM, 23 January 2007.</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Smooch, Sindoor and Suicide: Rekha biography gives shocking details on the star's life|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/gossip/story/rekha-the-untold-story-smooch-suicide-amitabh-bachchan-vinod-mehra-339093-2016-09-04|website=www.indiatoday.in|access-date=7 September 2016|archive-date=7 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160907011128/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/rekha-the-untold-story-smooch-suicide-amitabh-bachchan-vinod-mehra/1/756487.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

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'' (1970) and ''Jay Jay Din'' (1969), composed by Nachiketa Ghosh and Salil Chowdhury Respectively.

== Later career == 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.<ref name="director">{{cite web |title=People will know real side of Netaji through my film: Biswajit |url=http://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/movies/people-will-know-real-side-of-Netaji-through-my-film-biswajit_1539659.html |website=Zee News |author=PTI |date=1 February 2015 |access-date=23 December 2018 |archive-date=23 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181223211510/http://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/movies/people-will-know-real-side-of-netaji-through-my-film-biswajit_1539659.html |url-status=live }}</ref> 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== In the 2014 general elections, Biswajit contested from New Delhi as an Trinamool Congress candidate. He finished 7th, securing only 909 votes.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://eciresults.nic.in/ConstituencywiseU054.htm?ac=4 |title=Constituencywise-All Candidates |access-date=23 May 2014 |archive-date=18 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140518005302/http://eciresults.nic.in/ConstituencywiseU054.htm?ac=4 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="KT"/>

In 2019, he joined Bharatiya Janata Party.<ref name="KT">{{cite news |author=IANS |title=Veteran Indian actor joins BJP, praises Modi |url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/wknd/entertainment/veteran-indian-actor-joins-bjp-praises-modi |access-date=5 May 2019 |work=Khaleej Times |date=19 February 2019 |archive-date=5 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190505081049/https://www.khaleejtimes.com/wknd/entertainment/veteran-indian-actor-joins-bjp-praises-modi |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Personal life== 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 daughter, Prima Chatterjee is a film actress, theatre actress and a dance performer.

== Filmography == {{BLP unreferenced section|date=December 2025}} {| class="wikitable sortable" ! Year ! Film ! Role |- | 1958 | ''Kangsa'' | Krishna |- | 1959 | ''Daak Harkaraa'' | |- | rowspan = "3" | 1960 | ''Maya Mriga'' | Rajatshubhra |- | ''Natun Fasal'' | |- | ''Shesh Paryantra'' | |- | rowspan = "3" | 1961 | ''Ashay Bandhinu Ghar'' | |- | ''Dui Bhai'' | Kamal Chatterjee |- | ''Kathin Maya'' | |- | rowspan = "8" | 1962 | ''Mayar Sansar'' | |- | ''Badhu'' | |- | ''Aamar Desh'' | |- | ''Sorry Madam'' | |- | ''Nav Diganta'' | |- | ''Dhoop Chhaya'' | |- | ''Dada Thakur'' | Darpanarayan |- | ''Bees Saal Baad'' | Vijay "Kumar" Singh Thakur |- | rowspan = "5" | 1963 | ''Akashpradip'' | |- | ''Ek Tukro Agun'' | |- | ''Tridhara'' | Premadri Lahiri |- | ''Hasi Shudhu Hasi Noy'' | |- | ''Bin Badal Barsaat'' | Prabhat Thakur |- | rowspan = "8" | 1964 | ''Agnibanya'' | |- | ''Kaise Kahoon'' | Amar |- | ''Kohra'' | Amit Kumar Singh |- | ''Godhuli Belaye'' | |- | ''Prabhater Rang'' | |- | ''April Fool'' | Ashok |- | ''Shehnai'' | Deepak |- | ''Majboor'' | Ravi |- | rowspan = "6" | 1965 | ''Trishna'' | |- | ''Pratham Prem'' | |- | ''Ektuku Chhoan Lage'' | |- | ''Gulmohar'' | |- | ''Do Dil'' | Manu / Badal |- | ''Mere Sanam'' | Kumar |- | rowspan = "5" | 1966 | ''Monihar'' | |- | ''Aasra'' | Amar Kumar |- | ''Biwi Aur Makan'' | Arun |- | ''Sagaai'' | Rajesh |- | ''Yeh Raat Phir Na Aayegi'' | Surajprakash |- | rowspan = "5" | 1967 | ''Night In London'' | Jeevan "Vijay" |- | ''Hare Kanch Ki Chooriyan'' | Ravi Kumar Mehra |- | ''Jaal'' | Inspector Shankar |- | ''Nai Roshni'' | Prakash |- | ''Ghar Ka Chirag'' | |- | rowspan = "8" | 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 |- | rowspan = "4" | 1969 | ''Pyar Ka Sapna'' | |- | ''Paisa Ya Pyar'' | Shekhar |- | ''Tamanna'' | |- | ''Rahgir'' | |- | rowspan = "2" | 1970 | ''Pardesi'' | Ajay |- | ''Ishq Par Zor Nahin'' | Amar Doraiswami |- | rowspan = "4" | 1971 | ''Pratibad'' | |- | ''Chahat'' | Ashok |- | ''Main Sundar Hoon'' | Amar |- | ''Kuheli'' | Shankar |- | rowspan = "3" | 1972 | ''Chaitali'' | |- | ''Shararat'' | Harry |- | ''Roktakto Bangla'' | Shaheed |- | rowspan = "3" | 1973 | ''Ami Sirajer Begam'' | Nawab Siraj ud-Daulah |- | ''Mehmaan'' | Rajesh |- | ''Shriman Prithviraj'' | Akhil Mitra |- | rowspan = "4" | 1974 | ''Do Aankhen'' | |- | ''Prantarekha'' | |- | ''Raktatilak'' | Roop Singh |- | ''Phir Kab Milogi'' | Rajesh Sharma |- | rowspan = "2" | 1975 | rowspan = "2" | ''Kahte Hain Mujhko Raja'' | Raja Thakur |- | Rajaram "Raja" |- | 1976 | ''Bajrangbali'' | Rama |- | rowspan = "4" | 1977 | ''Chhotto Nayak'' | |- | ''Bhola Moira'' | |- | ''Baba Taraknath'' | Scientist |- | ''Naami Chor'' | |- | rowspan = "3" | 1978 | ''Saat Bhai Champa'' | |- | ''Karunamoyee'' | |- | ''Ranger Saheb'' | |- | rowspan = "3" | 1979 | ''Jai Baba Baidyanath'' | |- | ''Bhagyalipi'' | |- | ''Do Shikaari'' | Ranjeet |- | rowspan = "2" | 1980 | ''Gori Dian Jhanjran'' | Kasturilal |- | ''Humkadam'' | Mr. Dutt |- | rowspan = "2" | 1981 | ''Abichar'' | |- | ''Meghmukti'' | |- | 1982 | ''Sonar Bangla'' | |- | 1983 | ''Amar Geeti'' | |- | rowspan = "2" | 1984 | ''Anand Aur Anand'' | Mr. Thakur |- | ''Shorgol'' | |- | rowspan = "2" | 1985 | ''Saaheb'' | Mr. Sharma |- | ''Harishchandra Shaibya'' | Maharaj Harishchandra |- | rowspan = "2" | 1986 | ''Krishna-Krishna'' | Krishna |- | ''Allah Rakha'' | Inspector Anwar |- | rowspan = "4" | 1987 | ''Micha Mayara Sansar'' | |- | ''Nishibasar'' | |- | ''Radha Rani'' | |- | ''Sadak Chhap'' | Lakshman |- | rowspan = "3" | 1988 | ''Shiv Ganga'' | Kamdev |- | ''Rater Kuheli'' | |- | ''Be Lagaam'' | |- | rowspan = "2" | 1989 | ''Hal Aur Bandook'' | |- | ''Sansar'' | |- | rowspan = "2" | 1990 | ''Kayedi'' | |- | ''Zimmedaaar'' | Chief Inspector |- | rowspan = "2" | 1991 | ''Jigarwala'' | Ranjeet Singh |- | ''Kaun Kare Kurbanie'' | Police Commissioner |- | rowspan = "2" | 1992 | ''Mehboob Mere Mehboob'' | Maharaj |- | ''Rupban Kanya'' | Ekabbar Badshah |- | 1993 | ''Dil Apna Aur Preet Paraee'' | B. N. Sharma |- | 1995 | ''Pyar Do Pyar Lo'' | |- | rowspan = "2" | 1998 | ''Yeh Na Thi Hamari Qismat'' | |- | ''Ek Tha Dil Ek Tha Dhadkhan'' | |- | rowspan = "2" | 1999 | ''Sar Ankhon Par'' | Vishwajeet Chatterjee |- | ''Kichhhu Sanlap Kichhu Pralap'' | |- | 2000 | ''Bharat India Hindustan'' | James Bond |- | rowspan = "2" | 2001 | ''Dark Night'' | |- | ''Mera Saaya'' | |- | rowspan = "2" | 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'' | |- | rowspan = "2" | 2013 | ''Kajra Mohabbat Wala'' | Anita's Father |- | ''Rangbaaz'' | |- | 2014 | ''Sondhey Namaar Aagey'' | |- | 2017 | ''Phir Aaya Satte Pe Satta'' | Mamaji |- |}

== Director == {| class="wikitable sortable" ! Year ! Film |- | 1974 | ''Raktatilak'' |- | 1975 | ''Kahte Hain Mujhko Raja'' |- | 1981 | ''Abichar'' |- | 1984 | ''Shorgol'' |- |}

== Producer == {| class="wikitable sortable" ! Year ! Film |- | 1975 | ''Kahte Hain Mujhko Raja'' |- | 2013 | ''Sorry Madam Maaf Karo'' |- |}

==Awards and honors== * Filmfare Awards Bangla 2025 – Lifetime Achievement Award<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.filmfare.com/awards/filmfare-bangla-and-glamour-style-awards-2025/bangla-winners|title=Filmfare Awards Bangla 2025 Winners: Complete List Out|work=Filmfare}}</ref> * Indian Personality of the year at 51st International Film Festival of India (IFFI)<ref>{{cite news |title=IFFI: Biswajit Chatterjee awarded 'Indian Personality of the Year' |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/iffi-biswajit-chatterjee-awarded-indian-personality-of-the-year-7149445/ |access-date=19 January 2021 |work=The Indian Express |date=17 January 2021 |language=en}}</ref> * Lifetime Achievement award at 5th Dehradun International Film Festival (DIFF) in 2019<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sen |first1=Debolina |title=Another Lifetime Achievement award for Biswajit Chatterjee |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bengali/movies/news/another-lifetime-achievement-award-for-biswajit-chatterjee/articleshow/71077270.cms |access-date=18 February 2021 |work=The Times of India |date=11 September 2019 |language=en}}</ref> * Guest of Honour 24th Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF)<ref>{{cite news |title=24th Kolkata International Film Festival celebrates 100 years of Bengali cinema |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/hindi/2018/nov/10/24th-kolkata-international-film-festival-celebrates-100-years-of-bengali-cinema-1896512.html |access-date=18 February 2021 |work=The New Indian Express |date=10 November 2018}}</ref> * On 88th birthday of Mohammed Rafi, Chatterjee received Mohammed Rafi Award in Mumbai. * In 1963, Biswajit received President Gold Medal for film ''Dada Thakur'' from President Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bhattacharya |first1=Roshmila |title=This Week That Year: Biswajeet Chatterjee and a dream that died with Guru Dutt |url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/this-week-that-year-biswajeet-and-a-dream-that-died-with-guru-dutt/articleshow/76899685.cms |access-date=18 February 2021 |work=Mumbai Mirror |date=11 July 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}} *[http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20061223/cth2.htm#10 Biswajit:44 Saal Baad - Devinder Bir Kaur's interview for The Tribune, Chandigarh]

==External links== {{Commons}} *{{IMDb name|0084428}}

{{IFFI - Indian Film Personality of the year Award}} {{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chatterjee, Biswajit}} Category:Male actors from Kolkata Category:Bengali male actors Category:Indian male film actors Category:Male actors in Hindi cinema Category:Living people Category:Male actors from Mumbai Category:Candidates in the 2014 Indian general election Category:1936 births Category:Trinamool Congress politicians from West Bengal Category:20th-century Indian male actors