{{short description|Indian actress and politician (born 1948)}} {{BLP sources|date=May 2019}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Use Indian English|date=November 2019}} {{Infobox person | image = Moushumi Chatterjee in 2017.jpg | imagesize = | caption = Moushumi Chatterjee in 2017 | name = Moushumi Chatterjee | birth_place = Calcutta, West Bengal, India | birth_name = Indira Chattopadhyay | birth_date = {{birth date|1954|4|26}}<ref name="JeenaIsi">{{cite web|title=EP-Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai - Indian Hindi TV Show - Zee Tv|via=YouTube|date=11 December 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQTXCZjM8ro&si=l5Hg0ygKQk-DZ3bb|time=05:40|accessdate=28 August 2025}}</ref> | occupation = {{hlist|Actress|politician}} | years_active = 1967–present | political_party = Bharatiya Janata Party (2019–present) | other_party = Indian National Congress (before 2019) | parents = | spouse = Jayant Mukherjee | children = 2 | relatives = Hemant Kumar (father-in-law) }} '''Moushumi Chatterjee''' (born '''Indira Chattopadhyay'''; 26 April 1954) is an Indian actress and politician known for her work in Hindi and Bengali cinema. She was one of the highest-paid actresses in Hindi films during the 1970s. She joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2019; she was previously a member of the Indian National Congress.
==Early and personal life== Chatterjee was born in Calcutta to a Bengali Brahmin family that hailed from Bikrampur in Bangladesh. Her father, Prantosh Chattopadhyaya, was in the Indian Army, and her grandfather was a judge. Her real name is Indira, and Moushumi is her screen name.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gupta |first1=Priya |title=Moushumi Chatterjee: God is not kind to me, he is partial to me - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Moushumi-Chatterjee-God-is-not-kind-to-me-he-is-partial-to-me/articleshow/47249555.cms |access-date=2 September 2020 |work=The Times of India |date=13 May 2015 |language=en}}</ref>
Indira Chattopadhyaya was married to Jayanta Mukherjee at a young age.{{Citation needed|date=November 2022}} The couple has two daughters. Jayanta Mukherjee is the son of film producer, music composer, and singer Hemanta Mukhopadhyay, popularly known as Hemant Kumar in Hindi film industry. Jayanta is also an exponent of Rabindra Sangeet. She always prioritised her family above her film roles.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/veteran-actress-moushumi-chatterjee-moves-bombay-hc-wants-to-meet-comatose-daughter/articleshow/66761345.cms |title=Veteran actress Moushumi Chatterjee moves Bombay HC, wants to meet comatose daughter |newspaper=The Economic Times |date=23 November 2018}}</ref> Her daughter Payal, who had type 1 diabetes, had been in a coma since 2018 and died on 13 December 2019.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/celebrities/story/moushumi-chatterjee-s-daughter-payal-dies-at-45-1628048-2019-12-13 |title=Moushumi Chatterjee's daughter Payal dies at 45 |date=13 December 2019 |newspaper=India Today |access-date=5 March 2019}}</ref>
==Career== ===1967–1984: Debut and breakthrough=== Chatterjee made her film debut as a child heroine in the Bengali hit ''Balika Badhu'' (1967), directed by Tarun Majumdar<ref name="infoonmaoushmi">{{Cite web |url=http://www.glamsham.com/movies/scoops/14/apr/26-news-how-moushumi-chatterjee-stunned-shakti-samanta-in-anuraag-041410.asp |title=How Moushumi Chatterjee stunned Shakti Samanta in ANURAAG |website=glamsham.com |access-date=27 April 2014}}</ref> when she was a preteen. In an interview, Moushumi Chatterjee quoted: "After Balika Badhu, I was flooded with Bengali movies but I wished to complete my studies. However, movies were in my fate hence when I was studying in class X, a close aunt of mine was on her death-bed and her last wish was to see me married. Hence, to satisfy her wish I got married."<ref name="infoonmaoushmi"/> She was called as Indira at home. She got engaged to guardian and neighbour Hemant Kumar's son, Jayant Mukherjee (Babu). "I fell in love with Babu. He was the first man I came in touch with outside my family."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://m.filmfare.com/features/candid-chat-with-moushumi-chatterjee-27878-2.html |title=Bollywood News, Filmfare Awards, Movie Reviews, Celebrity Photos & Updates|work=filmfare.com }}</ref> She was then seen in Bengali films like Parineeta, Anindita.
She made her debut as the leading lady in the Hindi film ''Anuraag'' (1972) directed by Shakti Samanta. Moushumi played the role of a blind girl and earned her first and only nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress; ''Anuraag'' won the Filmfare Award for Best Film. The film proved to be a major success. About her Hindi film debut, she said in an interview: "As my father-in-law was a renowned film celebrity, many film personalities used to throng our house. One among them was filmmaker Shakti Samanta, who insisted upon me to act in movies. I declined, but both my father-in-law and my husband encouraged me, thus I got ''Anuraag''."<ref name="infoonmaoushmi"/> When asked about her first role in Hindi films she said that "[w]hen Shaktida told me that I have to play a blind lady I was taken aback. I honestly told Shaktida that I may not do justice to the role as I have never studied a blind person, but Shaktida assured me that he will take me to a blind school and train me ... he insisted to do a small Mahurat shot before. [...] When I reached the studio I was excited to see Bollywood luminaries like Nutanji, Dadamoni (Ashok Kumar fondly called), Rajesh Khanna, S. D. Burman and others. The moment Shaktida called action I did my Mahurat shot confidently and was applauded. After the shot, Shaktida told me that I had given the shot so skillfully that there was no need to visit a blind school!"<ref name="infoonmaoushmi"/>
In 1973, she acted in ''Naina'' opposite Shashi Kapoor, ''Kachhe Dhaage'' with Vinod Khanna and ''Us Paar'' with Vinod Mehra. In 1974, she acted with the then-struggling Amitabh Bachchan in the thriller ''Benaam'' and opposite Rajesh Khanna in the drama ''Humshakal''. Her most successful film came at the end of 1974, where she played a rape survivor, in Manoj Kumar's ''Roti Kapada Aur Makaan''.<ref>http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=180 {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref> She received her first and only nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress. She went on to become a part of several successful films like ''Swarag Narak, Maang Bharo Sajna, Pyaasa Sawan, Jyoti Bane Jwala'' with Jeetendra, Swayamvar with Shashi Kapoor and ''Anand Ashram'' with Rakesh Roshan. She acted with Rishi Kapoor in four films none of which were successful.
She was paired with Vinod Mehra in 10 films,<ref name="businessofcinema.com article on moushumi">{{Cite web |url=http://businessofcinema.com/news/bengali-beauty-moushumi-chatterjee-ruling-bollywood-lady/143018 |title=Bengali Beauty Moushumi Chatterjee - Ruling Bollywood Lady |website=businessofcinema.com |date=26 April 2014 |access-date=27 April 2014}}</ref> including ''Anuraag'', ''Us-Paar'', ''Raftaar'', ''Umar Qaid'', ''Mazaaq'', ''Zindagi'' and ''Do Jhoot''. She only acted in 2 films with Amitabh Bachchan, ''Benaam'' and Basu Chatterjee's ''Manzil'' (1979). Her Bengali film with Uttam Kumar, ''Ogu Bodhu Sundari'', released in 1981 and became successful. In 1982, she did the Marathi film (cameo in song Tumhi Adkitta Mi Ho Supari) ''Bhannat Bhanu''. Her films with Rajesh Khanna include ''Bhola Bhala'', ''Prem Bandhan'' and ''Ghar Parivar''. She worked with Sanjeev Kumar in many movies including Angoor, Daasi and Itni Si Baat. In 1985, she acted in the Bengali film ''Pratigna''.
After 1985, she graduated to supporting roles and acted in movies like ''Watan Ke Rakhwale'', ''Aag Hi Aag,'' ''Ghayal'' and many more.
===1985–present: Transition period=== From 1985 to 1991, Chatterjee got more offers as a character actress and she made the transition to roles of mother and bhabhi (sister-in-law), often pairing with Dharmendra or Sunil Dutt. She played Sunny Deol's sister-in-law in ''Ghayal''. Occasionally, she got lead roles in films in the 1990s such as ''Ghar Parivaar'' and ''Aa Ab Laut Chalen'', both opposite Rajesh Khanna, then ''Santaan, Prateeksha'' (1993) and ''Udhaar Ki Zindagi'' with Jeetendra and ''Keemat: They Are Back'' (1998). She acted in the Indo-Canadian production ''Bollywood/Hollywood'' in 2003<ref name="businessofcinema.com article on moushumi" /> and ''Na Tum Jaano Na Hum, Hum Kaun Hai?'' in 2004. Moushumi Chatterjee made a comeback to cinema, with Tanuja Chandra's ''Zindaggi Rocks'' in 2006.
Apart from ''Balika Badhu'' (1967) her Bengali films as lead heroine include ''Parineeta'' (1969), ''Anindita'' (1972), ''Anand Ashram'' (1977), ''Ogu Bodhu Sundari'' (1981), ''Prarthana'' (1984), ''Shatarupa'' (1989), ''Kari Diye Kinlam'' (1989), ''Bidhilipi'' (1991) and later as supporting actress; ''Nater Guru'' (2003), ''Bhalobasar Anek Naam'' (2005), ''The Japanese Wife'' (2010) and ''Goynar Baksho'' (2013). She sang a song Tomar Duare in ''Mallick Bari'' (2009). In 2014, she won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for the Bengali film ''Goynar Baksho'' and received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015.
==Political career== Chatterjee contested in 2004 Lok Sabha election as a candidate for Indian National Congress for the Calcutta North East constituency, but lost to CPM's Mohammed Salim.<ref>{{cite web |title=Indira Mukherjee (Moushumi Chatterjee) |url=https://myneta.info/loksabha2004/candidate.php?candidate_id=5171 |work=myneta.info |access-date=30 October 2025 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Actress Moushumi Chatterjee Joins BJP Just Months Ahead of Lok Sabha Polls |url=https://www.news18.com/news/politics/actress-moushumi-chatterjee-joins-bjp-just-months-ahead-of-ls-polls-1989693.html |access-date=2 November 2020 |work=News18 |date=2 January 2019 |language=en}}</ref> In 2019, she joined Bharatiya Janata Party.<ref name="KT">{{cite news |agency=Indo-Asian News Service |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}}</ref>
==Filmography== ===Films=== thumb|Chatterjee in 2025 {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ !Year !Title !Role !Language !class="unsortable" | Notes and {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |- |1967 |''Balika Badhu'' |Rajani |Bengali | |- |1969 |''Parineeta'' |Lolita |Bengali | |- |1972 |''Anuraag'' |Shivani |Hindi |Debut as heroine. Nominated: Filmfare Award for Best Actress |- | rowspan="3" |1973 |''Naina'' |Naina |Hindi | |- |''Kuchhe Dhaage'' |Sona |Hindi | |- |''Ghulam Begam Badshah'' |Laxmi |Hindi | |- | rowspan="6" |1974 |''Zehreela Insaan'' |Arati |Hindi | |- |''Us Paar'' |Kamla |Hindi | |- |''Roti Kapada Aur Makaan'' |Tulsi |Hindi |Nominated: Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress |- |''Humshakal'' |Sita |Hindi | |- |''Benaam'' |Sheela |Hindi | |- |''Badla'' |Kalpana |Hindi | |- | rowspan="6" |1975 |''Umar Qaid'' |Dr. Bharti |Hindi | |- |''Raftaar'' |Rani/Rita |Hindi | |- |''Natak'' |Sunita |Hindi | |- |''Mazaaq'' |Moushumi |Hindi | |- |''Do Jhoot'' |Lajwanti |Hindi | |- |''Anari'' |Rashmi |Hindi | |- | rowspan="3" |1976 |''Sabse Bada Rupaiya'' |Sunita |Hindi | |- |''Jai Bajrang Bali'' |Devi |Hindi | |- |''Zindagi'' |Seema |Hindi | |- | rowspan="3" |1977 |''Anand Ashram'' |Kiran |Hindi | |- |''Hatyara'' |Gauri |Hindi | |- |''Ab Kya Hoga'' | |Hindi |Cameo |- | rowspan="7" |1978 |''Tumhari Kasam'' |Vidya |Hindi | |- |''Swarg Narak'' |Shobha |Hindi | |- |''Phool Khile Hain Gulshan Gulshan'' |Shanti |Hindi | |- |''Phandebaaz'' |Shanti |Hindi | |- |''Dil Aur Deewar'' |Saroja |Hindi | |- |''Bhola Bhala'' |Renu |Hindi | |- |''Ek Baap Chhe Bete'' |Reena |Hindi |Cameo |- | rowspan="6" |1979 |''Do Ladke Dono Kadke'' |Rani |Hindi | |- |''Prem Bandhan'' |Meena |Hindi | |- |''Gautam Govinda'' |Sandhya |Hindi | |- |''Manzil'' |Aruna |Hindi | |- |''Love in Canada'' |Seema |Hindi | |- |''Ghar Ki Laaj'' |Janki |Hindi | |- | rowspan="7" |1980 |''Swayamvar'' |Roopa |Hindi | |- Saiyaara |''Maang Bharo Sajana'' |Sita |Hindi | |- |''Jyoti Bane Jwala'' |Anu |Hindi | |- |''Chambal Ki Kasam'' |Tannibai |Hindi | |- |''Badla aur Balidaan'' |Jyoti |Hindi | |- |''Do Premee'' |Payal/Parvati |Hindi | |- |''Be-Reham'' |Hameeda Banu |Hindi |Special appearance |- | rowspan="6" |1981 |''Pyaasa Sawan'' |Shanti |Hindi | |- |''Krodhi'' |Aarti |Hindi |Cameo |- |''Itni Si Baat'' |Asha |Hindi | |- |''Daasi'' |Mangala |Hindi | |- |''Kahani Ek Chor Ki'' |Seeta |Hindi | |- |''Ogo Bodhu Shundari'' |Sabitri |Bengali | |- | rowspan="2" |1982 |''Raksha'' |Asha |Hindi |Special appearance |- |''Angoor'' |Sudha |Hindi | |- |1983 |''Justice Chaudhury'' |Janaki |Hindi | |- | rowspan="4" |1984 |''Pet Pyaar aur Paap'' | |Hindi | |- |''Jawaani'' |Prema Mohan |Hindi | |- |''Ghar Ek Mandir'' |Laxmi bhabhi |Hindi | |- |Aan aur Shaan |Radha |Hindi |Delayed release |- | rowspan="2" |1985 |Rusvaai | |Hindi |Last film with late Sanjeev Kumar |- |Dekha Pyar Tumhara |Mrs. Mullick |Hindi | |- |1986 |Urbashi |Urbashi |Bengali | |- | rowspan="6" |1987 |''Sindoor'' |Cameo |Hindi | |- |''Aag Hi Aag'' |Ganga Singh |Hindi | |- |Mahananda |Mahananda |Hindi |With Farooq Sheikh |- |''Mera Karam Mera Dharam'' |Mala |Hindi | |- |''Watan Ke Rakhwale'' |Laxmi Prakash |Hindi | |- |''Param Dharam'' |Savitri Singh |Hindi | |- | rowspan="4" |1988 |''Taqdeer Ka Tamasha'' |Greta |Hindi | |- |''Waqt Ki Awaz'' |Justice Sharda |Hindi | |- |''Vijay'' |Rita |Hindi | |- |''Agnee'' |Shobha |Hindi | |- | rowspan="5" |1989 |Aakhri Ghulam | |Hindi | |- |''Aakhri Baazi'' |Parvati Kumar |Hindi | |- |''Jung Baaz'' |Mrs. Saxena |Hindi | |- |Sikka |Laxmi |Hindi | |- |''Shehzaade'' |Padmini Singh |Hindi | |- |1990 |''Ghayal'' |Indu Mehra |Hindi | |- | rowspan="2" |1991 |''Ghar Parivaar'' |Parvati Devi |Hindi | |- |''Pyar Ka Devta'' |Chief Justice Saraswati |Hindi | |- | rowspan="3" |1992 |''Zulm Ki Hukumat'' |Mrs. Pitambar |Hindi | |- |''Khule-Aam'' |Roopadevi |Hindi | |- |''Nishchaiy'' |Renuka Singh |Hindi | |- | rowspan="2" |1993 |''Prateeksha'' |Laxmi |Hindi | |- |''Santaan'' |Laxmi |Hindi | |- | rowspan="2" |1994 |''Udhaar Ki Zindagi'' |Janki |Hindi | |- |''Ikke Pe Ikka'' |Kaushalya Devi |Hindi | |- | rowspan="2" |1995 |''Kartavya'' |Sharda Varma |Hindi | |- |''Jallaad'' |Tara Devi |Hindi | |- |1996 |''Muqaddar'' |Bharati Devi |Hindi | |- | rowspan="3" |1998 |''Kareeb'' | |Hindi | |- |''Doli Saja Ke Rakhna'' |Chandrika |Hindi | |- |''Keemat – They Are Back'' |Sulakshana |Hindi | |- |1999 |''Aa Ab Laut Chalen'' |Rama Khanna |Hindi | |- | rowspan="2" |2002 |''Na Tum Jaano Na Hum'' |Mrs. Malhotra |Hindi | |- |''Bollywood/Hollywood'' |Mummyji |Hindi |Canadian comedy |- |2003 |Nater Guru |Manisha's mother |Bengali | |- |2004 |''Hum Kaun Hai?'' |Martha Pinto |Hindi | |- | rowspan="2" |2006 |''Zindaggi Rocks'' |Indrani |Hindi | |- |''Bhalobasar Onek Naam'' |Bini |Bengali | |- |2010 |''The Japanese Wife'' |Maashi |Bengali | |- |2013 |''Goynar Baksho'' |Pishi |Bengali | |- |2015 |''Piku'' |Chhobi Maashi |Hindi | |- |2016 |''Sesh Sangbad'' |Elina |Bengali | |- |2025 |''Aarii'' |Joya Sen |Bengali |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Latest in entertainment, lifestyle, fashion {{!}} t2ONLINE - Vibe With The tRIBE |url=https://t2online.in/goodlife/wheels-1/the-trailer-of-aarii-points-to-a-sweet-mother-son-relationship%25C2%25A0/1398930 |access-date=2025-04-11 |website=www.t2online.in |language=en}}</ref> |- |}
===Television=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year !! Serial !! Role !! Notes |- | 1992 || ''Talaash'' || Urmila / Sadhika || Season 1, 26 Episodes |- | 1993 || ''Albeli'' || Albeli || Season 1 |- | 2004 || ''Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai'' || Guest || Season 1 |- | 2021 || ''Super Dancer'' || Guest || Season 4 |- | 2023 || ''India's Best Dancer'' || Guest || Season 3 |- | 2023 || ''The Kapil Sharma Show'' || Guest || Season 5 |}
==Awards== {| class="wikitable" ! Year !! Award !! Category !!Work !! Result |- | 1968 | Bengal Film Journalists' Association | Best Actress |''Balika Badhu'' | {{won}} |- | 1972 | Filmfare Awards | Best Actress |''Anuraag'' | {{nom}} |- | rowspan="2" | 1974 |Filmfare Awards | Best Supporting Actress | rowspan="2" |''Roti Kapda Aur Makaan'' | {{nom}} |- | Bengal Film Journalists' Association | Best Supporting Actress | {{won}} |- | 2002 | Genie Awards | Best Supporting Actress |''Bollywood/Hollywood'' | {{nom}} |- | 2014 | Filmfare Awards | Best Supporting Actress – Bengali |''Goynar Baksho'' | {{won}} |- | 2015 | Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award | Lifetime Achievement Award | | {{won}} |- | 2016 | Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards | Lifetime Achievement Award | | {{won}} |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Subject bar |commons = yes |d = yes |q = yes |portal1 = Biography |portal2 = Bollywood |portal3 = India }} *{{IMDb name|0154139}}
{{FilmfareLifetimeAchievementAward}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chatterjee, Moushumi}} Category:Living people Category:1954 births Category:Indian film actresses Category:Indian television actresses Category:Actresses in Bengali cinema Category:Actresses in Bengali television Category:Actresses from Kolkata Category:Bengali actresses Category:Bengali television actresses Category:Actresses in Hindi cinema Category:Actresses in Hindi television Category:Indian National Congress politicians from West Bengal Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from West Bengal Category:Women in West Bengal politics Category:Politicians from Kolkata Category:Indian actor-politicians Category:Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award winners Category:Filmfare Awards East winners Category:Filmfare Awards Bangla winners Category:Bengal Film Journalists' Association Award winners Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:20th-century Indian actresses Category:21st-century Indian actresses Category:21st-century Indian women politicians