‘Mithun Chakraborty was more succesful than Amitabh Bachchan': When Mithun's films opened houseful, he would charge Rs 1 lakh per day and shoot only in Ooty
While appearing on the Digital Commentary podcast, Vishek talked about how Mithun carried the single-screen industry in Bihar single-handedly. He said, 'Mithun is a legend no matter what anyone says about him or his work. There was a time when he was giving us two films every month. He did a lot of films during the days when he had the parallel industry in Ooty, and Raj Babbar was the prime producer. Every Mithun film used to open with 100% occupancy, and we knew that we were going to have a good week ahead.'
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He admitted that all the movies that came from Mithun's Ooty phase became iconic in their own right and how there were more Mithun movies than screens to play them on. 'The action sequences became iconic, and films like Cheetah, Ravan Raj, Sanyasi Mera Naam, Zahreela, Mard, and Hitler were all superhits. I remember that one day we were screening Mard, and the next film was a Mithun film, and the posters for the two upcoming films were also Mithun films. During those days, before the Bhojpuri industry boom, Mithun was the support system for all single-screen theatres in Bihar. He was single-handedly taking care of these theatres while Bollywood was now moving to a more elitist phase.'
Vishek also commented on the business model that Mithun and his producers had implemented and how quality assurance wasn't exactly on the top of their priority list. He said that everyone knew what the goal was, and they all did their part in the circus, while Mithun was the ringmaster. 'The films were made at a low cost and weren't very high quality. They were made for the single screen with a limited budget, and their business concept was very clear. He used to charge Rs 1 lakh a day, and the condition was that the film had to be shot in Ooty. The entire crew used to stay in the Monarch Hotel, which was owned by him, and as long as he was paid his fees, he was ready to shoot whatever the film required.'
He recalled how during a shoot, the choreographer was not okaying a shot as Mithun's hand was going in the wrong direction. After a few takes, an exasperated Mithun said, 'Agar haath udhar jayega to film hit ho jayegi kya (If my hand goes in the other direction, will my film become a hit)?' Vishek said that at that point of time, Mithun was more succesful than Amitabh Bachchan.
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Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Bollywood superstar, worth Rs 400 crore, once slept on footpaths, was disrespected for his skin colour. Today, he owns over 16 bungalows
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Wealth and Lifestyle in the Later Years As his career flourished, Mithun also built an enviable fortune. According to a report from , his net worth is estimated at around Rs 400 crore. Over the years, he has invested in numerous luxurious properties across India. These include lavish homes in Madh Island and Ooty, along with an expansive farmhouse near Mumbai. Additionally, he owns a large number of bungalows and cottages—sixteen in Masinagudi and eighteen in Mysore—reflecting the grandeur he achieved after years of hardship.
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Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Meet the actor who slept on the footpath, got thrown out of film even after National Award win, was helped by Zeenat Aman and went on to work in over 350 films
Mithun Chakraborty , the star who danced his way into history with iconic hits like 'Disco Dancer', 'Dance Dance', 'Pyar Jhukta Nahin', 'Kasam Paida Karne Wale Ki' and 'Commando', has lived one of the most dramatic journeys in Bollywood. From being shamed for his skin colour and thrown out of films even after winning a National Award , to sleeping on footpaths during his struggling days, his rise was anything but easy. Mithun's early days Mithun was born on 16 July 1950, as Gouranga Chakraborty. He studied at Kolkata's Scottish Church College. Coming from a lower middle-class family, he faced financial struggles right from the start. Later, he cracked admission into the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), one of the country's most prestigious film schools, where he trained to be a professional actor. Sleeping on footpaths to survive His road to films was far from easy. Before his debut, Mithun went through years of hardship in Mumbai. 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As reported by IMDb, he went on to star in over 350 films across multiple languages. He went on to win two more National Awards for 'Tahader Katha' in 1992 and 'Swami Vivekananda' in 1998. Decades later, his contribution to Indian cinema was celebrated once again when he was honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award at the 70th National Film Awards in 2024. "Get the latest updates on Times of India, including reviews of the movie Coolie and War 2 ."
