Here's everything you need to know about Moushumi Chatterjee, one of the most prolific actresses in the history of Indian cinema.
Even after getting married at 15 and becoming a mother at 17, Moushumi Chatterjee was one of the highest-paid actresses in Bollywood in 1970s. She was replaced in many films, including two Amitabh Bachchan movies, due to her outspoken attitude, and even once scolded Sunny Deol on the sets of Ghayal.
1. Moushumi Chatterjee in Balika Badhu
)
Moushumi Chatterjee made her debut as a child actress in the 1967 Bengali film Balika Badhu and became a star overnight after the film's success. She was flooded with the offers from Bengali film industry after the movie released.
2. Moushumi Chatterjee's marriage and motherhood
)
After the success of her first film, she wanted to continue her studies but she married Jayanta Mukherjee, the son of the legendary Indian music director and singer Hemant Kumar, at her family's request. Talking about the same, the actress told Lehren Retro in an interview in 2023, "My father was very close to his elder sister and she was in the last stage of cancer. Her last wish was to see me getting married. So, my father-in-law suggested that the wedding should happen soon."
3. Moushumi Chatterjee became one of the highest-paid stars
)
Moushumi's second Bengali film Parineeta released in 1969 and became even bigger hit, which led to her making her Bollywood debut with the 1972 film Anuraag. She then delivered multiple hits in the decade and became one of the highest-paid actresses in the 1970s.
4. Moushumi Chatterjee was replaced in films opposite Amitabh Bachchan
)
Moushumi Chatterjee's outspoken attitude was the reason she was replaced in many films. The actress recalled that she was replaced in Desh Premee and Barsaat Ki Ek Raat, both starring Amitabh Bachchan, as she told Lehren Retro, "I signed them but then I was out of the picture. Because I never compromise. I had to be ‘yes woman’ on everything. And I can’t do it."
5. Moushumi Chatterjee scolded Sunny Deol on the sets of Ghayal
)
In the 1990 film Ghayal, Moushumi played Sunny Deol's sister-in-law. Once during the film's shoot, Sunny arrived late on the sets and was busy talking on phone. As the entire unit kept waiting for him, Moushumi got so much frustrated that she scolded Deol and even told him to not ruin his father Dharmendra's reputation. It is said that Sunny apologised to the actress and became discplined on the sets after that incident.
6. Moushumi Chatterjee's last Bollywood film
)
Moushumi Chatterjee's last Bollywood film was Shoojit Sircar's 2015 emotional drama Piku, in which she shared the screen with Amitabh Bachchan after 36 years. The film also starred Deepika Padukone and late Irrfan Khan. Moushumi continues to act in Bengali movies.
