Mithun Chakraborty reveals success went to his head and he started 'acting like Al Pacino' after first National Award win for Mrigayaa

Mithun Chakraborty reveals success went to his head

Actor-politician Mithun Chakraborty is set to receive the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s highest honour in cinema. As he looks back on his illustrious career, the veteran actor opened up about his journey in a recent interview with India Today, recalling how winning the National Award for his debut film, Mrigayaa, dramatically changed his attitude—and not for the better.

Mithun Chakraborty, renowned for his unique dancing style and legendary performances, solidified his status as an icon with the 1982 film Disco Dancer.

However, few people know that his journey to stardom began with Mrinal Sen’s art-house film Mrigayaa, which earned him the National Award for Best Actor. His intense portrayal in the film made him an overnight sensation.

Reflecting on that time, Mithun admitted that the success went to his head. In the interview, he shared how his attitude shifted after winning the National Award, leading him to act like legendary Hollywood actor Al Pacino. "After Mrigayaa, I got my first National Award. Jo hota hai, I started acting like Al Pacino. Aisa lag raha tha that I am the greatest actor. Mera attitude change ho gaya toh producer ne dekh ke bola ‘get out,’" he revealed, recalling how a producer noticed his arrogance and promptly asked him to leave.

This incident was a wake-up call for the young actor, who realized he had let the success get to him. Mithun also spoke about why he has not written a biography, despite many urging him to do so. He explained that his life’s struggles were too painful to be inspiring. “Yeh safar bahut kathin tha. Many tell me why I don’t make a biography. Main kehta hoon nahi kyunki meri story logo ko inspire nahi karega, unko morally down kar dega. Jo young ladke struggle karte hai unka himmat tod dega,” he said.

Mithun revealed the extent of his hardships, from sleeping on footpaths to days without food, describing his journey as "so hard, so traumatic, so painful."

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Mithun's rise from struggling actor to cinema icon is well-documented. Apart from his unforgettable performance in Disco Dancer, he delivered critically acclaimed roles in films like Agneepath, Jallad, and Dalaal. He also won National Awards for his performances in Tahader Kotha and Swami Vivekananda, cementing his status as one of the most respected actors in Indian cinema.

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In addition to his acting career, Mithun has also dabbled in politics, serving as a Rajya Sabha MP in 2014. His popularity extended beyond Indian borders, especially in Russia, where he became one of the few Indian actors, alongside Raj Kapoor, to garner a massive fan base.