Veteran Actor Mithun Chakraborty Receives Dadasaheb Phalke Award

Veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty has been named the recipient of the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s highest honor in cinema. The announcement was made by Ashwini Vaishnaw, India’s Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Railways and Electronics, and Information Technology.

The award is presented for a lifetime contribution to Indian cinema and is named after Dadasaheb Phalke, who directed “Raja Harischandra” (1913), India’s first full-length feature film. Phalke is regarded as the father of Indian cinema.

Chakraborty, 74, has appeared in over 350 films across multiple Indian languages during his nearly five-decade career. He achieved early acclaim with his debut film “Mrigayaa” (1976), which earned him his first Indian National Film Award for Best Actor. His role in “Disco Dancer” (1982) brought him widespread fame, with the film enjoying success across Asia, the erstwhile Soviet Union, eastern Europe, the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa.

Throughout his career, Chakraborty has received three acting awards at the Indian National Film Awards, winning for “Mrigayaa,” “Tahader Katha” (1992), and “Swami Vivekananda” (1998). Additionally, he garnered a Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in “Agneepath” (1990).

His diverse filmography includes roles in action, drama, and comedy across the Hindi, Bengali, Odia, Bhojpuri, and Telugu-language film industries. Beyond his cinematic work, Chakraborty has supported charitable initiatives focused on education, healthcare, and aiding underprivileged communities. He has also served as a member of parliament.

This recognition follows Chakraborty’s receipt of the Padma Bhushan award for his contributions to Indian cinema. The Dadasaheb Phalke Award selection committee, comprising industry figures Asha Parekh, Khushbu Sundar, and Vipul Amrutlal Shah, selected Chakraborty for this honor. The award will be presented at the 70th National Film Awards ceremony, scheduled for October 8.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his congratulations, saying, “Delighted that Shri Mithun Chakraborty Ji has been conferred the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award, recognizing his unparalleled contributions to Indian cinema. He is a cultural icon, admired across generations for his versatile performances. Congratulations and best wishes to him.”

Previous recipients of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award include notable figures such as filmmakers Satyajit Ray, Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Mrinal Sen, Shyam Benegal, and Tapan Sinha, actors Soumitra Chatterjee, Waheeda Rehman, Amitabh Bachchan, Dilip Kumar, and musicians Manna Dey, Bhupen Hazarika, Lata Mangeshkar, and Asha Bhonsle.