His debut film Jimmy hits the screen this month. Named, as Mimoh Chakraborty candidly admits, after the hit song his father Mithun Chakraborty enacted in the 1982 Disco Dancer, it stars the young actor as an automobile engineer who doubles up as a DJ at night.
He remarks, ''Sohail Khan suggested the title because it was associated with Dad and one of his most popular songs, but it worked even better for me as I developed an emotional bond with my film and wanted it to be the best!''
Mimoh comes across as a grounded, well-bred star-son, reflecting upon his immaculate upbringing by both dad and his mom, one-time actor Yogeeta Bali. Not for him the airs and arrogance of wannabe star-kids, their guarded replies or that unmistakable aura of condescension so common even to the breed. His dad's humility, humanity and professionalism are bywords in the industry, and his son reflects the same qualities of openness that are bound to make him endure too.
But what made him turn actor? Was it genetic or a childhood passion?
"It's a long story," says Mimoh cheerfully. "I am immensely interested in Space Science. I wanted to join NASA. What's more, I was fat - and that word for me was an understatement! I would be actually happy about the fact every girl in my class would tie a rakhi on my fat arm, and so it was packed almost to the shoulder with them! No girl ever looked on me as a potential boyfriend!"
 After a guffaw, Mimoh goes on, "But in school, both the students and my teachers would talk about my dad, and that was the first time I realized how popular dad was. Well, one fine day, B.Subhash-ji, who is very close to my father and has directed him in almost ten films, told him that he would like to make a film with me. Even when his call came, I distinctly remember eating a McDonald burger!"
Typically, says Mimoh, his father left the choice to him and Mimoh decided to go on a slimming and fitness regime. When turning hero seemed feasible at last, he enrolled for a short course at the New York Film Academy. NASA could wait.
But Mimoh did not have long to wait. Though the B.Subhash film has not happened as yet, he was offered a Vikram Bhatt-Venus film that was dropped and signed a Padmalaya project He-The Only One that got shelved. And then veteran director Raj N.C.Sippy, who had also worked with his father, signed him for Jimmy.
Before that, recalls Mimoh, his father also put him on a rigorous dance training. "He wanted me to on par with him, so after being very critical about a video recording of my dance, he made me learn under his supervision - he would tell me to dance after in turn, tying my legs, then my arms, and even all my limbs so I could concentrate on only the mobility of the face," smiles Mimoh.
|
