Mithun Chakraborty’s Birthday: The Moment a Coolie Recognized Him as Hero During His Struggling Days, and What Happened Next
Veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty, who made his debut in the 1976 film Mrigayaa directed by Mrinal Sen, has been a prominent figure in the Indian film industry for many years. Mithun is famously known for his performances in films like Disco Dancer, Pyar Jhukta Nahin, Prem Pratigyaa, and Kasam Paida Karne Wale Ki, among others.
As Mithun Da celebrates his birthday today (June 16), let’s reflect on the time when he was referred to as a ‘hero’ during his struggling days in Bombay.
Mithun Da’s Encounter with a Coolie and the Unexpected Title
On an episode of Doordarshan’s show Surbhi in 1993, Mithun Chakraborty shared a memorable incident from 1969 when a porter at Dadar railway station called him a ‘hero’ while assisting with his luggage.
Recalling the moment, Mithun Da shared his surprise at being labelled a ‘hero’ by the porter and questioned if he appeared like one. He never imagined being called a hero.
Mithun Da’s Realization about the Term ‘Hero’
Mithun Chakraborty later understood that porters commonly referred to passengers as ‘hero’ to offer luggage assistance. Although he initially mistook the term ‘hero’ for himself, it seemed to have worked as a positive omen since he eventually became a superstar.
“Perhaps that word from the porter’s mouth turned into a blessing that I became a hero,” he remarked.
Mithun Chakraborty’s Career Highlights
Mithun Chakraborty, widely known as the ‘dancing star’ of Bollywood, has delivered noteworthy performances in films like Agneepath, Oh My God!, Golmaal 3, Housefull 2, Khiladi 786, The Tashkent Files, and more.
His latest Bollywood appearance was in The Kashmir Files in 2022.
ALSO READ: 10 best Mithun Chakraborty dialogues that prove he’s a ‘Genius’