A well-known face in the Indian television industry, Mithu Chakrabarty has worked across mediums as an actor for over three decades now, starting with the family theatre group back in the late 1980s. Essaying different kinds of roles on the TV screen and on the big screen as well, over time she became a household name for her effortless portrayal of characters on screen. Besides being an actress, her other identity, which she proudly wears, is that she is mother to two versatile actors of the Bengali film industry — Gaurav Chakrabarty and Arjun Chakrabarty, who in their own ways have stolen the hearts of the audience and the industry both as actors and human beings. A t2 chat with the trio:
You have a large body of work across mediums. How many years has it been in this industry?
Mithu: It has been many years, I did not count. In 1988, I started doing theatre in the family group called Charbak. My entire family used to go to rehearsals. My unclein-law, Jochhon Dastidar, insisted that I attend the rehearsals. My uncle told me if I stay at home I would go mad. So, I joined. After Gaurav came along, I gave up everything. I was at home for quite some time till they grew up a little. Then I again joined television with mega serials when Arjun was in class eight or so, around 2002-2003.
With such long hours of commitment in the television industry, how did you attain work-life balance alongside motherhood?
Everything just fell into place. I had a wonderful mother-in-law who was a very big helping hand for me. I did not have to sacrifice anything. I did what I wanted to do when I wanted to do it. I have no regrets about it.
What is your perspective on motherhood?
It is a wonderful thing to happen to any woman.
What is that one thing that motherhood gave you?
Firstly, it gave me two wonderful children and secondly, it completed a wonderful family.
What stereotype about motherhood is not essentially true…
That right when the mother hears that the child is born, she is very happy… utter rubbish. A new mother cannot be a very happy mother. The mother is completely devastated. She doesn’t know what to do, she doesn’t know from right to left but as the child grows, the mother also grows and it is a wonderful feeling right after that. In the beginning, no!
Did you always want to act?
Never. It was never on my bucket list. I never thought of acting. It was a gift to me by my in-laws! (Laughs)
What does acting mean to you now?
I am active. It makes me happy. I am in the company of good people. I like my job. And I like the pay cheque. (Laughs)
Do you recall any challenging moments in being a mother and simultaneously pursuing your career?
Not really. There have been ups and downs. But nothing so challenging that I couldn’t resolve. I always had my mother-in-law and my husband (Sabyasachi Chakrabarty) next to me.
Was it decided in the family that both Gaurav and Arjun would take up acting and do you give them professional guidance?
No. It just happened. Now that it happened they seem to be happy about it. I never gave them any guidance regarding their profession. If they ask something, the father replies and he speaks well. But no professional guidance from me.
Can you recall one incident or a day from each of their lives that made you proud as their mother?
There are so many. Arjun got into Jadavpur University in one go but he did not take that up. Gaurav got into FTII in one go; generally, people don’t, it takes time. When they won their first award for acting. But the thing that makes me most proud is when people in the industry or my relatives or my friends tell me that they are wellbrought-up children… nothing makes a mother feel more satisfied than that.
One thing that you like about them as actors:
I think they are both pretty good actors. I think they do a commendable job. This is a mother speaking perhaps! (Laughs)
Gaurav and Mithu in Gaaner Oparey, which also featured Arjun in a lead role
What kind of a mother has she been to each of you?
Arjun: The best. Disciplinarian when necessary, spoiling when necessary
Gaurav: She has been a disciplinarian till a certain age in our lives. Post that she became a very good friend and a confidante. Mithu: Actually it happened more because of my own defence background. My father was a fighter pilot. Doing everything on time, it was always like that…
What was growing-up years like with a working mother at home?
Gaurav: By the time I could understand what was happening, I remember being very young and she was working in Jochhon dadu’s Sonex, where both my parents were working. After a point, she stopped working and took an active part in our studies. Till a certain age, she used to sit with us every day.
Mithu: I used to enjoy those evenings. Arjun used to get most of the scolding.
Arjun: I was stubborn.
Do you both have memories of accompanying her to the sets?
Arjun: Post 18 years of age, I went to drop her off because I wanted to borrow the car. Both of us have done that! (Laughs)
Gaurav: Most of the time we used to do that.
Did you ever get caught redhanded while doing something mischievous?
Arjun: I used to go to meet Sreeja (Arjun’s wife) and she took a guess. She asked if I did this and this, I told her yes. And then she told me she did not see anything, she just took a guess.
Gaurav: I got caught multiple times. We went to a movie with my then girlfriend. We were not supposed to go on a movie date and our math tutor was there coincidentally on the same day. It was Rituparno Ghosh’s Chokher Bali. She asked me and I lied to her. She did not scold me or anything but the guilt that I felt, that is what she was looking for. I am glad she did not scream at me but yeah, she taught me a lesson by not screaming at me.
What is that one advice she gave you both that stayed with you forever?
Gaurav: One thing I am grateful to her for is forcing me to leave the city. She was adamant. She said you must stay in a hostel, away from home and the safe cocoon you are in. Then you will see life. Initially, we used to have a lot of fights. But once I did that, I understood what she was saying. And, nice boys don’t come last.
Mithu: And one thing I used to do when they used to leave home for anything, I used to tell them to be good and I used to tell them, whatever you do, don’t do anything that we wouldn’t want you to do. So that always stayed with them. Arjun: I kept realising that when I was smoking with friends. Always tell the truth but not the whole truth! She taught us how to get out of trouble, too! And, to be good citizens and good humans no matter what we earn. It doesn’t matter
Mithu: Nowadays, with them grown up and me ageing, I go to them for a lot of advice. Especially since my technical sense is zero. Whatever I have to buy, they suggest.
Arjun: Gadgets and tech from Gaurav and exercise advice from me.
One thing you admire about her as an actor?
Arjun: Spontaneous.
Gaurav: In fact more than baba. I am glad to have her as my first co-actor. Also, her Bengali. She is a probashi Bengali and she never studied Bangla in school and she was introduced to the language at a later age and now she writes poems in Bangla!
How does she inspire you in life?
Arjun: Tenacity, resilience. These are the things we learnt from her.
Gaurav: Zest for life. She is always happy. Whenever I feel a little low, I always call her. She is that sort of a person
Your fondest memory of time spent with her till date?
Arjun: The road trips. My father was going to see an elephant but I got a nature’s call... then she took us and missed the elephant! (Laughs)
Gaurav: We were mischievous little sons.
Arjun: On road trips, everyone was dependent on her. Baba was also dependent on her.
Gaurav: Whenever we used to stop, she had a diary and she used to write down the km reading and how much we have spent. She had that book and I used to love watching her do that. Then when I started going on trips, I started doing that.
Mithu: I still maintain that diary. One habit you inculcated from her:
Gaurav: Hisheber khata (the accounts book). Arjun: Doing household work. Mithu: I feel very proud that both my sons help their wives with housework.
One thing you would like to do for her:
Gaurav: Take her on trips that baba wouldn’t be able to take her to, like the seaside that she enjoys very much. And be better human beings.
Arjun: What I would really like to do is plan a proper family trip with everyone… we haven’t managed to do one yet.