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Namashi Chakraborty, son of Mithun Chakraborty and Yogeeta Bali, shares his independent journey in films and stars with Mithun in Vivek Agnihotri’s The Bengal Files.
Mithun Chakraborty with his son Namashi.
Mithun Chakraborty’s youngest son, Namashi Chakraborty, has spoken out about his journey in the film industry, making it clear that he does not see himself as a “typical star kid.” The actor, who grew up away from Mumbai after moving out of the city at the age of two, said his career has been shaped by multiple auditions and struggles rather than family privilege.
For the very first time, Mithun Chakraborty and his son Namashi will feature in the same project, Vivek Agnihotri’s political drama The Bengal Files. However, the father-son duo will not appear together in any scenes.
“I must say, I’m not only Mithun Chakraborty’s son, but also Yogeeta Bali’s son. People usually talk about daddy, but my mom was also a very famous actor,” said Namashi to Indian Express.
Yogeeta Bali, who began her film career with Parwana in 1971, worked actively in cinema for nearly two decades before stepping away from the screen after Aakhri Badla in 1989. She tied the knot with Mithun Chakraborty in 1979, following the end of her two-year marriage to the late singer-actor Kishore Kumar.
“I don’t think us star kids take the pressure. But people have a certain perception because my dad has been a superstar in his era. Even today, he’s dominating the landscape. He’s a legend! In order to match that legacy, you don’t need just talent, but also extraordinary destiny. My father has been an actor for 48 years. You can’t compare a legend to a newcomer,” argued Namashi.
“I don’t think Akshaye Khanna takes the pressure either because he’s a fantastic actor. He’s not known as Vinod Khanna’s son. And there are many more — Ranbir Kapoor (son of late Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Kapoor), Alia Bhatt (daughter of filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt and actor Soni Razdan), Sunny Deol, and Bobby Deol (sons of Dharmendra). So, it all depends on how talented you are,” added Namashi.
“Whatever films I’ve gotten so far, it’s not because of someone else. But I don’t blame anyone or complain. I always wanted to get work on my own. I’m a very independent person,” claimed Namashi.
“I’ve done dozens of auditions in Aaram Nagar (area in Andheri West, Mumbai) where no one had the remotest idea who I am. I was rejected so many times. I never asked to stand ahead in the queue because I’m so and so’s son. I’m just another boy trying to get work in the city. So, I’ve stood in queues for hours. I had that madness within me,” said Namashi.
Namashi Chakraborty also shared that he spent much of his childhood “disconnected” from Mumbai. “We shifted to Ooty in 1994, when I was just two. I wasn’t even in Mumbai for 12 years of my formative life. So, I’m not actually a Bollywood child at all. I was raised in Tamil Nadu. I came back to Mumbai in 2015 when I was just 15. I didn’t have star kids as friends in Mumbai, nor was I familiar with Mumbai. Our upbringing was quite different,” said Namashi.
He emphasised that acting was his only ambition, with no alternative career in mind. “I didn’t want to be a part of this herd mentality of being a star. Which is why I also did theatre, stand-up comedy, and improv. So, I’ve never confined myself to one slot. But I was always into performing arts since school,” said Namashi.
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