Mithun Chakraborty Reveals Dark Skin Struggle, Urges Youth to Dream

Renowned actor Mithun Chakraborty was honored with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award by President Droupadi Murmu on October 8. The 74-year-old actor became emotional as he accepted the award and reflected on his struggles as a dark-skinned actor in the film industry.

Mithun, lovingly called ‘Mithun Da’, spoke about how he faced discrimination due to his skin color. He said, “I was told ‘dark-skinned actors won’t succeed in the film industry’. I faced as much humiliation as one could.” Despite the challenges, Mithun chose to focus on his dancing skills, which ultimately helped him carve a niche in Bollywood. He remarked, “I danced with my feet so that people would forget my face and skin color.”

In his heartfelt speech, Mithun advised young actors never to stop dreaming. Drawing from his own experiences, he said, “If I can do it, anybody can.”

Mithun also reflected on his previous National Awards, admitting that they once made him arrogant. He humorously added that he began to behave like Hollywood legend Al Pacino but soon realized that such arrogance could cost him opportunities in the industry.

Concluding his speech, Mithun shared a piece of advice he often gives: “You can go to sleep, but never let your dreams sleep.” His powerful words earned him a standing ovation from the audience.

Aakhir Tak Editor-in-Chief

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