Mahaakshay Chakraborty, also known as Mimoh, recently spoke about the hardships his father, veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty, endured before becoming one of Hindi cinema’s biggest stars. During an interaction, Mahaakshay revealed that the stories of his father’s difficult early years still inspire him whenever he faces challenges in life.Recalling the hardships Mithun faced before stardom, Mahaakshay told Siddharth Kannan: “Stories of my father’s struggle used to bother me. He used to tell me: ‘Mimoh, there was a time when I used to sleep in parks and at night the police would come, beat me and kick me out, saying I am not allowed to sleep there and should go somewhere else.’
“After winning the National Award, he did not eat.”
Mahaakshay also shared a lesser-known anecdote from the period after Mithun won the National Award for his debut film.“There was a reporter who wanted to interview him after he won the National Award. Somehow, he tracked him down and asked for an interview. My father said to him: ‘I will give you the interview, but first please buy me food because I haven’t eaten,'” he recalls.The actor said that these stories stayed with him throughout his life and helped him deal with criticism and setbacks.“Whenever challenges come my way, whether it’s trolling or people saying something negative about me, I remember all his stories.
If a man made of steel and fire won’t give up, who are we to give up? You have to keep going. “You have to stare into the fire,” he said.
Mithun could not afford a gym membership
Mahaakshay also revealed another story that left a lasting impact on him. According to him, there was a point when Mithun wanted to work out but did not have the money to afford a gym membership.“The man saw the worst of everything. He would go to the gym at 6:30 a.m. to work out, but he didn’t have the money for a membership.
He made a deal with the guard. He told him: I will use the bathroom to get ready and I will sweep and clean the place, but let me use the facilities. This is Mithun Chakraborty. The man who has become a legend today.”
“I want to witness that journey.”
Reflecting on his father’s rise from adversity to stardom, Mahaakshay admitted that he sometimes finds it difficult to believe the stories himself.“When he would tell me these stories, I would melt,” he said. “I would think, ‘How could the man I had adored my whole life come from such rough beginnings? Sometimes I couldn’t even believe it all happened.'”The actor added that if he had the opportunity to travel through time, he would not change anything, but would simply want to witness his father’s journey. He concluded by saying, “If I could go back in time and not change reality, I would just like to see that. How did this man not give up, against all odds? I would like to feel that pain and understand what he went through. I think that would be a gift. If you don’t feel pain, you’ll never feel happy or experience the highest levels of life. That’s very important.”
