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He has the face of his mother, Yogita and the body of his father, Mithun. A name that's a combination of Michael Jackson and Mohammed Ali. And charm in plenty. No wonder Mahakshay Chakroborty aka Mimoh has been aiming for the star. First as an astronomer with NASA and now as a matinee idol. His golden hair lapping his broad shoulders, his jeans riding low on his waist, dark glasses shading his eyes, Mimoh happily poses for our lenser's camera by the hotel's swimming pool. Their leisurely photo-session in the last rays of the fading sun, is broken up only when Mithun strides up to remind his son that they'll have to hurry if they want to catch the evening flight back to Ooty. And taking one of the cane chairs Mimoh settles down besides his father to talk about the magic of movies that draws them to the City of Dreams from their tranquil Eden Mimoh, what promoted the choice of Mimoh over Mahakshay as your screen name?
Mithun (Answering for him): Mahakshay is hard to pronounce so we settled for Mimoh. It's short and sweet. It's also a combination of Michael Jackson and Mohammed Ali. Are you hoping your son will have inherited the magic of your idols?
Mimoh: I wouldn't dare think along those lines. If I did I'd get ulcers. They are as much my Gods as they are dad's. Mimoh, the muhurat of He—The Only One was a star-studded affair. What was it like facing the camera for the first time with the who's who of the film industry looking on?
Mimoh: I was excited...and speechless. Touched...and honoured. All those I'd grown up idolizing were there for me on my big day. Salman sir and Sanjay sir, I've seen all their films...Their posters line my walls...To be standing in the same line as them and dad made me feel humbled... and blessed. Of course, I was nervous and apprehensive too but the confidence was there as well. Yeah, your first shot was okayed in one take?
Mimoh: Lucky for me. But I had to do it right. This was what I'd been impatiently waiting for so long.
Mithun: I've always maintained that an actor is born but a good actor is trained. I myself trained at the FTII. Whether it's at the FTII or the NSD or just through films and experience, a good actor like good wine matures with time. We've heard that the first time your son auditioned for you, you gave him the thumbs down?
Mithun (Shuddering): It was horrible and I was horrified! Mimoh (Grinning): I danced to the tunes of 'Yaad aa raha hai...' from Disco Dancer. I'd deliberately chosen a song from one of dad's films thinking it would earn me some extra points. He sat through the performance without uttering a word and then delivered his judgement, "You're horrible!" Mithun: He was and I told him bluntly that after this he dare not cherish dreams of becoming a star. However, despite my criticism I could see that the boy had rhythm in his body. And life is rhythm... so's acting. That provided me with a glimmer of hope. Mimoh: He told me that if I was determined to follow in his footsteps I'd have to go the distance and give it my 100 per cent. Mithun: And these last six years he's slogged his heart out. Mimoh (Smiling fondly at him): I've had you by my side at every step. You've taught me all the moves. My dad is a three-times National Award winner, you know. Mithun: Yeah, and I've advised him not to think about awards for the next 10 years. He has to learn acting first. He's allowed to think of a Best Debutante Award?
Mimoh (Dreamily): A Best Debutante Award would be the first step up. It would mean that the industry has welcomed you and your audience has accepted you. Did you ever dance for your dad again?
Mimoh: Yeah, I've danced to all the Michael Jackson numbers and also Govinda's Raja Babu chart-topper, 'Aa aa ee ee...'. I've also swayed to the tunes of Hrithik Roshan's 'You are my Sonia...' and 'Makhna...' from Shahid Kapoor's Dil Maange More. Dad was not 100 per cent satisfied but he grudgingly admitted that I've improved. Mithun: He's better but he can do better. He made you proud with a one-take first shot.
Mithun: Yeah, and it cost plenty. He'd been admiring an Omega watch for a while and I told him he'd get it if his first shot was okayed in one take. Mimoh (Smiling): And after the muhurat mom was constantly reminding him of his promise. Mithun (Feigning a sigh): They've ensured that I'm poorer by a lakh. What made you zero in on the remake of a Telugu hit, Athanokkade for Mimoh's debut?
Mimoh: As soon as Athanokkade started I knew I had to do this film. It had romance, comedy and plenty of action. As a newcomer it would give me every opportunity to showcase my skills. But you were to have made your debut with a Venus production to be directed by Vikram Bhatt earlier?
Mimoh: I'd love to do a film with Venus but their earlier production has run into some problems. I'll work with Vikram sir anytime without even seeing the script. I gave my first audition for him. He had me do a romantic scene and then fly into a rage to be able to assess me in two contrasting moods. I was relieved when he pronounced, "You can do it!" He's a wonderful director and so easy to work with. When dad was doing Elaan I would hang out on the sets during every shoot. John, Arjun, Lara, Ameesha and I were one big gang. Wasn't dad fab in the film? Baba Sikander was a difficult role to play but dad made it look so easy. He just gets better with every film he does. What did you think of him in Lucky—No Time For Love?
Mimoh: I have no words! Salman sir was outstanding too and so was Sneha who went beyond everyone's expectations. She would have been your first co-star if you'd done Deepak Sareen's film?
Mimoh: We're still doing that film though now, I believe, it is being directed by Naresh Malhotra. It'll go on the floors in January. The first half is light-hearted and romantic but post-interval the film takes a dramatic turn. I'm lucky to have Sneha as my co-star because after Lucky she's definitely a big star! But He... will be your first release now?
Mithun: We haven't signed a contract with anyone. It wouldn't be fair to stall a film once it's finished. But considering that He... is a remake it shouldn't take very long to wrap up. Kalyan Ram, NTR Junior's half brother, who played the role in the Telugu original became an overnight superstar after Athanokkade's release. Didn't that influence your decision?
Mithun: No, it was just an accident...providence...that Mimoh landed the part. Mimoh: Padmalaya had bought the Hindi rights. Soon after I auditioned for them and they decided that I'd suit the role a boy who teams up with a young girl to go after a mafia don and his henchmen. Athanokkade, I think, was Kalyan Ram's fourth film. He worked very hard and I plan to do the same. The film is a complete entertainer and my best bet to get the audience to shell out Rs 100-Rs 200 to see me in action! Who's playing the mafia don?
Mimoh: Zakir Husain. I adored him in Sarkar. One would have expected your dad to step into the role?
Mimoh: My dad has told me very clearly that he doesn't want to be seen in any of my films initially. Mithun: I want the audience to accept him as Mimoh and not as my son. Mimoh: He knows that if he's in my film it might get us an initial but in the long run it won't get me anywhere. I have to prove myself and fight my own battles...alone. If you could star in the remake of one of your dad's films which one would it be?
Mimoh: Phool Aur Kaante. Mithun was outstanding as a subdued professor in the first half who transforms into a tormented avenger post interval! It took a lot of daring to quit Mumbai at the peak of your career and retire to the hills of Ooty to set up a parallel industry there.
Mimoh (Proudly): Yeah, dad pioneered a new era in Hindi cinema by setting his own rules and making films his way down South. That was the power of Mithun Chakroborty. Mithun: I have to thank Prakash Mehra for giving me the idea. When he signed me for his Hindi-Bengali bi-lingual, Dalal he laid down one condition—he wouldn't shoot the film in Mumbai but in Chennai and complete both versions in one schedule. The incentive was that if I finished the film in one go he would pay me my money too in one instalment. I kept my word and so did he. I had never before earned so much money in one month and it set me thinking. I began to offer bulk dates to my other producers and impress upon them to shoot their films in Ooty in one start-to-finish schedule. Mimoh: The ploy worked well for everyone. No filmmaker lost money, in fact most of them registered profits. Mithun: And my children grew up away from traffic and pollution...Away from the city lights. Mimoh: We've grown up into hill people who revel in the quietness of our surroundings. After Ooty, Mumbai can be quite noisy which is why I've decided that whenever I have to come down here for shoots, I'll stay at our Madh Island bungalow. It's far more serene there by the sea. Mithun: If you look at my career graph you'll see that the path has not been easy. There have been so many ups and downs that I've learnt not to take anything for granted. There's no guarantee that Mimoh's first film will be a big hit so I'm doubly glad today that he has the hotel to fall back on. Unless my four children squander away all the money I've made, they'll never have to starve in their life. By moving to Ooty I was not only able to bring them up in a healthier environment, I was also able to secure their future for them. Would you want Mimoh to adopt the same strategy?
Mithun: It's too early for Mimoh to see himself as a trend-setting star. He's still to develop an image of his own or a fan-following. It would be foolish of him to say he'll work in small films. People come to see such kind of films only if you're a star. You're saying a small, Bengali film like Rituparno Ghosh's Titli found takers because it starred top-ranking stars like you and Aparna Sen?
Mithun: Yeah, people came to see us. I loved working with Rituparno and would do a film with him again provided it's not a woman-oriented film (Laughs). You're doing a lot of Bengali films?
Mithun: The Bengali industry is hot today because the films are making money. Though language films they are not unlike a big-budget Bollywood production. Producers like Venkatesh Films have understood that today people will not shell out Rs 40 for a Bengali film unless you give them a Main Hoon Na substitute and they're now investing heavily in out-and-out commercial entertainers. My latest film Yuddh was a blockbuster and celebrated a 100-day run. Does this mean that you've moved away from Hindi films?
Mithun: I'll do films in any language if the role is demanding and I believe in what I'm doing. I'm doing Hindi films too. You'll see more of me in the future. The last few months I've been busy with Mimoh. But now that he's set, I can again concentrate on my own career. Are all your four children planning to follow in your footsteps?
Mithun: My second son wants to be a director. The third one aspires to be an actor. (With a wry grin) At least that's what he says now but you never know. At one point Mimoh wanted to become an astronomer and join NASA. May be tomorrow his brother who's now dreaming of becoming a star himself will aim for the real stars. And your daughter?
Mithun (Smiling fondly): She wants to be an actress. She was really angry with Mimoh when he told someone that she would make a better model because she is so thin. Mimoh (Grinning): She told me very categorically not to misguide people. She plans to be an actress. Period. Though we keep irritating her from time to time, she's the life of our family. We adore her! You were a real roly-poly kid at one time.
Mithun: Yeah, and he's worked very hard to lose all those extra kgs. Out of 365 days a year he would go without food for 300 days. We as parents would try to persuade him to eat something but he preferred to starve while he worked on his kickboxing and martial arts. Mimoh: I was this fat kid with big glasses. All the girls I met would make me their rakhi brother before I could think of proposing. And now?
Mimoh (Grinning): Now, I'm hoping to get lucky. With Malaika Arora-Khan?
Mimoh (Dreamily): Malaika was my first crush. I was absolutely fida over her. I'd marry her in a shot! Do the Khans know?
Mithun (Quickily): Oh, he's gotten over her now.
Mithun (Answering for him): Mahakshay is hard to pronounce so we settled for Mimoh. It's short and sweet. It's also a combination of Michael Jackson and Mohammed Ali. Are you hoping your son will have inherited the magic of your idols?
Mimoh: I wouldn't dare think along those lines. If I did I'd get ulcers. They are as much my Gods as they are dad's. Mimoh, the muhurat of He—The Only One was a star-studded affair. What was it like facing the camera for the first time with the who's who of the film industry looking on?
Mimoh: I was excited...and speechless. Touched...and honoured. All those I'd grown up idolizing were there for me on my big day. Salman sir and Sanjay sir, I've seen all their films...Their posters line my walls...To be standing in the same line as them and dad made me feel humbled... and blessed. Of course, I was nervous and apprehensive too but the confidence was there as well. Yeah, your first shot was okayed in one take?
Mimoh: Lucky for me. But I had to do it right. This was what I'd been impatiently waiting for so long.
You're only 21!
Mithun: Yeah, and he's been badgering me constantly for the last two to three years.
Mimoh: But dad resolutely refused to hurry up my debut. He made me train in acting, dancing, fighting and direction at the Film Academy in Los Angeles. It was only when I turned 21 that he finally decided this was the right age for me to start.
Mithun: He's looking more mature now and he's learnt all that he had to learn. Mimoh: "Now you can go out there and perform," dad told me. Mithun, you were a natural born actor. Why did you insist on an acting academy training for your son?Mithun: I've always maintained that an actor is born but a good actor is trained. I myself trained at the FTII. Whether it's at the FTII or the NSD or just through films and experience, a good actor like good wine matures with time. We've heard that the first time your son auditioned for you, you gave him the thumbs down?
Mithun (Shuddering): It was horrible and I was horrified! Mimoh (Grinning): I danced to the tunes of 'Yaad aa raha hai...' from Disco Dancer. I'd deliberately chosen a song from one of dad's films thinking it would earn me some extra points. He sat through the performance without uttering a word and then delivered his judgement, "You're horrible!" Mithun: He was and I told him bluntly that after this he dare not cherish dreams of becoming a star. However, despite my criticism I could see that the boy had rhythm in his body. And life is rhythm... so's acting. That provided me with a glimmer of hope. Mimoh: He told me that if I was determined to follow in his footsteps I'd have to go the distance and give it my 100 per cent. Mithun: And these last six years he's slogged his heart out. Mimoh (Smiling fondly at him): I've had you by my side at every step. You've taught me all the moves. My dad is a three-times National Award winner, you know. Mithun: Yeah, and I've advised him not to think about awards for the next 10 years. He has to learn acting first. He's allowed to think of a Best Debutante Award?
Mimoh (Dreamily): A Best Debutante Award would be the first step up. It would mean that the industry has welcomed you and your audience has accepted you. Did you ever dance for your dad again?
Mimoh: Yeah, I've danced to all the Michael Jackson numbers and also Govinda's Raja Babu chart-topper, 'Aa aa ee ee...'. I've also swayed to the tunes of Hrithik Roshan's 'You are my Sonia...' and 'Makhna...' from Shahid Kapoor's Dil Maange More. Dad was not 100 per cent satisfied but he grudgingly admitted that I've improved. Mithun: He's better but he can do better. He made you proud with a one-take first shot.
Mithun: Yeah, and it cost plenty. He'd been admiring an Omega watch for a while and I told him he'd get it if his first shot was okayed in one take. Mimoh (Smiling): And after the muhurat mom was constantly reminding him of his promise. Mithun (Feigning a sigh): They've ensured that I'm poorer by a lakh. What made you zero in on the remake of a Telugu hit, Athanokkade for Mimoh's debut?
Mimoh: As soon as Athanokkade started I knew I had to do this film. It had romance, comedy and plenty of action. As a newcomer it would give me every opportunity to showcase my skills. But you were to have made your debut with a Venus production to be directed by Vikram Bhatt earlier?
Mimoh: I'd love to do a film with Venus but their earlier production has run into some problems. I'll work with Vikram sir anytime without even seeing the script. I gave my first audition for him. He had me do a romantic scene and then fly into a rage to be able to assess me in two contrasting moods. I was relieved when he pronounced, "You can do it!" He's a wonderful director and so easy to work with. When dad was doing Elaan I would hang out on the sets during every shoot. John, Arjun, Lara, Ameesha and I were one big gang. Wasn't dad fab in the film? Baba Sikander was a difficult role to play but dad made it look so easy. He just gets better with every film he does. What did you think of him in Lucky—No Time For Love?
Mimoh: I have no words! Salman sir was outstanding too and so was Sneha who went beyond everyone's expectations. She would have been your first co-star if you'd done Deepak Sareen's film?
Mimoh: We're still doing that film though now, I believe, it is being directed by Naresh Malhotra. It'll go on the floors in January. The first half is light-hearted and romantic but post-interval the film takes a dramatic turn. I'm lucky to have Sneha as my co-star because after Lucky she's definitely a big star! But He... will be your first release now?
Mithun: We haven't signed a contract with anyone. It wouldn't be fair to stall a film once it's finished. But considering that He... is a remake it shouldn't take very long to wrap up. Kalyan Ram, NTR Junior's half brother, who played the role in the Telugu original became an overnight superstar after Athanokkade's release. Didn't that influence your decision?
Mithun: No, it was just an accident...providence...that Mimoh landed the part. Mimoh: Padmalaya had bought the Hindi rights. Soon after I auditioned for them and they decided that I'd suit the role a boy who teams up with a young girl to go after a mafia don and his henchmen. Athanokkade, I think, was Kalyan Ram's fourth film. He worked very hard and I plan to do the same. The film is a complete entertainer and my best bet to get the audience to shell out Rs 100-Rs 200 to see me in action! Who's playing the mafia don?
Mimoh: Zakir Husain. I adored him in Sarkar. One would have expected your dad to step into the role?
Mimoh: My dad has told me very clearly that he doesn't want to be seen in any of my films initially. Mithun: I want the audience to accept him as Mimoh and not as my son. Mimoh: He knows that if he's in my film it might get us an initial but in the long run it won't get me anywhere. I have to prove myself and fight my own battles...alone. If you could star in the remake of one of your dad's films which one would it be?
Mimoh: Phool Aur Kaante. Mithun was outstanding as a subdued professor in the first half who transforms into a tormented avenger post interval! It took a lot of daring to quit Mumbai at the peak of your career and retire to the hills of Ooty to set up a parallel industry there.
Mimoh (Proudly): Yeah, dad pioneered a new era in Hindi cinema by setting his own rules and making films his way down South. That was the power of Mithun Chakroborty. Mithun: I have to thank Prakash Mehra for giving me the idea. When he signed me for his Hindi-Bengali bi-lingual, Dalal he laid down one condition—he wouldn't shoot the film in Mumbai but in Chennai and complete both versions in one schedule. The incentive was that if I finished the film in one go he would pay me my money too in one instalment. I kept my word and so did he. I had never before earned so much money in one month and it set me thinking. I began to offer bulk dates to my other producers and impress upon them to shoot their films in Ooty in one start-to-finish schedule. Mimoh: The ploy worked well for everyone. No filmmaker lost money, in fact most of them registered profits. Mithun: And my children grew up away from traffic and pollution...Away from the city lights. Mimoh: We've grown up into hill people who revel in the quietness of our surroundings. After Ooty, Mumbai can be quite noisy which is why I've decided that whenever I have to come down here for shoots, I'll stay at our Madh Island bungalow. It's far more serene there by the sea. Mithun: If you look at my career graph you'll see that the path has not been easy. There have been so many ups and downs that I've learnt not to take anything for granted. There's no guarantee that Mimoh's first film will be a big hit so I'm doubly glad today that he has the hotel to fall back on. Unless my four children squander away all the money I've made, they'll never have to starve in their life. By moving to Ooty I was not only able to bring them up in a healthier environment, I was also able to secure their future for them. Would you want Mimoh to adopt the same strategy?
Mithun: It's too early for Mimoh to see himself as a trend-setting star. He's still to develop an image of his own or a fan-following. It would be foolish of him to say he'll work in small films. People come to see such kind of films only if you're a star. You're saying a small, Bengali film like Rituparno Ghosh's Titli found takers because it starred top-ranking stars like you and Aparna Sen?
Mithun: Yeah, people came to see us. I loved working with Rituparno and would do a film with him again provided it's not a woman-oriented film (Laughs). You're doing a lot of Bengali films?
Mithun: The Bengali industry is hot today because the films are making money. Though language films they are not unlike a big-budget Bollywood production. Producers like Venkatesh Films have understood that today people will not shell out Rs 40 for a Bengali film unless you give them a Main Hoon Na substitute and they're now investing heavily in out-and-out commercial entertainers. My latest film Yuddh was a blockbuster and celebrated a 100-day run. Does this mean that you've moved away from Hindi films?
Mithun: I'll do films in any language if the role is demanding and I believe in what I'm doing. I'm doing Hindi films too. You'll see more of me in the future. The last few months I've been busy with Mimoh. But now that he's set, I can again concentrate on my own career. Are all your four children planning to follow in your footsteps?
Mithun: My second son wants to be a director. The third one aspires to be an actor. (With a wry grin) At least that's what he says now but you never know. At one point Mimoh wanted to become an astronomer and join NASA. May be tomorrow his brother who's now dreaming of becoming a star himself will aim for the real stars. And your daughter?
Mithun (Smiling fondly): She wants to be an actress. She was really angry with Mimoh when he told someone that she would make a better model because she is so thin. Mimoh (Grinning): She told me very categorically not to misguide people. She plans to be an actress. Period. Though we keep irritating her from time to time, she's the life of our family. We adore her! You were a real roly-poly kid at one time.
Mithun: Yeah, and he's worked very hard to lose all those extra kgs. Out of 365 days a year he would go without food for 300 days. We as parents would try to persuade him to eat something but he preferred to starve while he worked on his kickboxing and martial arts. Mimoh: I was this fat kid with big glasses. All the girls I met would make me their rakhi brother before I could think of proposing. And now?
Mimoh (Grinning): Now, I'm hoping to get lucky. With Malaika Arora-Khan?
Mimoh (Dreamily): Malaika was my first crush. I was absolutely fida over her. I'd marry her in a shot! Do the Khans know?
Mithun (Quickily): Oh, he's gotten over her now.
No wonder Salman's adopted him.
Mithun (Smiling fondly): Salman is very fond of him. He and Sanju are like Mimoh's elder brothers. Salman called yesterday to enquire about him and when I told him Mimoh was giving interviews, he told me to parcel him off to Udaipur where he's shooting instead.
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