Moushumi, hubby staying alag-alag

The industry has been abuzz with rumours of yet another filmi break-up. Insiders report that Moushumi Chatterjee has thrown out her husband, Jayanto Mukherjee (also known as Babu), from Nibbana Apartments in Bandra. Since December 2005, Babu has been living alone in a flat in Gitanjali Studios in Khar. The reason? Marital discord.

When we called Babu, this is what he had to say. "It's true that I have been staying separately from Moushumi and my two daughters, Payal and Meghna. But Moushumi and I are very happy together."

Err, come again?

Keeping guard

"The reason I've shifted to Gitanjali is because the studio building is being redeveloped into a residential block. Since the building could not be kept empty in the interim, it was better that I occupy it and prevent any anti-social elements from entering the premises. I've been staying on the first floor and am always on hand should any problems arise," says Babu.

Noted singer Hemanto Mukherjee had bought Gitanjali Studios in 1954, after which he bought a flat in Nibbana. "I've been brought up in Gitanjali Studios and stayed here for several years after marriage before shifting to Nibbana," says Babu.

Manager mom

Babu insists that he goes to Nibbana Apartments everyday. "I keep commuting from Nibbana to Gitanjali and back. In fact, Moushumi and I will be going for a holiday to the USA in a couple of months. I've also bought a flat in Kolkata, as I like the city very much," he says.

Talking further on his home front, he is very excited that his daughters are
doing well professionally. Payal works as a creative head in Sony TV, while Meghna has completed Tarun Majumdar's Bengali film Bhalobashar Onek Naam.

Says Babu, "Payal is extremely busy with her work and won't be able to join us for the holiday. Meghna's Bengali film flopped but she has signed up a couple of Hindi films now."

As for giving his daughter some parental advice, he says, "That's Moushumi's responsibility. She looks into all that and is managing Meghna's career."