‘Raste pe soya... footpath pe soya’: Mithun Chakraborty recalls hardships before stardom and fear that his acting career could end, says, ‘my journey is beyond struggle’

Mithun Chakraborty has revisited one of the most difficult periods of his life, recalling the uncertainty he faced before and during a challenging phase in his acting career. In a conversation with Farah Khan for her food vlog, the veteran actor spoke about his decision to enter the hospitality business, his fears about losing his stardom and the hardships he experienced before becoming one of Indian cinema's most recognisable stars.Mithun Chakraborty recalls fearing his stardom was slippingDuring the conversation, Farah Khan recalled Mithun as the “first actor who started a hotel” while discussing Hotel Monarch. Explaining why he ventured into the hospitality business, Mithun said his decision came at a time when he felt his film career was losing momentum.“That time my career was little (down). Picturein nahi chal rahi thi, chal rahi thi. Matlab jo actual status tha use mujhe lag raha tha ki main neeche ja raha hoon.” (The movies weren't working out, well, some were. But based on how things actually were, I felt like I was slipping downhill.)Mithun said the possibility of losing his stardom made him think about what would happen if his acting career did not continue at the same level. With a family to support, he wanted to consider an alternative source of financial security.Mithun Chakraborty discussed his future with daughter Pinky and wife Yogeeta BaliMithun recalled speaking to his daughter Pinky and wife Yogeeta Bali about the possibility that his career might eventually come to an end. He explained that he believed rebuilding the same position in the film industry after losing his stardom could be difficult.“So I told Pinky ki agar ye khatam ho gayi to mera stardom is over. Stardom over matlab wapas aana mushkil hai.” (So I told Pinky that if this fails/floops, my stardom is over. And if my stardom is over, making a comeback will be really difficult.)At the time, Mithun was already a father of three children and was thinking about his family's future. He also drew on his own experiences growing up and during his early years in Mumbai, saying he did not want his children to face the same hardships.Mithun Chakraborty's transition from being a struggling actor to hotel ownerMithun eventually expanded his professional interests into hospitality and became associated with Hotel Monarch. He recalled spending around six months personally working at the property and being involved in establishing the business. The timing proved interesting for his acting career as well. Mithun recalled that he subsequently reached a period when he was doing “one picture in one month”, as his work in films began gaining momentum again. The hotel business therefore became an important part of his life during a period when he was thinking about professional stability beyond acting.Mithun Chakraborty recalls his early hardshipsThe conversation also took Mithun back to the years before he achieved stardom. Farah recalled seeing the actor at parties hosted by her uncle, K K Shukla, where he would attend and enjoy the food. The recollection prompted Mithun to reflect on how far he had travelled before becoming a major star.Rather than describing his journey simply as a struggle to enter the film industry, Mithun said, “My journey is beyond struggle.”He also recalled experiencing extreme hardship during his early years, saying, “Raste pe soya... footpath pe soya.” (Slept on the road, slept on the footpath)The actor's recollection offered a glimpse into the difficult circumstances he said he experienced before finding success in Hindi cinema.Farah Khan recalls Mithun Chakraborty’s rise in cinemaFarah highlighted the distance Mithun travelled in his career, recalling his journey from working as a junior artist to becoming one of the prominent stars of Indian cinema.About Mithun Chakraborty's careerMithun Chakraborty entered the film industry with ‘Mrigayaa’ in 1976 and won the National Film Award for Best Actor for his performance. His first major commercial success came with ‘Suraksha’ in 1979, but it was ‘Disco Dancer’ in 1982 that transformed him into the ‘Disco King’ and established him as a household name.By the early 1990s, the actor’s career had entered a comparatively difficult phase. As his film fortunes changed, Mithun began looking beyond acting and ventured into the hospitality industry.Get the latest Bollywood & Entertainment News, and more. Download the TOI app.Give your child the gift of confidence! Claim your exclusive TOI Masterclass spot today!