Covid-19 survivor Biswajeet-da comeback after 13 years; is proud of achiever-beti Shambhavi

By Chaitanya Padukone

Few are aware that ‘suspense’ star-hero lover-boy of the yesteryear ‘golden era’ veteran Biswajeet (Chatterjee) has miraculously recovered from a severe bout of Covid-19 and is now fighting fit! With a tinge of revered emotion former matinee-idol Biswajeet asserts, “It’s all thanks to the blessings of Maa Durga-Devi whom I religiously worship. As is known, I would organize and host the Durga Puja pandal in Mumbai (during Navratri) every year, during the pre-Corona phase, “says Biswajeet who is known for Hindi landmark musical hits like ‘Bees Saal Baad’, ‘Kohraa’ ‘April Fool’, Mere Sanam’, ‘Kismat’ and of course ‘Main Sunder Hoon’ etc.

Biswajeet in his younger days

Shambhavi Chatterjee as ramp model

Biswajeet with daughter Shambhavi

Remember his evergreen song ‘Aap ko, Hamari Kasam, Laut Aaiye”? Super-active 85-year-old Biswajeet has now ‘returned’ to acting–facing the movie camera after a long gap of 13 years (last movie cameo ‘Aa Dekhen Zara’–2009). Discloses Biswajeet, “It is in our home production, untitled suspense haunting musical thriller which I have acted in and also directed. My talented actress-dancer-model daughter Shambhavi is also in the cast, besides the popular TV actor Manish Raj Sharma (of ‘Crime Patrol’ fame). The post-production is going on and we are gearing up to release the thriller movie on OTT platforms by this year-end,” shares the veteran actor-singer whose live show-concert in Delhi on his birthday in mid-December 2021 was a huge hit Meanwhile Biswajeet is an appreciative and proud-elated father, because his achiever-daughter Shambhavi has recently won beauty-contest coveted titles.

Biswajeet singing and dancing with daughter Shambhavi on stage

Chaitanya Padukone with Biswajeet

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Enthuses Shambhavi, “My legendary actor-singer-film-maker father (Biswajeet-da) who is my mentor-Guru, has always encouraged me to win fame-success on my own ‘independent-merit’, Without using his reference or influence. Consider myself ‘blessed’ that he is my father. Among the recent titles that I won, amidst tough competition were ‘Miss Photogenic-2022’ in the Miss Worldwide 2022 contest, and in ‘Faces of Mumbai 2022’ I won the title of ‘4th Runner-up’. When I had to ‘cat-walk’ on the ramp as a ‘model’, I became ecstatic when the audience began screaming and cheering me, “discloses versatile glam actress Shambhavi who has previously acted with her iconic father as a co-star in a Bengali film ‘Adorini’ and also in theatre-plays. At live concerts, she gracefully dances with him on stage, even as he ‘sings’ his evergreen retro songs.

(The writer Chaitanya Padukone is an eminent senior film & music journalist and author of memoirs book R D BurMania)