Abir Chatterjee

Abir Chatterjee (born 18 November 1980) is an Indian actor who mainly works in Bengali cinema. He is the son of theatre personalities Phalguni Chatterjee and Rumki Chatterjee. He started his career with Bengali television and made his debut in Bengali cinema in 2009 as a lead with '' Cross Connection''. He is well known for appearing as famous detective Byomkesh Bakshi in a separate movie series. He is one of the highest-paid actors in Indian Bengali cinema.

He won Best Villain Award for '' Kanamachi'' at Zee Bangla Gaurav Awards 2014 and Best Romantic Hero of the Year for ''Alaap'' at the Tele Cine Awards 2024. His performances in the critically acclaimed films like '' Shah Jahan Regency'', '' Bishorjan'' and '' Tritiya Adhyay'' have been praised. He has starred in National Award winning films like '' Bishorjan'' (2017) as well as in commercially successful films including '' Durgeshgorer Guptodhon'' (2019) and '' Bohurupi'' (2024), which are among the highest grossing Bengali films of all time.

Early life and education

He is the son of theatre artists Phalguni Chatterjee and Rumki Chatterjee. He attended Laban Hrad Vidyapith. He then attended Seth Anandaram Jaipuria College for his plus 2. He was granted his B.Com degree from the Goenka College of Commerce and Business Administration and his MBA degree from the ICFAI University, Kolkata branch.

Personal life

Chatterjee married Nandini Chatterjee, his college friend, in 2007. The couple has a daughter named Mayurakshi Chatterjee. He is an avid East Bengal fan. According to social media's Rumors, Chatterjee dates his Co- star, Jaya Ahsan. He is highly influenced by Soumitra Chatterjee's Performance.

Media

After acting in the 2014 romantic tragedy film '' Hrid Majharey'', he went on to top the list of ''Calcutta Times Most Desirable Men'' of 2014 and 2019.

Career

2000-03: Pre-debut

He debuted in the Bengali film industry through soap operas and telefilms. Before his film debut, he has acted in many Bengali soap operas and telefilms including '' Proloy Asche'' ''Ruposhi Bangla'', ''Shasuri Zindabad'', ''Khuje Berai Kacher Manush'', ''Banhishikha'', ''Sudhu Tomari Jonno'', ''Somoy'', ''Ek Akasher Niche'' and ''Janmobhumi''.

2004-13: Debut and early career

Abir Chatterjee made his screen debut in the 2004 independent period drama ''Robibar Bikelbela'', in which he portrays a disillusioned former Naxalite revolutionary in post-Emergency Bengal. But no copies of the film have been found yet and hence it is considered a lost film.

'' Cross Connection'' in 2009 marked his film debut in the lead role. In the following year, he made appearance in the role Byomkesh Bakshi in '' Byomkesh Bakshi'' directed by Anjan Dutt. In 2011, he acted in the critically acclaimed '' Baishe Srabon'' directed by Srijit Mukherji.

In 2012, his first release was '' Bojhena Shey Bojhena''. A cast which ensembled Soham Chakraborty, Mimi Chakraborty and Payel Sarkar, it became a hit. Then he starred in the horror comedy '' Jekhane Bhooter Bhoy'', the romantic drama ''Bedroom'' and the romantic comedy '' Bapi Bari Jaa''. Next he reprised his role of Byomkesh Bakshi in '' Abar Byomkesh''. Directed by Anjan Dutt, it served as a sequel of his 2010 film '' Byomkesh Bakshi''.

In 2010, he made his Bollywood debut with '' Kahaani''. With a huge Bengali cast including Vidya Balan, Parambrata Chatterjee, Indraneil Sengupta, Dhritiman Chatterjee, Saswata Chatterjee, Shantilal Mukherjee and Kharaj Mukherjee the film was a box-office success. In 2013, he acted in the cult classic '' Meghe Dhaka Tara'' directed by Kamaleshwar Mukherjee. His other released in that year included ''Asbo Arekdin'', ''Kanamachi'' and '' Aborto''.

2014-17: Byomkesh Bakshi and critical acclaim

He has appeared in many Bengali movies as Byomkesh Bakshi and Feluda. 2014 saw his emergence in a solo leading role in the critically acclaimed film '' Hrid Majharey'' by debutant director Ranjan Ghosh. He reprised his role of Byomkesh Bakshi in '' Byomkesh Phire Elo'', the third installment of the Byomkesh Bakshi series directed by Anjan Dutt. It became a box office success and he gained popularity among the people for his portrayal of Byomkesh's character in several films. In the same year he starred in the critically acclaimed film '' Badshahi Angti'' in the role of popular fictional detective Feluda. He also had a cameo appearance in the multiple award winning film '' Jaatishwar''. Besides these, he also acted in other films like '' Chaar'', ''Jodi Love Dile Naa Prane'' and '' The Royal Bengal Tiger''. The Indian Express said he brought "elegant élan and confidence" to his role in '' The Royal Bengal Tiger''.

In 2015, he portrayed the titular role of Byomkesh Bakshi in '' Har Har Byomkesh''. It marked the maiden installment of a separate series of Byomkesh Bakshi films directed by Arindam Sil. It was also commercially successful just like all the previous Anjan Dutt directorial Byomkesh films. He also acted in the superhit epic historical drama '' Rajkahini''. He also starred in romantic comedy films like '' Jomer Raja Dilo Bor'', '' Katmundu'' and science fiction comedy film '' Abby Sen''. He was also present in the mystery thriller film ''Ebar Shabor''.

In 2016, he once again reprised his role of Byomkesh Bakshi in '' Byomkesh Pawrbo'', the second installment of Byomkesh series directed by Arindam Sil. His other releases that year included '' Bastu-Shaap'', '' Thammar Boyfriend'' and '' Monchora''. In 2017, he had 4 releases: '' Shob Bhooturey'', '' Chhaya O Chhobi'', '' Bishorjan'' and '' Meghnad Badh Rahasya''. '' Bishorjan'' won the Filmfare Awards East in six categories and also won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Bengali at the 64th National Film Awards.

2018-22: Detective films and further success

In 2018, he starred in '' Byomkesh Gotro'', the third installment of Byomkesh series of Arindam Sil. The same year he starred in '' Biday Byomkesh'' - first film of another Byomkesh series directed by Debaloy Bhattacharya. It was the sixth installment of Byomkesh film series produced by SVF (the first 3 parts were directed by Dutt, next 2 by Sil and one by Bhattacharya). His constant success with detective films and popularity of the character of Byomkesh Bakshi played by him over the years, earned him huge popularity among the audience. He was also the lead character in the action, mystery adventure thriller film '' Guptodhoner Sandhane''. It was a blockbuster at the box office. His other released that year were ''Flat No 609'' and ''Aami Joy Chatterjee''.

In 2019, he starred in '' Bijoya'' with Jaya Ahsan. He also acted in the Srijit Mukherji directorial mega-cast film Shah Jahan Regency. Then he starred with '' Tritiya Adhyay'' with Paoli Dam. It won the "Best National Feature Film" and "Best Screenplay Award" at the Expressions Film Festival. He reprised his role of Sona da in '' Durgeshgorer Guptodhon'', the second film in the "Guptodhon franchise" under the banner of SVF. With Jisshu Sengupta he starred in the neo noir crime action thriller '' Bornoporichoy'' directed by Mainak Bhaumik.

In 2020 he debuted in Hindi Web Series with Season 2 of the SonyLIV original '' Avrodh'' named '' Avrodh: The Siege Within 2''. In the same year he starred in ''Switzerland'' with Rukmini Maitra. He was present in the Jeet starrer '' Asur''. He also had a cameo in the Srijit Mukherji directorial '' Dwitiyo Purush''. In 2021 he released only one film - the Bratya Basu directorial ''Dictionary'' with Mosharraf Karim and Nusrat Jahan. In 2022, he acted in ''Abar Bochhor Koori Pore'', ''Byomkesh Hotyamancha'' and ''Agantuk''. His next release was ''Karnasubarner Guptodhon''. The third installment of "Guptodhon franchise", it became a blockbuster at the box office and became the second highest grossing Bengali film of 2022 and one of the highest-grossing Bengali films of all time.

2023-present: Continued success

In 2023 he starred in the '' Fatafati'' with Ritabhari Chakraborty. Directed Aritra Mukherjee, it was a box office success and became an unexpected hit at the box office. Next he starred in '' Raktabeej'' directed by the duo of Nandita Roy and Shiboprosad Mukherjee. Bases on the true events of 2014 Burdwan blast, the cast included Victor Banerjee and Mimi Chakraborty in parallelly pivotal roles. It became one of the highest grossing Bengali films of 2023. He played the role of Mini's father in '' Kabuliwala'', the adaptation of the famous cult classic " Kabuliwala" written by Rabindranath Tagore. He had several other releases including the Arindam Sil directorial '' Maayakumari'' and Raja Chanda directorial '' Biye Bibhrat''.

In 2024, his first release was the satirical action comedy '' Shri Swapankumarer Badami Hyenar Kobole''. It is based on the adventures of Dipak Chatterjee, a fictional detective lost in time. Next he starred in the romantic comedy '' Alaap'' with Mimi Chakraborty and Swastika Dutta. It won him the Best Romantic Hero Award at the Tele Cine Awards 2024. The movie became a surprise hit at the box office. His next film the same year was the Raj Chakraborty directorial romantic drama '' Babli'' with Subhashree Ganguly. In October 2024, he acted in the Shiboprosad- Nandita directorial '' Bohurupi''. It became a box office success and emerged as one of the highest grossing Bengali films of 2024 and one of the highest grossing Indian Bengali films of all time.

Filmography

Television appearances

Awards

See also

* List of Indian film actors

References

External links

*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chatterjee, Abir
Bengali male television actors
Living people
Male actors in Bengali cinema
Indian male film actors
1980 births
Goenka College of Commerce and Business Administration alumni
University of Calcutta alumni