Moushumi Chatterjee Says Hrishikesh Mukherjee Tried To Ruin Her Career For Refusing 'Guddi'

Moushumi Chatterjee has long been admired for her timeless grace and unfiltered honesty, and these traits have cemented her place as one of the most beloved actresses of Indian cinema. Over the decades, she has shared the screen with some of the biggest names in both Hindi and Bengali films. In a recent interview, Moushumi opened up about her early career struggles, revealing how she lost the lead role in Guddi, a film that later went on to become a milestone in Jaya Bachchan’s career.

Moushumi Chatterjee rejected Guddi due to her outfit reservations

Moushumi Chatterjee was just 15 when she made her acting debut with the Bengali film, Balika Badhu, alongside legendary actor, Uttam Kumar. Around the same time, she married Jayanta Mukherjee, son of legendary composer, Hemanta Mukhopadhyay (Hemant Kumar). In a recent interview with Filmfare, Moushumi revealed that she was offered the lead role in Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s 1971 classic, Guddi, before her marriage. However, she turned it down due to costume requirements, unaware of Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s stature in the industry. The actress recalled:

“I didn’t do Guddi because the heroine was supposed to wear a short skirt. My father said no because firstly, this was a Hindi film, and because we didn’t know who Hrishikesh Mukherjee was. He said I did Talaash only because I wanted to make up for what happened on Guddi. He said,  I ruined your career.”

The lead role in Guddi eventually went to Jaya Bhaduri (now Bachchan), and Guddi turned out to be her big break to stardom. However, behind the scenes, Hrishikesh allegedly held a grudge and wanted to ruin Moushumi’s career before it could even begin. Years later, while working on the 1990s TV show, Talaash, which was produced by her husband, the director admitted to deliberately stalling her Bollywood career.

Moushumi recalled that Hrishikesh told her she had ruined her own career by saying no to a film like Guddi, and accused her of doing Talaash only to patch things up. The director later confessed that her rejection had hurt his ego, and he no longer wanted her as the heroine. That was how she chose Jaya for Guddi. Moushumi shared:

“He said… ‘At that time, I was such an egoist. I thought you said no to Hrishikesh Mukherjee, we will see how you come and make a career in Mumbai.’ He said, I did not want you to work on that movie. I don’t want this heroine, I want that heroine.”

Moushumi Chatterjee’s reservations about wearing revealing clothes in films

Moushumi, who started wearing sarees at the age of 13, was never comfortable with revealing outfits, especially when it came to films. In the same interview, the actress shared another anecdote where she broke down when renowned costume designer, Mani J Rabadi, gave her a backless blouse and short ghagra. Moushumi recalled:

“I felt like I was naked. I cried. My husband had to assure me it was fine and not unusual for films.”

Despite her not-so-smooth beginnings, Moushumi Chatterjee went on to become one of the most loved actresses in Hindi and Bengali cinema, who stood out not only for her acting but also for her unapologetic and real self. On the professional front, the veteran actress recently made a comeback in Bengali cinema with Aari, after a 12-year hiatus from acting. 

Do you think Moushumi Chatterjee's career could have been much different had she not rejected Guddi? Let us know!

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