Anecdotes

Mrinal Sen arrived at the institute when several students were receiving their diploma and graduating. Amongst all the students he saw one boy shamelessly flirting with all the pretty girls. What impressed him was that despite several celebrities in attendance, this boy did not care and was very free. Mr. Sen believed to be a good actor, who should be open and shameless. The boy he spotted that day was Mithun Chakraborthy . 2 years later when he decided to make Mrigayaa, he though of that tall ,dark muscular boy he spotted at the institute. He needed a rough and tough guy with a good body for the film so he thought Mithun suited perfectly. Mr. Sen then wrote a long letter and sent his cameraman Mahajan to find that young boy he spotted 2 years ago. 3 days later Mithun came to see Mrinal Sen. Mithun was staying in Bombay in those days. Upon seeing Mrinal Sen,Mithun started bragging that he was dancing with Helen at several shows. Mrinal got tired of this and warned him if he said this one more time, he would throw him out of the film. Mr. Sen explained to Mithun he would have to cut his long hair and sideburns for the role. This upset Mithun as he loved his long hair. Mithun finally gave in and signed the film.

Mithun Chakraborthy wanted to desperately travel to Calcutta for films audition but didn't have the money to travel.He was then working on production of Do Anjaane 1976 and was taking care of Amitabh Bachchan personal needs.When Amitabh Bachchan found about this he asked producer Tito to arrange some finance so that Mithun Chakraborthy can got to Calcutta for audition.

In the Filmfare magazine December 1979 Mithun gave a heart felt interview. He stated "Mrigayya earned me acclaim as a actor. I received awards for my role in the film. But it hardly helped in furthering my career in commercial Hindi films. People were criticizing me doing Mera Rakshak, Bhayanak, Tarana, Suraksha. They expect me to make only slow films like Mrigayya and maintain my reputation as an actor. Maintain my reputation and do what? Starve myself ? Sleep homeless and be a beggar? Just two after the release of the film, I found myself roaming the streets of Bombay without a penny in my pocket. Once i had no eaten for 2 long days. When I learnt that Mrinal Sen was in town, i rushed to him for help. I needed money badly. I had obligations to meet. I had to redeem my mother's jewelry from the money lender. She had raised the money to pay the fees at the Film Institute. I had to find money for the marriage of my 3 sister's. My father earned very little as a phone operator working for the government. I have seen the darkest day of my life in Bombay. I would arrive at producer's office's when it was lunch break time. I would do this to get a free meal".

First color film of Mrinal Sen.

Mithun Chakraborty won National Award for the film.But still did not have works for many years.In order to survive he had decided to sell of his national award.