Anirban Bhattacharya is an Indian actor, theatre artist, singer, and director who primarily works in the Bengali entertainment industry. He is known for playing the lead role of Bishan Roy in the Bengali-language film Eagoler Chokh (2016).
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Anirban Bhattacharya was born on Tuesday 7 October 1986 (age 37 years; as of 2023) in Midnapore, West Bengal, India. His zodiac sign is Libra. He studied at Nirmal Hriday Ashram Catholic Church High School, Midanpore, West Bengal. Soon after completing his higher secondary education, he moved to Kolkata to pursue a B.A. (Hons.) in Drama at Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata; he obtained a first-class degree in drama and theatre. Later, he pursued a Master of Arts in Drama at Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata and received the Young Artist Scholarship in 2009 from the cultural ministry of the Government of India. In an interview, Anirban talked about his childhood days and said that, initially, he was not interested in watching films. Anirban said,
Films were never a big part of life when I was a child. There was a cinema hall named Mohua. I remember watching King Kong, Godzilla. I enjoyed those a lot. We had two TV channels, DD Bangla and Metro. In the summer vacations a television festival, Chhuti Chhuti, used to be telecast. Cartoons, childrenâs films. I watched Joi Baba Felunath, Hirak Rajar Deshe, Sonar Kella on TV. It was only later that unnecessary content flooded television. Though I belonged to a conservative family, I received the right education, be it books or films, at the right time. I consumed the right content at the right time and knew instinctively what was good and what wasnât.”
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 6′ 1″
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour:Â Black
Family
Anirban Bhattacharya belongs to a Bengali-speaking family in Kolkata.
Parents & Siblings
Anirban Bhattacharya with his mother
Anirban Bhattacharya has a sister named Amrita Bhattacharya.
Wife
On 26 November 2020, Anirban Bhattacharya got married to his long-time friend Madhurima Goswami, a theatre artist and director; Madhurima was Anirban’s college friend. In an interview, Anirban talked about how he decided to get married to his friend and said,
Iâm not single. I have promised marriage to someone and she has done the same. I canât call her my lover; sheâs a long-time friend and Iâve known her since my university days. Around one-and-a-half years back, when I failed in every matter of the heart and was almost giving up on love, I asked myself if I could stay alone or not. I spoke to my mother and some of my friends about it. I have been in live-in relationships, but they mostly ended on a sour note. I was worried and realised that I needed a friend to be with me. After that, I went up to this friend of mine and asked her to think over it. She thought for over a month and a half, said yes.” [1]The Times of India
Anirban Bhattacharya and Madhurima Goswami
Relationships/Affairs
According to sources, Anirban was dating actress Sohini Sarkar; however, later, in an interview, he squashed the dating rumours. Amid the rumours of his relationship with Sohini in 2019, Anirban, in an interview, talked about his dating life and said he was in a few live-in relationships; however, they ended up on a sour note. [2]The Times of India
Religion/Religious Views
According to sources, Anirban is an atheist. [3]Anandabazar Patrika
Caste
He is a Bengali Brahmin.
Signature
Anirban Bhattacharya’s signature
Career
Theatre
In 2005, Anirban joined Uhinee Kolkata, a theatre group and took theatre and drama training under Adrija Dasgupta, an alumnus of the National School of Drama. In the same year, he made his acting debut with a Bengali-language theatrical production named Bijalibala-r Mukti. In 2006, he worked as an actor in the play Tumi Dak Diyechho Kon Shokale, wherein he played multiple characters. In 2017, he appeared in Dure Baje in which he worked as a narrator. Subsequently, he appeared in various Bengali theatrical productions like Shilpi (2008), Amar Atmahatya Kalin Jabanbandi (2009), and Raja Lear (2010). In 2010, he started working as a theatre artist at Minerva, a Kolkata theatre built in 1983. Later, Anirban appeared in various theatrical productions like Iccher Oli Goli (2015), Awdyo Shesh Rajani (2016), Athhoi (2016), and Ghore Baire (2022).
Anirban Bhattacharya as Lago in a still from Arna Mukhopadhyayâs theatrical production Athhoi (2016)
In an interview, Anirban talked about his career in theatre and said,
Whatever I have achieved is because of theatre. However, I donât see theatre and films as two different things. Of course, they are different in terms of the medium. But I donât consciously incorporate anything from theatre to cinema or vice versa. I think they are linked with each other. I canât really differentiate. Though they are different in form, I bring the same craft and effort to both mediums.”
Films
Bengali
In 2013, Anirban made his film debut with the Bengali film Kolkata-r King in which he played the role of Judhajit Sarkar.
Anirban Bhattacharya as Judhajit Sarkar in a still from the Bengali film Kolkata-r King
In 2015, he worked in many Bengali movies like Kader Kuler Bou, Jodi Bolo Hyan, Ebhabeo Fire Asha Jaye, and Arshinagar. Anirban has appeared in various Bengali films like Shahjahan Regency (2019), Detective (2020), and Bllabhpurer Roopkotha (2022).
Hindi
In 2023, he made his Bollywood debut with the film Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway opposite Rani Mukerji in which he played the role of Mr Chatterjee; the Hindi film is based on a real story and Anirban portrayed the role of Anurup Bhattacharya.
Anirban Bhattacharya as Mr Chatterjee (left) in a still from the Hindi film Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway (2023)
Television
In 2015, he made his television debut with the Zee Bangla television show Kader Kul-er Bou in which he played the role of Kanad Brahma.
A poster of the Zee Bangla television show Kader Kul-er Bou (2015)
In the same year, he worked in two television shows named Jodi Bolo Hyan and Ebhabeo Phire Asha Jaye. Subsequently, Anirban has appeared in many television shows like Mahalaya (2016), Apur Sangsar (2017), Hushiar Bangla (2017), and Bhoomikanya (2018).
Web series
In 2017, he made his digital debut with the hoichoi web series Byomkesh in which he portrayed the titular role; Anirban appeared in four seasons of the web series Byomkesh that premiered between 2017-19.
A poster of the hoichoi web series Byomkesh (2017)
In 2018, Anirban worked on the hoichoi film Laboratory, based on Rabindranath Tagore’s short story, wherein he portrayed the role of Soumik Chattopadhyay.
Anirban Bhattacharya as Soumik Chattopadhyay in a still from the hoichoi Bengal-language film Laboratory
In 2019, he appeared in the web film Manbhanjan in which he played the role of Gopinath. In the same year, he appeared in the hoichoi film Gopone Prem Chharan, wherein he played the role of Indrojit.
Director
In 2008, Anirban made his directorial debut with the Bengali-language theatrical production Amader Dana Nei. In 2009, he ventured towards proscenium theatre in his second Hindi-language directorial venture âTowards A Dream Cityâ. Anirban Bhattacharya founded his theatre group “Sangharam Hatibagan” in 2010. He has directed many theatrical productions like Guru, Chowmatha, Udorniti, Pontu Laha 2.0, and Mondar. In 2022, he directed the Bengali language film Ballavpurer Rupkotha which was an adaption of a play of the same name, created by legendary Bengali theatre personality Badal Sarkar.
A poster of the Bengali film Ballavpurer Rupkotha (2023)
Singer
In 2018, Anirban made his playback debut with the Bengali song “Kichchu Chaini Ami” from the film Shah Jahan Regency. Subsequently, Anirban lent his voice to many Bengali songs like “Priyotama” from Dracula Sir (2020), “Badal Sircar Er Gaan” from Ballabhpurer Roopkotha (2022), and “Bibagi Phone” from Dilkhush (2023).
Radio
In 2018, Anirban made his voice actor debut in Radio Mirchi Kolkata’s drama series, Sunday Suspense, wherein he worked as a guest narrator in an episode named Sati Shobhona. Subsequently, he worked as a voice-over artist in many episodes of Radio Mirchi’s show Sunday Suspense like Jadu Daktar-er Patient (2018), Tumi Sandhyaro Megh (2018), Sarbanashini (2019), and Daraoga Priyonath (2019).
A poster of Radio Mirchi’s show Sunday Suspense episode Jadu Daktar-er Patient (2018)
Controversies
Facebook page admin accused Anirban of harassment
In 2022, the admin of Anirban Bhattacharya’s official Facebook page alleged that she was mentally tortured and abused by Anirban. According to sources, a fan page for Anirban was started in 2018 by a female social media user. Later, with the consent of Anirban, the page was turned into an official page; however, reportedly, Anirban never made any official contract or documentation with the Facebook page. The admin of the page shared a post against Anirban and his PR team and revealed that she often received directives from his team for sharing promotional posts and was threatened to post them immediately to avoid legal action.
A snip of the post shared by Anirban’s Facebook page admin
In the same post, the admin revealed that when she confronted Anirban about the issue, he blocked him from his contact. The admin wrote,
On making us work for him in silence, for nothing. For years, we actively kept growing this page but also at the same time, failing to see the possible red flags. Along this time, he was into an exclusive acting contract with one of the biggest production houses in the region and soon all his works, promotions began to be cross promoted on this official platform by us on the direct command of that house and its employees. It began with a simple “please post the trailer from the page, please post that”, to “Post it immediately, otherwise I will take legal action” (Even though they were the ones committing the crime for making us do forceful work without minimum wage and on no employment grounds )
Anirban slammed for criticizing Kartik Aaryan
Following the release of Kartik Aaryan‘s starrer film in 2022, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, Anirban congratulated Kartik on his project in a tweet. In the same tweet, Anirban mentioned a Bengali word mispronounced by Kartik in the film. In one of his dialogues in the film, Kartik pronounced the Bengali word âkaalâ, which in English means âtomorrowâ, as âkol.â Anirban tweeted,
Hello friend @TheAaryanKartik Congratulations for your new car/Chinese food table. Just remember ‘tomorrow’ is not ‘kol’ or ‘call’ in bangla. It’s ‘kaal’ / àŠàŠŸàŠČ/ à€à€Ÿà€Čà„€.”
Soon after Anirban criticized Kartik for the pronunciation, he faced severe backlash from many netizens on Twitter. [4]The Times of India
Trolled for shooting nude scenes for the film Ghya Chang Fou (2017)
In 2020, Anirban was brutally trolled by a section of netizens after a video clip from his film Ghyachang Phu went viral; in one of the scenes of the Bengali film, Anirban was seen nude with his co-actor. Soon after the video went viral, Anirban, in an interview, said that following the controversy, he decided that he would not do any nude scenes. He said,
It (the Ghaichang Phu scene) was a self-test. That I am wearing clothes is an external vision, but that scene was a self-examination of whether I am free from the internal visions. After this controversy, a famous director told me, ‘I’m thinking of you for a web series with back nudity. I told Satan I wouldn’t do it” [5]Hindustan Times
Awards, Honours, Achievements
- He was awarded the Nirad Baran Memorial Award by Mr Gopal Krishna Gandhi, the then Governor of West Bengal.
- In 2011, Anirban won the Best Theatre Actor Award in the male category for his performances in King Lear at the Big Rising Star award.
- He has received Syamal Sen Smriti Sanman Awards from the theatre group Swapna Sandhani for his dual role in the theatrical production Devi Sarpamasta(2016).
- Anirban received the Best Actor Award for the theatrical production Devi Sarpamasta at the Sudrak Sanman Awards.
- He has won the Sundaram Sanman Awards for Theatre Acting.
- Anirban won the Best Actor Award for his dual role in the theatrical production Nagamandala(2013) at the Zee Bangla Gaurab Awards.
- In 2017, he won the Best Supporting Actor Award for playing Bishan Roy in Eagoler Chokh(2016) at the Filmfare Awards.
Anirban Bhattacharya won the Best Supporting Actor Award for playing Bishan Roy in Eagoler Chokh (2016) at the Filmfare Awards
- In 2017, he won the META Award for Excellence in Theatre.
- In 2017, he won the Best Promising Actor Award at the West Bengal Film Journalists Association Awards.
- In 2019, he won the Best Actor (Popular) Award for the film Ghawre Bairey Aaj (2019) directed by Aparna Sen at the Telangana Bengali Film Festival.
- In 2019, he won the Best Actor (Critics Choice) Award for the film Ghawre Bairey Aaj(2019) directed by Aparna Sen at the Telangana Bengali Film Festival.
- In 2020, he won the Best Actor in a Comic Role Award for the film Bibaho Obhijaan(2019) directed by Birsa Dasgupta at the West Bengal Film Journalists Awards.
Anirban Bhattacharya won the Best Actor in a Comic Role Award for the film Bibaho Obhijaan (2019) directed by Birsa Dasgupta in the West Bengal Film Journalists Awards
- In 2020, he won the Best Playback Singer Award for the song Kichchu Chaini Aami in the Bengali film Shahjahan Regency directed by Srijit Mukherji at the 4th West Bengal Film Journalists Awards.
- In 2023, Anirban was nominated for the Best Film Award for the Bengali film Ballabhpurer Roopkotha (2022) at the West Bengal Film Journalists’ Association Awards.
Facts/Trivia
- In an interview, Anirban Bhattacharya recalled his childhood days and said he was not good at academics. Anirban said,
I was born in Midnapore town. It was a different world. There were vast open spaces, playgrounds. I used to love playing. Though I was not very studious, I never failed in any class. I spent my childhood mostly playing in the fields, ghats and river banks. The place has changed beyond recognition. I have good memories of my childhood.”
- In 2004, Anirban, during his initial days in Kolkata, used to share a room with the Indian cricketer Ashok Dinda. [6]Hindustan Times
- He follows a non-vegetarian diet. [7]Indulge Express
- Anirban, a fan of football, is a supporter of the Argentina National Football Team. [8]Hindustan Times
- In an interview, Anirban talked about his career as a theatre artist and said that his five favourite theatrical productions are Othoi, FM Mahanagar, Adyo Shesh Rajani, Karu Basana, and Titumir. Anirban said,
My top five picks will be Othoi, FM Mahanagar, Adyo Shesh Rajani, Karu Basana, Titumir. The reason is not just because I played a part in all of these but because it enhanced my journey and my personal growth in every aspect.”
- In 2010, he visited Baro Urma Village, Purulia, West Bengal to receive training in Chhau, an ancient folk dance of West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Orissa.
- In 2018, Anirban was ranked ninth among the most desirable man in Tollywood, according to Calcutta Times. [9]The Times of India
- Following Anirban’s marriage to Madhurima Goswami on 26 November 2020, the couple was brutally trolled on social media. Reportedly, Madhurima was also body-shamed by the netizens. In an interview, Anirban talked about the trolling comments he received and said,
I am not much into social media, so I am not aware of who is saying what about my wedding. More so because I am really busy at this moment and donât have time to check anything. I have achieved this position after a lot of hard work, so reacting to all this is futile. Accountability modhey dhorina ei sob jinish gulo ke.”
- Anirban’s wife, Madhurima Goswami’s father is Niranjan Goswami, a famous mime artist and stage director.
- In 2023, Anirban was slammed by a Tollywood film producer Rana Sarkar on a social media post. Talking about Anirban’s starred film Mitthye Premer Gaan (2023), Rana referred to Anirban as “poor manâs Al Pacino.” In the same social media post, Rana revealed that Anirban has a fixed monthly salary of Rs 10 lakhs from a Bengali production house. Rana Sarkar wrote,
In the first two days of the release of the poor manâs Al Pacinoâs new film, could not even collect Rs one lakh in the box office. Shah Rukh Khan said he would come back, but who would know that âKhokaâ would vanish? Still, the intellectual snobbery will go on. He cannot make his film go on to the second week. Still, pretentious dialogues will go on.â Borrowing from an old Bengali adage, he further punned, âThe wild animals are good in the forest and some stars on the lap of OTT. And we have nothing to do, we will not go elsewhere, we will stay in this country.”
- Anirban likes to draw doodles, sketch, and do photography in his leisure time.
A sketch by Anirban Bhattacharya
- A fitness enthusiast, Anirban, often shares his post-workout pictures on various social media platforms.
- Anirban is often spotted smoking cigarettes on various occasions.
A photograph of Anirban Bhattacharya smoking
References
