When Mithun Chakraborty talked about days of struggle: sleeping on footpath, suicidal thoughts

Mithun Chakraborty is one of the renowned Bollywood actorswhose remarkable journey has and will inspire generations to come.

On Monday (Sept 30), the government of India announced that the veteran star will be conferred with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest honour in the field of cinema.

Upon learning that he would be honoured with the prestigious award, Chakraborty said that he had “never imagined that a boy from the footpath could receive such a big honour.”

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The three-time National Award-winning actor came from Kolkata and went on to become an icon of Indian cinema. However, his journey from drabto fab was not a cakewalk, he did go through a rough phase of struggle before becoming a star. Andthe actor has time and again talked about the struggles in his life before becoming a public icon.

When Mithun Chakraborty slept on footpath

Before making millions of people fans of his dance moves and earning the title of 'disco dancer', Mithun has seen a fair share of struggles in his life.

Talking about his struggle, Mithun said in an interview with ETC, "I won't talk about struggling days because it would break the spirits of many people. Everyone struggles, but my struggle has been so much...ki samajh lijiye footpath se aaya hoon, literally (I have literally come from the footpath)."

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Sharing that he had slept in five different gardens, he said, ''In Mumbai city, I have spent many days where I sometimes slept in Five Gardens, and sometimes slept in front of someone's hostel. A friend of mine got me a membership to Matunga Gymkhana so I could use the bathroom. I would go there in the morning and get fresh, brush my teeth, and then go on my way. Upon leaving, I didn't used to know where I will get my next meal or where will I sleep."

Mithun On Thoughts of Suicide

Talking about the tough phase, Mithun saidthat he even thought that he could end upcommitingsuicide in the end.

He added, "I don't want to break the spirits of those who are struggling. There were times when I thought I won't be able to do it, thought that maybe I will have to commit suicide in the end. There were a lot of reasons (behind his suicidal thoughts). I couldn't go back to Kolkata because of my political background and I could not do something. Please never think that it is right to end your life without fighting. But I had that in me that I didn't know how to lose, I would not take defeat even in sports."

Dadasaheb Phalke Award will be presented to Chakraborty at the 70th National Film Awards ceremony on October 8.