Victor Banerjee


Victor Banerjee is an Indian actor who appears in English, Hindi, Bengali and Assamese language films. He has worked with directors such as Roman Polanski, James Ivory, Sir David Lean, Jerry London, Ronald Neame, Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen, Shyam Benegal, and Montazur Rahman Akbar. He won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for the film Ghare Baire. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian award, in 2022 for his contribution to cinema by the Indian Government in the field of art.

Personal life

While in Calcutta, Banerjee performed in plays. He also performed during his time in Bombay.
He has a daughter who was a VFX supervisor for 16 years.

Art aficionado

Banerjee established The Calcutta Art Gallery in the late 1970s which was the first commercial art gallery in the city.

Film career

In 1984, Banerjee portrayed Dr. Aziz Ahmed in David Lean's film of A Passage to India, bringing him to the attention of western audiences. He was nominated for a BAFTA Award for the role in 1986, and won the Evening Standard British Film Award and NBR Award for it. In April 1985, Banerjee received the "Show-a-Rama Award" from the Motion Picture Association of America as "New International Star."
He acted in Merchant Ivory Productions Hullabaloo Over Georgie and Bonnie's Pictures, Satyajit Ray's Shatranj Ke Khilari and Ghare Baire and in Mrinal Sen's Mahaprithivi. On the set of Gunday starring Priyanka Chopra, Banerjee has said that he feels "all work is a challenge and therefore fun."
He was also cast in the critically acclaimed role of God in the 1988 production of the York Mystery Plays, by director Steven Pimlott. He was the first Asian to play a lead role in British Theatre.

Filmography

Shatranj Ke Khilari - Prime MinisterHullabaloo Over Georgie and Bonnie's Pictures Dui Prithibi Pikoo Kalyug Jaipur Junction Arohan Doosri Dulhan Protidan Tanaya Ghare Baire A Passage to India - AzizPratigya Pratikar Ekanta Apon Foreign Body Dadah Is Death Aagoon MadhubanDebota Aakrosh ByabodhanLathi Mahaprithibi Bitter Moon True Adventures of Christopher Columbus Moner Moto Mon Dada Thakur (2001 film) Manush keno Beiman Deva (2002 film)Antarghaat Bhoot Joggers' Park Bow Barracks Forever

Awards and nominations

Civilian Awards

Political career

Banerjee unsuccessfully contested the 1991 Lok Sabha election in Calcutta North West from the Bharatiya Janata Party. He got 89,155 votes and stood third.
As an active member of the BJP, he was critical of Mulayam Singh Yadav's order to shoot the Karsevaks who had once climbed the Babri Masjid prior to its demolition.
He has been highly critical of what he called Navjot Singh Sidhu's pacifist attitude to terrorism exported from Pakistan.