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{{Short description|Indian actor}}{{Use Indian English|date=September 2014}}
{{Short description|Indian actor (born 1946)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name               = Victor Banerjee
| name         = Victor Banerjee
| image             = VictorBanerjee.jpg
| image       = VictorBanerjee.jpg
| imagesize         =  
| imagesize   =  
| caption           = Victor Banerjee in 2013
| caption     = Banerjee in 2013
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1946|10|15}}
| birth_date   = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1946|10|15}}
| birth_place       = [[Calcutta]], [[British India]]
| birth_place = [[Calcutta]], India
| occupation         = [[Actor]]
| occupation   = Actor
| yearsactive       = 1977–present
| yearsactive = 1977–present
| spouse             = Maya Bhate Banerjee
| spouse       = Maya Bhate Banerjee
| children           = Keya Banerjee, Dia Banerjee
| children     = 2
| website           =  
| website     =  
| notable role       =  
| awards       = [[File:IND Padma Bhushan BAR.png|x15px]][[Padma Bhushan]] (2022)
}}
}}
'''Victor Banerjee''' is an Indian actor who appears in [[English language|English]], [[Hindi]], [[Bengali language|Bengali]] and [[Assamese language|Assamese]] language films. He has worked for directors such as [[Roman Polanski]], [[James Ivory]], Sir [[David Lean]], [[Jerry London]], [[Ronald Neame]], [[Satyajit Ray]], [[Mrinal Sen]], [[Shyam Benegal]], [[Montazur Rahman Akbar]] and [[Ram Gopal Varma]]. He won the [[National film award for best supporting actor]] for the film [[Ghare Baire]].
'''Victor Banerjee''' is an Indian actor who appears in English, [[Hindi]], [[Bengali language|Bengali]] and [[Assamese language|Assamese]] language films. He has worked for directors such as [[Roman Polanski]], [[James Ivory]], Sir [[David Lean]], [[Jerry London]], [[Ronald Neame]], [[Satyajit Ray]], [[Mrinal Sen]], [[Shyam Benegal]], [[Montazur Rahman Akbar]] and [[Ram Gopal Varma]]. He won the [[National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor]] for the film ''[[Ghare Baire (film)|Ghare Baire]]''. He was awarded the [[Padma Bhushan]], India's third highest civilian award, in 2022 by the Indian Government in the field of art.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-01-26|title=Padma Awards 2022: Complete list of recipients|url=https://www.livemint.com/news/padma-awards-2022-complete-list-of-recepient-11643162439142.html|access-date=2022-01-26|website=mint|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-01-26|title=Padma Honours: Victor Banerjee To Receive Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri For Sonu Nigam|url=https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/padma-honours-victor-banerjee-to-receive-padma-bhushan-padma-shri-for-sonu-nigam-2729611|access-date=2022-01-26|website=NDTV|language=en}}</ref>


==Early life and education==
==Early life and education==
Banerjee was born in a Zamindari Bengali Hindu family. He is a descendant of the Raja Bahadur of [[Chanchal]] ([[Malda District]]) and the Raja of [[Uttarpara]].
Banerjee was born in a [[Zamindar]]i [[Bengali Hindus|Bengali Hindu]] family. He is a descendant of the Raja Bahadur of [[Chanchal]] ([[Malda District]]) and the Raja of [[Uttarpara]].


Banerjee completed his schooling from [[St. Edmund's School, Shillong]]. He did his graduation in English literature from [[St. Xavier's College, Calcutta]]; and completed his post graduation in Comparative Literature from [[Jadavpur University]].
Banerjee completed his schooling from St. Edmund's School, Shillong. He did his graduation in English literature from [[St. Xavier's College, Calcutta]]; and completed his post graduation in Comparative Literature from [[Jadavpur University]].


He turned down a scholarship to [[Trinity College, Dublin|Trinity College in Dublin]], which had offered to him, through the Irish Christian Brothers, to admit him as an operatic tenor.
He turned down a scholarship to [[Trinity College, Dublin|Trinity College in Dublin]], which had offered to him, through the Irish Christian Brothers, to admit him as an operatic tenor.


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
He was the lead tenor in the Calcutta Light Opera Group production of ''[[The Desert Song]],'' and also played Jesus in Bombay Theatre's first ever musical production, ''[[Godspell]]''.
A man of many parts, Banerjee had a deep and abiding interest in theatre in the early years. While in Calcutta, he performed in plays for the British Council,British Women's Association and the theatre group Amateurs. He was the lead tenor in the Calcutta Light Opera Group production of ''[[The Desert Song]],''. During his time in Bombay he performed for the Cambridge Society, director Arun Sachdev and also played Jesus in Bombay Theatre's first ever musical production, ''[[Godspell]]''. He also played senior division hockey and football in the Bengal League in the 1960s. During the 1991 Uttarkashi Earthquake, he actively participated in relief work. He single-handedly led five mules loaded with relief materials plus carried a backpack of {{cvt|30|kg}} of milk and medicines to Pinswar village (which is beyond the tree line) just before the first winter snowfall and before the Govt supplies reached.  In December 1999, he and his wife Maya brought in the new millennium with hands-on participation in relief work in cyclone devastated Orissa which included rebuilding mud huts and clearing animal carcasses. The Moran Blind School in Assam founded by his father Maj S.N. Banerjee in 1971 is an Instituiton which Banerjee continues to  nurture and develop. Under his stewardship, it is now a full-fledged residential school. Recently, the students were the semi-finalists in the North East  Blind Football Championship and rated by a Bangalore-based organisation as one of the best schools for visually challenged students. His passion for Art lead him to establish The Calcutta Art Gallery in the late 1970s which was the  first commercial art gallery in the city. He brought in renowned artists such as M.F.Husain, Jehangir Sabavala, Anjolie Ela Menon, Bikash Bhattacharjee, Sakti Burman and many others to exhibit. He also actively promoted new talent and artists like Shyamal Roy had their first shows in the Gallery. He is the Brand Ambassador of the Srimants Sankaradeva Society of Assam and the Bird Watchers Society of Uttarakhand and the Goodwill Ambassador of the Dimasa Tribe of the Northeast Hill Tracts. He divides his time between his homes in Landour in Uttarakhand and in Kolkata.


He has a daughter who is a [[Visual effects|VFX]] supervisor.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.glamsham.com/movies/news/04/jul/26Victor.asp|title=Victor Banerjee's daughter walks a different road - bollywood news : glamsham.com|website=www.glamsham.com|access-date=2016-04-30}}</ref>
He has a daughter who was a reputable [[Visual effects|VFX]] supervisor for 16 years and is now an aspiring teacher.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.glamsham.com/movies/news/04/jul/26Victor.asp|title=Victor Banerjee's daughter walks a different road - bollywood news : glamsham.com|website=www.glamsham.com|access-date=2016-04-30}}</ref> His other daughter, a former Scientist, is settled in the U.S.


==Film career==
==Film career==
In 1984, Banerjee portrayed Dr. Aziz Ahmed in [[David Lean]]'s film of ''[[A Passage to India (film)|A Passage to India]]'', bringing him to the attention of western audiences.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/pune-times/The-return-of-Victor-Banerjee/articleshow/100227.cms|title=The return of Victor Banerjee - Times of India|website=The Times of India|access-date=2016-04-30}}</ref> He was nominated for a [[BAFTA award]] for the role in 1986, and won the [[Evening Standard British Film Award]] and [[NBR Award]] (National Board Review, USA) for it. In April 1985, at a special event in Louisiana where [[John Travolta]] and [[Loretta Swit]] were also honoured, Banerjee received the "Show-a-Rama Award" from the [[Motion Picture Association of America]] as "New International Star".
In 1984, Banerjee portrayed Dr. Aziz Ahmed in [[David Lean]]'s film of ''[[A Passage to India (film)|A Passage to India]]'', bringing him to the attention of western audiences.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/pune-times/The-return-of-Victor-Banerjee/articleshow/100227.cms|title=The return of Victor Banerjee - Times of India|website=The Times of India|access-date=2016-04-30}}</ref> He was nominated for a [[BAFTA award]] for the role in 1986, and won the [[Evening Standard British Film Award]] and [[NBR Award]] (National Board Review, USA) for it. Very few non Americans and no Asian has won the NBR Award for Best Actor. In April 1985, at a special event in Louisiana where [[John Travolta]] and [[Loretta Swit]] were also honoured, 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 (film)|Ghare Baire]]'' and in [[Mrinal Sen]]'s ''Mahaprithivi''. On the set of [[Gunday]] starring [[Priyanka Chopra]], Mr. Banerjee has said that he feels "all work is a challenge and therefore fun".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.news18.com/news/india/i-have-a-kitchen-to-run-victor-banerjee-defends-his-brief-role-in-gunday-669126.html|title=I have a kitchen to run: Victor Banerjee defends his brief role in 'Gunday'|website=News18|access-date=2016-04-30}}</ref>
He acted in [[Merchant Ivory Productions]] ''[[Hullabaloo Over Georgie and Bonnie's Pictures]]'', [[Satyajit Ray]]'s ''[[Shatranj Ke Khilari]]'' and ''[[Ghare Baire (film)|Ghare Baire]]'' and in [[Mrinal Sen]]'s ''Mahaprithivi''. On the set of [[Gunday]] starring [[Priyanka Chopra]], Mr. Banerjee has said that he feels "all work is a challenge and therefore fun".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.news18.com/news/india/i-have-a-kitchen-to-run-victor-banerjee-defends-his-brief-role-in-gunday-669126.html|title=I have a kitchen to run: Victor Banerjee defends his brief role in 'Gunday'|website=News18|date=18 February 2014|access-date=2016-04-30}}</ref>


Though has been involved with [[Bollywood]] in recent years, Banerjee is primarily affiliated with the [[Cinema of West Bengal|Bengali]] film industry. He also plays character roles from time to time in the British cinema.
Though has been involved with [[Bollywood]] in recent years, Banerjee is primarily affiliated with the [[Cinema of West Bengal|Bengali]] film industry. He also plays character roles from time to time in the British cinema.


He was also cast in the critically acclaimed role of "Jesus" in the 1988 production of the [[York Mystery Plays]], by director [[Steven Pimlott]].
He was also cast in the critically acclaimed role of "Jesus" 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.
 
In 1991, BBC and CBC of Canada produced a documentary titled "Return Journey" directed by John McGreevy on  six world celebrities. Banerjee, along with greats like Plácido Domingo, Kiri Te Kanawa and Jackie Stewart were featured as celebrities who refused to live away from their home countries.


Banerjee is the only person in India who has won the National Award in three categories: As a cinematographer, for his documentary ''Where No Journeys End'' (which, in competition with 3100 entries from 27 countries, also won the Gold Award at the Houston International Film Festival); as a director, for his documentary ''The Splendour of Garhwal and Roopkund''; and as an actor (Best Supporting Actor) for his work in Satyajit Ray's ''Ghare Baire''.
Banerjee is the only person in India who has won the National Award in three categories: As a cinematographer, for his documentary ''Where No Journeys End'' (which, in competition with 3100 entries from 27 countries, also won the Gold Award at the Houston International Film Festival); as a director, for his documentary ''The Splendour of Garhwal and Roopkund''; and as an actor (Best Supporting Actor) for his work in Satyajit Ray's ''Ghare Baire''.
Line 52: Line 55:
* ''[[Protidan]]'' (1983)
* ''[[Protidan]]'' (1983)
* ''[[Tanaya]]'' (1983)
* ''[[Tanaya]]'' (1983)
* ''[[Ghare Baire]]'' (1984, dir. Satyajit Ray) (English Title: The Home and the World)
* ''[[Ghare Baire (film)|Ghare Baire]]'' (1984, dir. Satyajit Ray) (English Title: The Home and the World)
* ''[[A Passage to India (film)|A Passage to India]]'' (1984, dir. David Lean) - Aziz
* ''[[A Passage to India (film)|A Passage to India]]'' (1984, dir. David Lean) - Aziz
* ''Pratigya'' (1985)
* ''Pratigya'' (1985)
* ''Pratikar'' (1987)
* ''Pratikar'' (1987)
* ''Ekanta Apan'' (1987)
* ''Ekanta Apan'' (1987)
* ''[[Foreign Body (1986 film)|Foreign Body]]'' (1986, dir.[[Ronald Neame]])
* ''[[Foreign Body (1986 film)|Foreign Body]]'' (1986, dir. [[Ronald Neame]])
* ''[[Dadah Is Death]]'' (1988)
* ''[[Dadah Is Death]]'' (1988)
* ''[[Aagoon]]'' (1988, Dir. Self)
* ''[[Aagoon]]'' (1988, Dir. Self)
Line 102: Line 105:
* ''[[Chakra (2016 film)|Chakra]]'' (2016) (dir.  [[Zubeen Garg]])
* ''[[Chakra (2016 film)|Chakra]]'' (2016) (dir.  [[Zubeen Garg]])
* ''[[Fever (2016 film)|Fever]]'' (2016)
* ''[[Fever (2016 film)|Fever]]'' (2016)
* ''Dev Bhoomi'' (2016) (dir. Goran Pascaljevic)
* ''Dev Bhoomi'' (2016) (dir. Goran Pascaljevic) Won Best Picture Award at the Bari International Film Festival in Italy
* ''[[Love Express (2016 film)|Dev Love Express]]''
* ''[[Love Express (2016 film)|Dev Love Express]]''
* ''[[Pensando en el]]''
* ''[[Pensando en el]]''
* ''[[The Answer (2018 film)|The Answer]]'' (2018)
* ''[[The Answer (2018 film)|The Answer]]'' (2018). Starred as Paramahansa Yoganand,the film won a record 17 major International Awards & 48 Nominations.
* ''[[Sannyasi Deshonayok]]'' (2020)
* ''[[High Life (2018 film)|High Life]]'' (2018) (English language film)
* ''[[Josef Born in Grace]]'' (2019) (dir Susant Misra)
* ''Sannyasi Deshonayok'' (2020)
{{div col end}}
{{div col end}}


==Awards and nominations==
==Awards and nominations==


=== Civilian Awards ===
* [[List of Padma Bhushan award recipients (2020–2029)|2022]] — '''[[Padma Bhushan]]''' — India's third highest civilian award.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 March 2022|title=Padma Awards 2022 List: CDS General Bipin Rawat among recipients; Full List of Padma Awards winners |url=https://m.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/padma-awards-2022-list-1647860792-1 |access-date=22 March 2022|website=Jagranjosh.com}}</ref>
=== Film awards ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year
!Year
Line 119: Line 128:
!Ref.
!Ref.
|-
|-
| [[National Board of Review Awards 1984|1984]]
! [[39th British Academy Film Awards|1986]]
| [[National Board of Review Awards]]
| [[BAFTA Awards]]
| rowspan="3"|''[[A Passage to India (film)|A Passage to India]]''
| ''[[A Passage to India (film)|A Passage to India]]''
| [[National Board of Review Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role|Best Actor in a Leading Role]]
| {{nom}}
| <ref name=BAFTA>{{cite web |url=http://awards.bafta.org/explore?year=1986&type=film+ |title=Awards Database: Search our record of winners & nominees, Year of Presentation: 1986, Award: Film |publisher=[[British Academy of Film and Television Arts]] |access-date=19 Jan 2020}}</ref>
|-
! 1986
| rowspan="2"|[[Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards]]
| ''[[Ghare Baire (film)|Ghare Baire]]''
| rowspan="2"|[[Bengal Film Journalists' Association – Best Actor Award|Best Actor]]
| {{won}}
|
|-
! 1997
| ''[[Lathi (1996 film)|Lathi]]
| {{won}}
| {{won}}
|<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20070929083457/http://www.nbrmp.org/awards/past.cfm?year=1984 National Board of Review of Motion Pictures :: Awards for 1984]</ref>
|
|-
|-
| 1985
! 1985
| [[Evening Standard British Film Awards]]
| [[Evening Standard British Film Awards]]
| rowspan="2"|''[[A Passage to India (film)|A Passage to India]]''
| Best Actor
| Best Actor
| {{won}}
| {{won}}
|
|
|-
|-
| [[39th British Academy Film Awards|1986]]
! [[National Board of Review Awards 1984|1984]]
| [[BAFTA Awards]]
| [[National Board of Review Awards]]
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role|Best Actor in a Leading Role]]
| [[National Board of Review Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]
| {{nom}}
| {{won}}
| <ref name=BAFTA>{{cite web |url=http://awards.bafta.org/explore?year=1986&type=film+ |title=Awards Database: Search our record of winners & nominees, Year of Presentation: 1986, Award: Film |publisher=[[British Academy of Film and Television Arts]] |access-date=2020-01-19}}</ref>
|<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070929083457/http://www.nbrmp.org/awards/past.cfm?year=1984 National Board of Review of Motion Pictures :: Awards for 1984]</ref>
|-
|-
| [[32nd National Film Awards|1985]]
! [[32nd National Film Awards|1985]]
| [[National Film Awards]]
| [[National Film Awards]]
| ''[[Ghare Baire (film)|Ghare Baire]]''
| ''[[Ghare Baire (film)|Ghare Baire]]''
| [[National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]]
| [[National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]]
| {{won}}
| {{won}}
| <ref name="32ndaward">{{cite web|url=http://dff.nic.in/images/Documents/85_32ndNfacatalogue.pdf|title=32nd National Film Awards|publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals|access-date=2 September 2020|archive-date=14 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191014151919/https://www.dff.nic.in/images/Documents/85_32ndNfacatalogue.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://dff.nic.in/images/Documents/85_32ndNfacatalogue.pdf|title=32nd National Film Awards|publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals|access-date=2 September 2020|archive-date=14 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191014151919/https://www.dff.nic.in/images/Documents/85_32ndNfacatalogue.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|-
|}
|}
==Political career==
==Political career==
Banerjee unsuccessfully contested the [[1991 Indian general election|1991 Lok Sabha election]] in [[Calcutta North West (Lok Sabha constituency)|Calcutta North West]] from the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]. He got 89,155 votes and stood third.<ref>{{Cite web|title=PC: Calcutta North West 1991|url=https://www.indiavotes.com/pc/detail/4978/9/10|access-date=2020-11-06|website=Indiavotes.com}}</ref>
Banerjee unsuccessfully contested the [[1991 Indian general election|1991 Lok Sabha election]] in [[Calcutta North West (Lok Sabha constituency)|Calcutta North West]] from the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]. He got 89,155 votes and stood third.<ref>{{Cite web|title=PC: Calcutta North West 1991|url=https://www.indiavotes.com/pc/detail/4978/9/10|access-date=2020-11-06|website=Indiavotes.com}}</ref>
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 of the Babri Masjid|demolition]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Banerjee |first1=Victor |title=A CHRISTENING IN BLOOD |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/opinion/a-christening-in-blood/cid/938331 |website=[[The Telegraph (India)|The Telegraph]] |access-date=18 October 2021}}</ref>
He has been highly critical of what he called [[Navjot Singh Sidhu]]'s pacifist attitude to terrorism exported from Pakistan.<ref>{{cite news |title=Victor Banerjee Slams Navjot Singh Sidhu |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/victor-banerjee-slams-navjot-singh-sidhu-119030900334_1.html |newspaper=Business Standard India |date=9 March 2019 |access-date=18 October 2021}}</ref>


== References ==
== References ==
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|title = Awards for Victor Banerjee
|title = Awards for Victor Banerjee
|list =
|list =
{{Padma Bhushan Award Recipients 2020–2029}}
{{National Board of Review Award for Best Actor}}
{{National Board of Review Award for Best Actor}}
{{NationalFilmAwardBestSupportingActor}}
{{NationalFilmAwardBestSupportingActor}}
Line 179: Line 207:
[[Category:21st-century Indian male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian male actors]]
[[Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from West Bengal]]
[[Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from West Bengal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in arts]]
[[Category:People associated with Shillong]]

Latest revision as of 22:52, 28 June 2022


Victor Banerjee
VictorBanerjee.jpg
Banerjee in 2013
Born (1946-10-15) 15 October 1946 (age 78)
Calcutta, India
OccupationActor
Years active1977–present
Spouse(s)Maya Bhate Banerjee
Children2
AwardsIND Padma Bhushan BAR.pngPadma Bhushan (2022)

Victor Banerjee is an Indian actor who appears in English, Hindi, Bengali and Assamese language films. He has worked for directors such as Roman Polanski, James Ivory, Sir David Lean, Jerry London, Ronald Neame, Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen, Shyam Benegal, Montazur Rahman Akbar and Ram Gopal Varma. 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 by the Indian Government in the field of art.[1][2]

Early life and education[edit]

Banerjee was born in a Zamindari Bengali Hindu family. He is a descendant of the Raja Bahadur of Chanchal (Malda District) and the Raja of Uttarpara.

Banerjee completed his schooling from St. Edmund's School, Shillong. He did his graduation in English literature from St. Xavier's College, Calcutta; and completed his post graduation in Comparative Literature from Jadavpur University.

He turned down a scholarship to Trinity College in Dublin, which had offered to him, through the Irish Christian Brothers, to admit him as an operatic tenor.

Personal life[edit]

A man of many parts, Banerjee had a deep and abiding interest in theatre in the early years. While in Calcutta, he performed in plays for the British Council,British Women's Association and the theatre group Amateurs. He was the lead tenor in the Calcutta Light Opera Group production of The Desert Song,. During his time in Bombay he performed for the Cambridge Society, director Arun Sachdev and also played Jesus in Bombay Theatre's first ever musical production, Godspell. He also played senior division hockey and football in the Bengal League in the 1960s. During the 1991 Uttarkashi Earthquake, he actively participated in relief work. He single-handedly led five mules loaded with relief materials plus carried a backpack of 30 kg (66 lb) of milk and medicines to Pinswar village (which is beyond the tree line) just before the first winter snowfall and before the Govt supplies reached. In December 1999, he and his wife Maya brought in the new millennium with hands-on participation in relief work in cyclone devastated Orissa which included rebuilding mud huts and clearing animal carcasses. The Moran Blind School in Assam founded by his father Maj S.N. Banerjee in 1971 is an Instituiton which Banerjee continues to nurture and develop. Under his stewardship, it is now a full-fledged residential school. Recently, the students were the semi-finalists in the North East Blind Football Championship and rated by a Bangalore-based organisation as one of the best schools for visually challenged students. His passion for Art lead him to establish The Calcutta Art Gallery in the late 1970s which was the first commercial art gallery in the city. He brought in renowned artists such as M.F.Husain, Jehangir Sabavala, Anjolie Ela Menon, Bikash Bhattacharjee, Sakti Burman and many others to exhibit. He also actively promoted new talent and artists like Shyamal Roy had their first shows in the Gallery. He is the Brand Ambassador of the Srimants Sankaradeva Society of Assam and the Bird Watchers Society of Uttarakhand and the Goodwill Ambassador of the Dimasa Tribe of the Northeast Hill Tracts. He divides his time between his homes in Landour in Uttarakhand and in Kolkata.

He has a daughter who was a reputable VFX supervisor for 16 years and is now an aspiring teacher.[3] His other daughter, a former Scientist, is settled in the U.S.

Film career[edit]

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.[4] He was nominated for a BAFTA award for the role in 1986, and won the Evening Standard British Film Award and NBR Award (National Board Review, USA) for it. Very few non Americans and no Asian has won the NBR Award for Best Actor. In April 1985, at a special event in Louisiana where John Travolta and Loretta Swit were also honoured, 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, Mr. Banerjee has said that he feels "all work is a challenge and therefore fun".[5]

Though has been involved with Bollywood in recent years, Banerjee is primarily affiliated with the Bengali film industry. He also plays character roles from time to time in the British cinema.

He was also cast in the critically acclaimed role of "Jesus" 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.

In 1991, BBC and CBC of Canada produced a documentary titled "Return Journey" directed by John McGreevy on six world celebrities. Banerjee, along with greats like Plácido Domingo, Kiri Te Kanawa and Jackie Stewart were featured as celebrities who refused to live away from their home countries.

Banerjee is the only person in India who has won the National Award in three categories: As a cinematographer, for his documentary Where No Journeys End (which, in competition with 3100 entries from 27 countries, also won the Gold Award at the Houston International Film Festival); as a director, for his documentary The Splendour of Garhwal and Roopkund; and as an actor (Best Supporting Actor) for his work in Satyajit Ray's Ghare Baire.

Filmography[edit]

Awards and nominations[edit]

Civilian Awards[edit]

Film awards[edit]

Year Award Film Category Result Ref.
1986 BAFTA Awards A Passage to India Best Actor in a Leading Role Nominated [8]
1986 Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards Ghare Baire Best Actor Won
1997 Lathi Won
1985 Evening Standard British Film Awards A Passage to India Best Actor Won
1984 National Board of Review Awards Best Actor Won [9]
1985 National Film Awards Ghare Baire Best Supporting Actor Won [10]

Political career[edit]

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.[11]

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.[12]

He has been highly critical of what he called Navjot Singh Sidhu's pacifist attitude to terrorism exported from Pakistan.[13]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ "Padma Awards 2022: Complete list of recipients". mint. 26 January 2022. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  2. ↑ "Padma Honours: Victor Banerjee To Receive Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri For Sonu Nigam". NDTV. 26 January 2022. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  3. ↑ "Victor Banerjee's daughter walks a different road - bollywood news : glamsham.com". www.glamsham.com. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  4. ↑ "The return of Victor Banerjee - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  5. ↑ "I have a kitchen to run: Victor Banerjee defends his brief role in 'Gunday'". News18. 18 February 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  6. ↑ Pisharoty, Sangeeta Barooah (17 April 2014). "A struggle still". The Hindu. Delhi. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  7. ↑ "Padma Awards 2022 List: CDS General Bipin Rawat among recipients; Full List of Padma Awards winners". Jagranjosh.com. 21 March 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  8. ↑ "Awards Database: Search our record of winners & nominees, Year of Presentation: 1986, Award: Film". British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  9. ↑ National Board of Review of Motion Pictures :: Awards for 1984
  10. ↑ "32nd National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 October 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  11. ↑ "PC: Calcutta North West 1991". Indiavotes.com. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  12. ↑ Banerjee, Victor. "A CHRISTENING IN BLOOD". The Telegraph. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  13. ↑ "Victor Banerjee Slams Navjot Singh Sidhu". Business Standard India. 9 March 2019. Retrieved 18 October 2021.

External links[edit]

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