Moon Moon Sen is an Indian actress, politician, and philanthropist. From a daughter to a wife to an actress and then a politician, Moon Moon has gone a long way to making a name for herself. From just being Suchitra Sen’s daughter, Moon Moon wanted to create an identity for herself in the film industry and in society.
Moon Moon’s Life Snippet
Moon Moon Sen (sometimes called Munmun Sen or Moonmoon Sen) was born in Kolkata on March 28, 1954. Her mother, Suchitra Sen, was the legendary Bengali actress widely known by non-Bengali movie fans for her role in Hindi movies like Devdas with Dilip Kumar and Aandhi, in which she was paired with Sanjeev Kumar, who was seven years younger than her. Sen is considered one of India’s greatest artists.
Her father was Dibanath Sen. Moon Moon Sen’s father was a wealthy entrepreneur in Kolkata. Her grandfather, Adinath Sen, was also a massive entrepreneur from Kolkata. Her great-grandfather, Dinanath Sen, was the Diwan (minister) of the Maharaja of Tripura.
Moon Moon Sen’s Husband, Bharat Dev Varma, belongs to the royal family of Tripura.
Her father, Dibanath Sen, left Moon Moon and her mother, Suchitra Sen, when she was young.
| Name | Moon Moon Sen |
| DOB | March 28, 1954 |
| Age | 71 |
| Mother Name | Suchitra Sen |
| Father Name | Dibanath Sen |
| Education | Masters |
| College | Somerville College, Jadavpur University |
| Schooling | Loreto Convent School |
| Height | 5 feet 1 inch |
| Debut Movie | Andar Bahar |
| Husband Name | Bharat Dev Varma |
| Children | Raima Sen and Riya Sen |
| Vital stats | 38-32-38 |
| Last movie | Bow Barracks For Ever |
| Boyfriend | Saif Ali Khan (Rumored) |
| MP year | 2014 |
| Party | TMC |
| Smoke | Yes |
| Drink | Yes |
Schooling and College of Moon Moon Sen
Moon Moon Sen attended Loreto Convent School, Shillong, and later Loreto House, Kolkata. After school, she went to England and earned her degree from Somerville College, Oxford University. Later, she got her master’s degree from Jadavpur University.
Love for Art
Moon Moon Sen has been fascinated by art since childhood. She has also learned painting from the great painter Jamini Roy, a close friend of her father. She also taught at the Ballygunge Government High School for one year, as she taught graphics.
She also knows French, Latin, and German language. She learned it during her college days in the UK.
Acting Career
Moon Moon Sen started her acting career in 1984, when she was married and the mother of two daughters. Her husband, Bharat Dev Verma, encouraged her to pursue her career.
She made her Bollywood debut with Andar Bahar, in which she co-starred with Anil Kapoor and Jackie Shroff. Due to her bold roles in the movie, she also caused many headlines and controversies.
In the 1991 Hindi movie 100 Days, Moon Moon Sen worked with actors like Madhuri Dixit, Jackie Shroff, and Javed Jaffrey. In this movie, Moon Moon Sen played the role of Madhuri Dixit’s elder sister.
After 1994, Moon Moon Sen was not active in the film world. She returned to the Industry in 2003 with the movie Kuch Toh Hai, which was influenced by a 1997 English movie, “I Know What You Did in Last Summer.” In this movie, her co-stars were Rishi Kapoor, Tusshar Kapoor, and Esha Deol.
Moon Moon has worked as a lead and sometimes as a supporting actress in Hindi, Bengali, Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, and English movies. For the 1987 Telugu film Sirivennela, she received the Nandi Award for Best Supporting Actress.
In the 2007 Hindi-English movie Bow Barracks Forever, she played a bold character despite being 53 years old, which hardly anyone else could have played at that age.
She has also received the Kalakendra Screen Award for best supporting actress.
Her 2004 film My Karma earned her international praise. The film received international awards and recognition for her as a “tough and sweet Indian wife, standing like a rock behind her husband.”
Personal Life
On February 24, 1978, Moon Moon married Bharat Dev Varma, a member of the royal family of Tripura.
Moon Moon Sen’s Daughters
The couple has two daughters. Raima Sen, born in 1979, and Riya Sen, born in 1981. Both her daughters work as actors in Hindi and other Indian films, and both also do modelling.
Moon Moon Sen Daughters
Raima Sen started her movie career with the movie Godmother. After that, she shared screen space with Shabana Azmi, Milind Gunaji, and Sharman Joshi. It is a fact that Raima Sen and her sister Sen both started their acting career with Sharman Joshi.
Riya Sen made her Hindi film debut as one of the lead actors in the movie “Style”, which also featured Sharman Joshi, Sahil Khan, and Shilpi Sharma. The film was a hit among youths, and Riya got the limelight as a new leading actor.
Riya Sen is seen in her latest web series, Pati Patni Aur Woh, on MX Original.
In many interviews, Moon Moon has said that her husband is very supportive and is not even reactive about the male attention that she gets. She describes her husband as her best friend.
Politics
Winning in 2014
As written on her nomination form, Moon Moon (SREEMATI DEV VARMA) was an Indian Trinamool Congress TMC candidate from the Bankura constituency in the 2014 Lok Sabha election. She won with a 98506 vote margin and defeated ex-MP Basudeb Acharia of the CPI(M), a nine-time MP.
In 2015, Sen praised Prime Minister Modi and said that he had done a good job winning so many seats and that we should give him a chance. Her party distanced itself from her statement, citing that it was her personal opinion.
2019 Election
During the 2019 election, Moon Moon made a bizarre excuse when asked why she was late reaching the rally place. She said she woke up late and got tea in bed late.
However, in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, she lost to BJP candidate Babul Supriyo from Asansol by 1,97,637 votes. Babul Supriyo recently joined TMC after leaving the BJP.
Rumoured affair
It was rumoured in the 1990s film world that Moon Moon Sen was dating Saif Ali Khan. Later, Saif Ali Khan married Amrita Singh.
Moon Moon Sen wanted her long-time friend and painter, Wasim Kapoor, to paint her without clothes, but the news leaked to the media, and the idea never materialized.
Supporting Roopa Ganguli
At the 2016 West Bengal assembly election, TMC leader Rezzak Mollah made vulgar remarks on Roopa Ganguly.
In an interview, Moon Moon Sen lashed out at Rezzak Mollah, a party member, and supported Roopa Ganguli.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Moon Moon Sen |
| Date of Birth | March 28, 1954 |
| Place of Birth | Calcutta (now Kolkata), West Bengal, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | Actress, Former Model |
| Education | Graduate from Loreto College, Kolkata |
| Debut Film | Hindi movie Andheri Raat Mein (1979) |
| Famous For | Known for roles in Bengali and Bollywood films, including Chokher Bali (2003), Khatta Meetha (1978) |
| Notable Films | *Basu Chatterjee’s Khatta Meetha (1978), *Satyajit Ray’s Chokher Bali (2003), Bengali film Yatri (1978) |
| Family | Daughter of the legendary actress Suchitra Sen; mother of actress Riya Sen and actress Raima Sen |
| Marriage | Married to Dr. Bharat Sen |
| Awards | Won several awards for her acting performances in Bengali cinema |
| Social Media Presence | Not very active on social media |
| Languages Spoken | Bengali, Hindi, English |
| Philanthropy | Involved in various charitable causes |
Moon Moon Sen Filmography
| Year | Movie Title | Language | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Chorus | Bengali | Unknown | Her debut—directed by Mrinal Sen, a subtle start to a dazzling career. |
| 1981 | 36 Chowringhee Lane | English | Cameo (uncredited) | A blink-and-miss role in this Aparna Sen classic—her English-language toe-dip. |
| 1982 | Chiriyo Chiri | Malayalam | Unknown | Early regional venture—details are scarce but marks her South Indian entry. |
| 1982 | Rajbadhu | Bengali | Unknown | A lesser-known Bengali outing—her roots showing through. |
| 1983 | Rajeshwari | Bengali | Unknown | Another Bengali gem, quietly building her portfolio. |
| 1984 | Andar Baahar | Hindi | Reema Sen | Bollywood debut with Anil Kapoor—bold and controversial, setting her apart. |
| 1985 | Ajantay | Bengali | Unknown | Directed by Tapan Sinha—a detective role that flopped but showed her range. |
| 1985 | Baidurya Rahasya | Bengali | Detective | A mystery flick with Tapan Sinha—her sleuthing skills didn’t win over critics. |
| 1986 | Aval Kaathirunnu Avanum | Malayalam | Unknown | A hit with Mammootty—her Malayalam breakthrough, proving her regional pull. |
| 1986 | Jaal | Hindi | Unknown | A success with Mithun Chakraborty and Rekha—her only 1986 Hindi win. |
| 1986 | Musafir | Hindi | Unknown | A forgettable outing with Rekha—didn’t leave a mark. |
| 1986 | Mohabbat Ki Kasam | Hindi | Unknown | Another 1986 miss—lost in the crowd of releases. |
| 1986 | Sheesha | Hindi | Unknown | With Mithun again—forgettable despite the star power. |
| 1986 | Amar Kantak | Bengali | Unknown | Won a Bengal Film Journalists’ Association Award—her regional cred grew. |
| 1987 | Majnu | Telugu | Unknown | A record-breaking Telugu debut with Nagarjuna—her South Indian star rose. |
| 1987 | Sirivennela | Telugu | Unknown | K. Viswanath’s acclaimed film—earned her a Nandi Award for Best Supporting Actress. |
| 1987 | Pyar Ki Jeet | Hindi | Unknown | A quiet Hindi release—didn’t stir much buzz. |
| 1988 | Woh Phir Aayegi | Hindi | Unknown | With Rajesh Khanna—middling response, but her presence stood out. |
| 1989 | Yuga Purusha | Kannada | Unknown | A remake of Karz—highest-grossing Kannada film of ‘89, her Kannada debut soared. |
| 1989 | Apna Desh Paraye Log | Hindi | Unknown | A lesser-known Hindi flick—faded into obscurity. |
| 1989 | Tere Bina Kya Jeena | Hindi | Unknown | Another quiet Hindi outing—didn’t catch fire. |
| 1990 | Bahaar Aane Tak | Hindi | Renu | A dramatic role—showed her emotional depth, though the film was average. |
| 1990 | Jeevan Ek Sanghursh | Hindi | Shivani | With Anil Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit—solid but not a standout for her. |
| 1990 | Ek Din Achanak | Hindi | Unknown | A mystery flick—her role was small but intriguing. |
| 1990 | Halaat | Hindi | Unknown | Another Hindi obscurity—details are thin. |
| 1990 | Iraada | Hindi | Geeta | A minor role in a minor film—didn’t make waves. |
| 1990 | Byabadhan | Bengali | Unknown | A Bengali return—kept her regional ties alive. |
| 1990 | Chakranta | Bengali | Unknown | Another Bengali venture—details remain elusive. |
| 1991 | Lekin… | Hindi | Pammi | With Vinod Khanna and Dimple Kapadia—haunting and memorable. |
| 1991 | Vishkanya | Hindi | Mrs. Sonal Vikram Singh | A thriller with Pooja Bedi—her venomous turn was a highlight. |
| 1991 | 100 Days | Hindi | Rama | With Madhuri Dixit—a suspense hit, her role added spice. |
| 1991 | Pyar Ka Saudagar | Hindi | Monalisa/Maria | A dual role—showed her versatility, though the film flopped. |
| 1991 | Patthar Ke Insaan | Hindi | Bar Dancer | A cameo with Sridevi—small but sizzling. |
| 1991 | Thikana | Bengali | Unknown | A Bengali sidestep—kept her grounded in her roots. |
| 1991 | Lakhi Durga Saraswati | Bengali | Unknown | A regional role—scarce details, but part of her Bengali legacy. |
| 1992 | Hirer Angti (The Diamond Ring) | Bengali | Unknown | A mystery flick—her Bengali streak continued. |
| 1992 | Waqt Ka Badshah | Hindi | Anita | A dramatic role—didn’t lift the film’s fate. |
| 1992 | Mahashoy | Bengali | Unknown | Another Bengali outing—quiet but consistent. |
| 1992 | Krodhi | Hindi | Unknown | A lesser-known Hindi flick—lost in the ‘90s shuffle. |
| 1992 | Seeta Salma Suzy | Hindi | Unknown | An obscure title—details are a mystery. |
| 1992 | Lal Pahari | Bengali | Unknown | A Bengali venture—kept her regional flame burning. |
| 1993 | Zakhmi Rooh | Hindi | Seema/Reema | A horror flick with Javed Jaffrey—eerie and engaging. |
| 1993 | Vaishakada Dinagalu | Kannada | Unknown | Another Kannada try—details are slim. |
| 1993 | Bulund | Hindi | Unknown | A Hindi obscurity—didn’t break through. |
| 1994 | Zakhmi Dil | Hindi | Mala | With Akshay Kumar—a dramatic role in a middling film. |
| 1994 | Gentle Man Security | Malayalam | Unknown | A late Malayalam stint—scarce info, but part of her South Indian arc. |
| 1994 | Sopan | Marathi | Unknown | Her Marathi debut—quiet but a new feather in her cap. |
| 1994 | Gajamukta | Marathi | Unknown | Another Marathi role—details remain elusive. |
| 1999 | Inteqam Aurat Ka | Hindi | Unknown | A late ‘90s Hindi return—low-key and forgettable. |
| 1999 | Sanghat | Bengali | Unknown | A Bengali comeback—kept her regional ties strong. |
| 2000 | Ganga Dacait | Hindi | Unknown | An obscure Hindi flick—barely a ripple. |
| 2000 | Aaja Mere Raja | Hindi | Unknown | Another quiet Hindi outing—details are thin. |
| 2000 | Bharat India Hindustan | Hindi | Cameo (Yellow Pages song) | A quirky cameo—small but fun. |
| 2001 | Andheri Raaton Mein | Hindi | Unknown | A low-budget Hindi flick—didn’t shine. |
| 2001 | 12 B | Tamil | Sulo | Her Tamil debut—a poignant role in a sleeper hit. |
| 2001 | Se Aamar Prem | Bengali | Unknown | A Bengali romance—kept her roots alive. |
| 2002 | Agni Balaka | Bengali | Unknown | Another Bengali venture—details are scarce. |
| 2003 | Kucch To Hai | Hindi | Madam Sexena | A thriller with Tusshar Kapoor—her Bollywood return fizzled. |
| 2003 | Love at Times Square | Hindi | Sweety’s Mother | A Dev Anand flop—her role was warm but wasted. |
| 2003 | Taj Mahal: A Monument of Love | Hindi | Unknown | A historical drama—details on her part are fuzzy. |
| 2003 | Vacation Blues (Nil Nirjane) | Bengali | Unknown | A Bengali vacation tale—her regional love endured. |
| 2004 | Bow Barracks Forever | English/Hindi | Rosa | A poignant role in an Anglo-Indian tale—quietly brilliant. |
| 2004 | My Karma | English | Mrs. Mallik | A short film—her English-language depth shone through. |
| 2005 | It Was Raining That Night | English/Hindi | Jaya Dixit | A cross-cultural drama—her role added gravitas. |
| 2010 | Natobar Notout | Bengali | Nightclub Crooner | A quirky cameo—her voice stole the show. |
| 2012 | Baarood (The Fire) – A Love Story | Hindi | Unknown | A late Hindi outing—details are scarce but part of her legacy. |
| 2014 | Buno Haansh | Bengali | Madam | A dark thriller with Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury—her menace was chilling. |
| 2014 | Kolkata Calling | Bengali | Unknown | A regional return—kept her Bengali fans happy. |
| 2018 | Bhobishyoter Bhoot | Bengali | Unknown | A satirical ghost tale—her comeback was quirky and cool. |
| 2018 | Abar Basanta Bilap | Bengali | Unknown | A comedy flick—her 2024 return had fans buzzing (released late due to delays). |
| 2019 | Borodin – Hoichoi Original Film | Bengali | Unknown | K. Viswanath’s acclaimed film earned her a Nandi Award for Best Supporting Actress. |
Update about Moon Moon Sen
As of March 2025, Moon Moon Sen, the iconic Indian actress turned politician, remains intrigued and resilient. Recently, she faced a profound personal loss with the passing of her husband, Bharat Dev Varma, on November 19, 2024, at their Kolkata home.
Bharat, a scion of Tripura’s royal family, died at 83 after a sudden decline in health, leaving Moon Moon and their daughters, Raima and Riya Sen, to mourn. Moon Moon Sen, who was in Delhi with Raima then, rushed back, devastated yet composed, telling the press, “He was our shield—life won’t be the same.” The tragedy followed a fire that ravaged her Juhu flats in Mumbai earlier in 2024, a double blow she’s weathered with quiet strength.
Politically, the Trinamool Congress veteran keeps a lower profile since her 2019 Lok Sabha loss in Asansol to BJP’s Babul Supriyo. However, whispers of her judging Dance Bangla Dance Junior hint at a creative return. At 71, Moon Moon’s legacy—spanning over 60 films and a bold persona—endures. I’ve always admired her unapologetic spirit; even now, she’s a star gracefully navigating life’s unpredictable script.