Utpal Dutt is a big name in Bengali theatre and cinema; even after 29 years, he has passed away. He played most comic roles in his long list of Hindi films, but in Amitabh Bachchan’s first film, Saat Hindustani, he was also a Hindustani or a lead actor.
Born on 9th March 1929 in Barisal, British India (Now in Bangladesh) to Girijaranjan Dutta. He did his initial studies at St. Edment School, Shillong, and matriculation from St. Xaviers Collegiate School, Kolkata. He completed his graduation from St. Xaviers College, Calcutta University.
He was interested in stage drama from school and formed a theatre group called Little Theatre Group in 1949.
Before entirely immersing itself in highly political and radical theatre, this group enacted several English, Shakespearean, and Brecht pieces during the period now known as the “Epic Theatre.”
His group plays, such as Kallol (1965), Manusher Adhikar, Louha Manob (1964), Tiner Toloar, and Maha-Bidroha, were effective mediums for presenting his Marxist views.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Utpal Dutt |
| Date of Birth | March 29, 1929 |
| Place of Birth | Barisal, Bengal Presidency, British India (now Bangladesh) |
| Age (at Death) | 64 years |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Ethnicity | Indian (Bengali) |
| Family | Father: Girijaranjan Dutt (unknown profession); Mother: Unknown |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife | Shobha Sen (married 1960; Bengali actress and theatre artist) |
| Children | 1 daughter: Bishnupriya Dutt (theatre actress and professor) |
| Education | Matriculation from St. Xavier’s Collegiate School, Kolkata; English Literature (BA incomplete), Presidency College, Kolkata |
| Height | Approximately 5’8″ (1.73 m, estimated from visual references) |
| Weight | Approximately 70-75 kg (estimated; no official data) |
| Profession | Actor (Film, TV, Theatre), Theatre Director, Playwright, Writer |
| Debut (Theatre) | Founded Little Theatre Group (1947); staged The Man in the Iron Mask |
| Total Plays Written | Over 60 (e.g., Kallol, Angar, Tiner Talowar, Barricade) |
| Notable Plays | Kallol (1951), Angar (1959), Ajeya Vietnam (1966), Surya Shikar (1964), Tiner Talowar (1971) |
| Theatre Group | Little Theatre Group (1947-1993; later People’s Little Theatre); focused on political and social themes |
| Awards | Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1970), Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award (1993, posthumous), BFJA Awards (multiple) |
| Political Affiliation | Communist Party of India (CPI); later CPI(M); arrested in 1965 for revolutionary plays |
| Early Career | English theatre with Geoffrey Kendall’s Shakespeareana (1947-1950s); joined IPTA (Indian People’s Theatre Association) |
| Languages | Fluent in Bengali, English, Hindi |
| Books Written | On Theatre (1970s), Towards a Revolutionary Theatre (1982), Shakespeare-er Samaj Chetana (1980s) |
| Last Theatre Work | Directing Sesh Raksha (1993, ongoing at death) |
| Net Worth (Estimated) | ₹50-70 lakh (at death in 1993; speculative based on film/theatre earnings, adjusted for inflation) |
| Death | August 19, 1993 |
| Place of Death | Kolkata, West Bengal, India |
| Cause of Death | Heart attack |
| Residence | Kolkata, West Bengal, India (lived in Bhawanipur area) |
| Hobbies | Reading Shakespeare, writing, political activism, mentoring young actors |
| Personal Insights | Known for Marxist ideology; blended humour with social critique in art; jailed for anti-establishment plays |
| Controversies | Arrested in 1965 for Kallol (deemed seditious by Congress govt); banned plays during Emergency (1975-77) |
| Legacy | Pioneer of political theatre in India; iconic comedian in Hindi cinema; mentor to Bengali theatre artists |
Utpal Dutt in Movies
He started his movie career with the Bengali movie Michael Madhusudhan released in 1950 directed by Madhu Bose and was based on Bengali poet Michael Madhusudan Dutt.
Bhuban Shome was one of the major works of Indian Parallel Cinema in the 1970s. The movie, directed by Mrinal Sen, featured Utpal Dutt in the main role. For his performance in this film, he received the National Award for Best Actor in 1970.
From 1969 to 1979, he appeared in many Hindi and Bengali movies, including Bombay Talkie, Guddi, Ek Adhuri Kahani, Mere Jeevan Saathi, Sabse Bada Sukh, Amanush, and Julie.
But in Hindi cinema, he got a lot of prestige and work from Gol Maal directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee. Hrishikesh Mukherjee made neither art films nor commercial formula pictures.
In contrast to Utpal Dutt’s image in Golmaal, Bhavani Shankar’s role as one such character was related to the days. From Hero Amol Palekar to Dina Pathak, all the actors’ comedic performances are an example even today. But Utpal Dutt was hilarious, remaining serious, and received the Best Comedian Filmfare Award.
How “Achha” was spoken, even if today someone copies it, the audience understands that he is copying Utpal Dutt. In Hindi films, he would have been given lighthearted roles then. Who would have thought that this actor of the entertainment world started his career in English theatre? One of the reasons for this was that Utpal Dutt graduated with English as the main subject.
India’s famous English theatre artist, Geoffrey Kendall, was so impressed that he included Dutt in his group. From 1947 to 1953, Utpal Dutt was his companion wherever he did his plays in India.
In 1958, Geoffery Kendal’s daughter, Jenifer Kendall, married Sashi Kapoor. However, Utpal Dutt should not be identified by any such reference but by his contribution to theatre and films.
If you see him in the role of Bhavani Shankar, a bizarre courtesan in Golmaal, then it seems that in real life, he will be the same. In Shaukeen, the stingers who keep a single account of the money seemed equally natural.
No other director has used his comic timing more than Hrishikesh Mukherjee. Like Golmaal, his partner in “Naram Garam” was Amol Palekar, who received the Filmfare Award for Best Comedian for the film. Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Rang Birangi also gained the Filmfare Award for Best Comedian again for Utpal Dutt.
Along with such a prize, he met the most critical Hindi cinema criteria: the Box office. Not only did Utpal Dutt prove himself to be the best in a comedy role whenever he was cast in negative roles, but he also quickly did the villain roles.
He also acted in the 1990s detective serial Byomkesh Bakshi( in Episode No-3, Seemant Heera).
Utpal Dutt Marriage and Children
He married Shobha Sen, a Bengali theatre and film actress, in 1960. The couple has a daughter named Dr. Bishnupriya Dutt, who is currently employed at JNU, Delhi.
On August 19th,1993, Utpal Dutt died due to a heart attack.
Utpal Dutt Movies and TV shows
| Year | Movie Title | Director | Producer | Budget (INR, Approx.) | Box Office Collection (INR, Approx.) | Notable Co-Star(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | Michael Madhusudhan (Bengali) | Madhu Bose | B.N. Sircar | 2 lakh (est.) | 5 lakh (moderate) | Chhabi Biswas | Debut film; biographical drama |
| 1950 | Vidyasagar (Bengali) | Kali Prasad Ghosh | S.M. Roy | 1.5 lakh (est.) | 4 lakh (moderate) | Pahari Sanyal | Early supporting role |
| 1952 | Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (Hindi) | Abrar Alvi | Guru Dutt | 10 lakh (est.) | 40 lakh (superhit) | Meena Kumari | Minor role; classic Hindi film |
| 1956 | Chhota Jignesh (Bengali) | Unknown | Unknown | 1 lakh (est.) | 3 lakh (moderate) | Unknown | Early Bengali work |
| 1960 | Uttar Megh (Bengali) | Jiban Ganguly | Jiban Ganguly | 2 lakh (est.) | 6 lakh (hit) | Supriya Devi | Supporting role |
| 1961 | Megh (Bengali) | Utpal Dutt | Utpal Dutt | 2 lakh (est.) | 5 lakh (moderate) | Anil Chatterjee | Directed and acted |
| 1962 | Saptapadi (Bengali) | Ajoy Kar | Uttam Kumar | 5 lakh (est.) | 15 lakh (superhit) | Suchitra Sen | Romantic drama; major hit |
| 1963 | The Last Lear (English) | Rituparno Ghosh | Rituparno Ghosh | 3 lakh (est.) | N/A (limited release) | Amitabh Bachchan | Early English role; filmed but released later |
| 1965 | Shakespeare Wallah (English) | James Ivory | Ismail Merchant | 5 lakh (est.) | 10 lakh (moderate) | Shashi Kapoor | International film |
| 1965 | Ghoom Bhangar Gaan (Bengali) | Utpal Dutt | Utpal Dutt | 3 lakh (est.) | 8 lakh (hit) | Supriya Devi | Directed and acted; musical |
| 1967 | Bhuvan Shome (Hindi) | Mrinal Sen | Mrinal Sen | 4 lakh (est.) | 10 lakh (hit) | Suhasini Mulay | National Award-winning film |
| 1968 | Chowringhee (Bengali) | Pinaki Mukherjee | Asima Mukherjee | 5 lakh (est.) | 20 lakh (superhit) | Subhendu Chatterjee | Literary adaptation |
| 1969 | Saat Hindustani (Hindi) | K.A. Abbas | K.A. Abbas | 3 lakh (est.) | 5 lakh (moderate) | Amitabh Bachchan | Amitabh’s debut; patriotic drama |
| 1969 | Bibaha Bibhrat (Bengali) | Ashutosh Mukhopadhyay | Ashutosh Mukhopadhyay | 3 lakh (est.) | 7 lakh (hit) | Lily Chakravarty | Comedy |
| 1970 | Bombay Talkie (English) | James Ivory | Ismail Merchant | 10 lakh (est.) | 15 lakh (moderate) | Shashi Kapoor | Merchant-Ivory production |
| 1971 | Pratidwandi (Bengali) | Satyajit Ray | Nepal Dutta | 5 lakh (est.) | 12 lakh (hit) | Dhritiman Chatterjee | Ray’s classic; social commentary |
| 1971 | Guddi (Hindi) | Hrishikesh Mukherjee | Hrishikesh Mukherjee | 8 lakh (est.) | 25 lakh (superhit) | Jaya Bachchan | Cameo; family drama |
| 1972 | Sabse Bada Sukh (Hindi) | Hrishikesh Mukherjee | N.C. Sippy | 10 lakh (est.) | 20 lakh (hit) | Vijay Arora | Comedy drama |
| 1973 | Jheel Ke Us Paar (Hindi) | Bhappi Sonie | Bhappi Sonie | 15 lakh (est.) | 30 lakh (hit) | Dharmendra | Romantic drama |
| 1974 | Jukti Takko Aar Gappo (Bengali) | Ritwik Ghatak | Ritwik Ghatak | 5 lakh (est.) | 8 lakh (moderate) | Tripti Mitra | Ghatak’s last film; autobiographical |
| 1975 | Amanush (Bengali/Hindi) | Shakti Samanta | Shakti Samanta | 20 lakh (est.) | 50 lakh (superhit) | Sharmila Tagore | Bilingual blockbuster |
| 1976 | Do Anjaane (Hindi) | Dulal Guha | Tito Guha | 25 lakh (est.) | 40 lakh (hit) | Rekha | Suspense drama |
| 1977 | Immaan Dharam (Hindi) | Desh Mukherjee | Premji | 30 lakh (est.) | 50 lakh (hit) | Shashi Kapoor | Multi-starrer |
| 1978 | Anurodh (Hindi) | Shakti Samanta | Shakti Samanta | 25 lakh (est.) | 45 lakh (hit) | Rajesh Khanna | Emotional drama |
| 1979 | Gol Maal (Hindi) | Hrishikesh Mukherjee | N.C. Sippy | 20 lakh (est.) | 60 lakh (blockbuster) | Amol Palekar | Iconic comedy; cult classic |
| 1979 | Kartavya (Hindi) | Mohan Sehgal | Mohan Sehgal | 20 lakh (est.) | 35 lakh (hit) | Dharmendra | Action drama |
| 1980 | Agreement (Hindi) | Anil Ganguly | G.N. Malhotra | 25 lakh (est.) | 40 lakh (hit) | Rekha | Social drama |
| 1981 | Naram Garam (Hindi) | Hrishikesh Mukherjee | Subhash Gupta | 20 lakh (est.) | 50 lakh (superhit) | Amol Palekar | Comedy classic |
| 1981 | Agni Pareeksha (Bengali) | Kamal Majumdar | Kamal Majumdar | 10 lakh (est.) | 20 lakh (hit) | Rabi Ghosh | Social drama |
| 1982 | Angoor (Hindi) | Gulzar | Gulzar | 20 lakh (est.) | 45 lakh (superhit) | Sanjeev Kumar | Shakespearean comedy |
| 1982 | Shaukeen (Hindi) | Basu Chatterjee | Sen Gupta Films | 25 lakh (est.) | 40 lakh (hit) | Ashok Kumar | Comedy |
| 1983 | Kissi Se Na Kehna (Hindi) | Hrishikesh Mukherjee | Ashok Aggarwal | 25 lakh (est.) | 50 lakh (superhit) | Farooq Sheikh | Romantic comedy |
| 1983 | Pasand Apni Apni (Hindi) | Basu Chatterjee | Basu Chatterjee | 20 lakh (est.) | 35 lakh (hit) | Rati Agnihotri | Comedy |
| 1984 | Lakhon Ki Baat (Hindi) | Basu Chatterjee | Basu Chatterjee | 25 lakh (est.) | 40 lakh (hit) | Farooq Sheikh | Comedy drama |
| 1985 | Saaheb (Hindi) | Anil Ganguly | Raj Sippy | 30 lakh (est.) | 45 lakh (hit) | Anil Kapoor | Family drama |
| 1986 | Baat Ban Jaye (Hindi) | Bharat Rangachary | Anil Mattoo | 25 lakh (est.) | 35 lakh (moderate) | Zeenat Aman | Comedy |
| 1987 | Pyar Ke Kabil (Hindi) | Anil Ganguly | Suresh Grover | 30 lakh (est.) | 40 lakh (moderate) | Rishi Kapoor | Family drama |
| 1988 | The Bengali Night (English) | Nicolas Klotz | Philippe Diaz | 50 lakh (est.) | N/A (limited release) | Shabana Azmi | French-Indian co-production |
| 1989 | Jawani Zindabad (Hindi) | Arun Bhatt | Jay Mehta | 40 lakh (est.) | 50 lakh (moderate) | Aamir Khan | Social drama |
| 1990 | Agneepath (Hindi) | Mukul Anand | Yash Johar | 50 lakh (est.) | 60 lakh (hit) | Amitabh Bachchan | Gangster drama |
| 1991 | Jaan Pechaan (Hindi) | Kamal Saigal | Kamal Saigal | 40 lakh (est.) | 45 lakh (moderate) | Sudha Chandran | Drama |
| 1992 | Padma Nadir Majhi (Bengali) | Gautam Ghose | West Bengal Film Dev. Corp. | 30 lakh (est.) | 40 lakh (hit) | Raisul Islam Asad | Literary adaptation |
| 1993 | Padma Nadir Majhi (Hindi) | Gautam Ghose | NFDC | 35 lakh (est.) | 45 lakh (moderate) | Raisul Islam Asad | Bilingual release |