Mithun Da got emotional after meeting Dadasaheb Phalke: People used to say that this black color will not work in the industry, God has paid it with interest.

Mithun Chakraborty was honored with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award at the 70th National Film Awards ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on 8 October. After receiving the prestigious honor of the film industry, Mithun gave an emotional speech from the stage. He said that at the beginning of his career, he faced taunts because of his dark complexion, however, he decided to make a name for himself with his dance and became a famous disco dancer across the country.

Mithun Chakraborty won his first National Award for his debut film Mrigya. Having said that, as soon as I got my first award, I started thinking I'm Al Pacino and I've done something amazing. My attitude had changed. I used to sit in the producer's office and collect money. The producers didn't understand that I was acting as Al Pacino. One day I asked a producer, send the script of the film to my house. Hearing this, the producer kicked me and said, leave here. From that day I went from Al Pacino to Kal Pacino. I realized that I made a mistake, now no one will give me work.

People accepted me as an actor, but the biggest problem I faced was my color. People used to say that this black color will not work in the film industry. What are you doing here, go back. People used to call me Kalia when I was on the road.

The actor continued, I started thinking about what I should do. I was asking God that God, you can't change this color of mine. But God could not change that color. I started thinking about what I should do. So I thought I could dance. If I dance I should dance with my legs in such a way that people look at my legs and not my complexion. I did exactly that. Watch my films, I have danced with my feet in all the films. Didn't let him stop. People forgot my color and I became a sexy dusky Bengali babu.

I used to complain a lot to God, because in my life I got nothing on the plate, got it after much struggle. So I was saying to God that you have given me name and fame then why are you giving me so much trouble. Complained a lot. So one day I thought maybe it would be like this, but it wasn't. After receiving this award today, I stopped complaining. I said thank you Bhole Nath. Now I will not complain, because you have returned everything to me with interest.