Rachna Banerjee (born Jhumjhum Banerjee; 2 October 1972) is an Indian actress, entrepreneur, television presenter and politician. She is known primarily for her works in Bengali and Odia films, besides a few Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada films.[2]
Rachna Banerjee | |
|---|---|
| Born | Jhumjhum Banerjee 2 October 1972 |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, television presenter, politician |
| Years active | 1990 – present |
| Notable work | |
| Title | Miss Calcutta 1991 |
| Political party | All India Trinamool Congress (2024-present) |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 1 |
| Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha | |
| Assumed office 4 June 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Locket Chatterjee |
| Constituency | Hooghly |
| Beauty pageant titleholder | |
| Major competition(s) |
|
Being crowned the 1991 Miss Kolkata, she has also won five beauty contests in India including Miss Beautiful Smile at the Miss India contest.[3] She is currently serving as the Member of Parliament for Hooghly (Lok Sabha constituency) from West Bengal since June 2024.[4]
Early life
Banerjee was born on 2 October 1972[5][6] in Calcutta (now Kolkata), West Bengal, and was her parents' only child. Her father was Rabindranath Banerjee.[7] Her original name was Jhumjhum Banerjee,[8][9] and was changed to Rachana by Sukhen Das, the director of her debut film Daan Pratidaan (1993). She completed her higher secondary education from National Girls' High School.[6]
Career
Modelling career (1991-1992)
Banerjee won the Miss Kolkata contest in 1991 when she was still in her second year of graduation course from South City College. She entered several beauty pageants before starting her acting career and was often declared 'Miss Beautiful Smile'. In 1992 she missed out of the Miss India contest grand finale where Madhu Sapre was crowned the title.
Acting career (1993-2017)
Sukhen Das chose Banerjee for the female lead in his directorial venture Dan Pratidan (1993). He changed her name to Rachana (which Das found in 'Rabindra Rachanabali'). Rachana has done around 45 oriya movies to date.She appeared alongside Amitabh Bachchan in the film Sooryavansham, one of the cult movies of its era.[10]
Hosting Didi No. 1
Apart from acting, Banerjee is also hosting the Bengali non-fiction TV show, Didi No. 1, which is aired on Zee Bangla on weekdays. On 5 April 2013 a fire broke out in the studio of Didi No. 1 at Tollygunge, and she fainted following a panic attack and was rushed to a city hospital (Aurobindo Seva Sadan).[11]
Personal life
Rachna Banerjee married her co-star Sidhant Mohapatra and divorced him in 2004.[12][13] She married Probal Basu in 2007 and separated from him in 2016. They have a son.[14]
Filmography
List of reality shows
| Year | Show | Season | Role | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Dance Bangla Dance - Junior | 7 | Judge | |
| 2011 | Didi No. 1 | 2 | Anchor | |
| 2013 | 4 | |||
| 2015 | 6 | |||
| 2016 | 7 | |||
| 2018 | 8 | |||
| 2022 | 9 | |||
| 2023 | 10 | |||
| 2016 | No 1 Didi Na Dada | 1 | ||
| 2012 | Tumi Je Amar | 1 | ||
| 2018 | Dance Bangla Dance - Junior, Season 10 | Judge |
Awards
- Kalakar Awards
- Bharat Nirman Award
- Odia State Film Award
- Special Film Award by West Bengal State Govt
- Tele Samman Award
- ETV Bangla Film Award
- Zee Bangla Sonar Songsar Award 2015[15]
Political career
Banerjee contested as All India Trinamool Congress candidate from the Hooghly Lok Sabha constituency seat against Bharatiya Janata Party's sitting M.P Locket Chatterjee in the 2024 Indian general election and won by a margin of 76,853 votes.[16][17]
References
- ^ "রচনা-সিদ্ধান্তকে ভোলেনি মানুষ, তবে হিট জুটির রিল ও রিয়্যাল দু'জীবনেই আজ শুধুই দূরত্ব". The Wall (in Bengali). 21 March 2021. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
- ^ "আমার জীবনে কোনো পুরুষের প্রয়োজন নেই : রচনা". Dainik Eidin - দৈনিক এইদিন. 13 December 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- ^ Sandeep Mishra (11 April 2009). "Sidhant runs into' Rachana". The Times of India. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
- ^ "A turncoat and a 'missing' MP cost BJP two seats in South Bengal". The Hindu. 5 June 2024. Archived from the original on 10 June 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ "Didi No. 1 to celebrate host Rachna Banerjee's birthday". Times of India. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- ^ a b "Rachna Banerjee". Election Commission of India. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
- ^ "Actress Rachna Banerjee misses her father; shares an emotional note". The Times of India. 18 November 2021. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
- ^ "Who Is Rachna Banerjee? Why Was The Didi No 1 Host Trolled For Selling Sarees Online?". SheThePeople. 27 September 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- ^ "Actress Rachna Banerjee's real name is known as Jhumjhum" (in Bengali). Retrieved 13 November 2022.
- ^ "कहां हैं 'सूर्यवंशम' में अमिताभ बच्चन का प्यार ठुकराने वाली ये हीरोइन?". Jansatta (in Hindi). 26 August 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
- ^ "Three injured in fire at reality show set". The Times of India. 6 April 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
- ^ Mishra, Sandeep (11 April 2009). "Sidhant runs into' Rachana". The Times of India. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
- ^ "'Rachna & I knew each other inside out'". The Telegraph. 15 December 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
- ^ "Actress Rachana Banerjee Separated From Her Husband?". Update Odisha. 19 September 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
- ^ "Kalakar award winners" (PDF). Kalakar website. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
- ^ "General Election to Parliamentary Constituencies: Trends & Results June-2024 Parliamentary Constituency 28 - Hooghly (West Bengal)". Election Commission of India. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ "'Didi No.1' Rachna Banerjee Beats Firebrand BJP MP Locket Chatterjee On Poll Debut". ABP News. 4 June 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024.