Moushumi Chatterjee tells daughter: keep a boyfriend, marriage not necessary
The veteran actress, who married young herself, says girls today should not rush into marriage
Bollywood actress Moushumi Chatterjee began her acting career at just sixteen. She made her film debut with the 1967 Bengali film "Balika Vadhu". She went on to build a long and successful career in both the Bengali and Hindi film industries. During her acting career itself, Moushumi married young, to Jayant Mukherjee, son of famous singer and music director Hemant Kumar.
Since her own marriage happened at a young age, Moushumi has advised her daughter not to rush into marriage and to live life on her own terms.
Speaking at the Jagran Film Festival 2026 about the advice she gives her daughter, she said, "I tell my daughter, you can keep a boyfriend, but you don't need to marry him."
Referring to the Bhagavad Gita, she said that change is the law of the world. She said that with changing times, girls should make thoughtful decisions about their lives. She also said that today's girls need to be a little careful when thinking about themselves.
Moushumi said there is a need today to teach both boys and girls household responsibilities. She said that girls are taught to take care of their in-laws, but boys are not taught housework. She also said that today's young generation remains stressed for various reasons, and advised that people should not put unnecessary pressure on themselves to prove something to others.
Moushumi also advised young people to enjoy life while learning from their mistakes. She said, "Do what you like, but do not overdo it. If you make a mistake, do not repeat it, and make decisions thoughtfully." Her remarks have brought renewed discussion around young people making thoughtful decisions about marriage, relationships and their own lives.
Moushumi Chatterjee has earlier shared an interesting story about her own marriage. After the success of "Balika Vadhu", she began receiving many marriage proposals. Around that time, her ailing aunt was very unwell. Her aunt, who lived in Bhawanipur, had cancer that had reached its final stage. She had expressed a wish to attend Moushumi's wedding. She had held the hand of Moushumi's would-be father-in-law, Hemant Kumar, and asked if she would be able to attend Moushumi's wedding.
After Hemant Kumar agreed, Moushumi's marriage was fixed within just a month. This is how she came to be married at a young age. Today, so many years later, she is seen advising her daughter not to rush into marriage and to make thoughtful decisions about her own life.
