1967–1984: Debut and breakthrough Chatterjee made her film debut as a child heroine in the Bengali hit
Balika Badhu (1967), directed by
Tarun Majumdar when she was a preteen. In an interview, Moushumi Chatterjee quoted: "After Balika Badhu, I was flooded with Bengali movies but I wished to complete my studies. However, movies were in my fate hence when I was studying in class X, a close aunt of mine was on her death-bed and her last wish was to see me married. Hence, to satisfy her wish I got married." She was then seen in Bengali films like Parineeta, Anindita. She made her debut as the leading lady in the Hindi film
Anuraag (1972) directed by
Shakti Samanta. Moushumi played the role of a blind girl and earned her first and only nomination for the
Filmfare Award for Best Actress;
Anuraag won the
Filmfare Award for Best Film. The film proved to be a major success. About her Hindi film debut, she said in an interview: "As my father-in-law was a renowned film celebrity, many film personalities used to throng our house. One among them was filmmaker Shakti Samanta, who insisted upon me to act in movies. I declined, but both my father-in-law and my husband encouraged me, thus I got
Anuraag." She received her first and only nomination for the
Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress. She went on to become a part of several successful films like
Swarag Narak, Maang Bharo Sajna, Pyaasa Sawan, Jyoti Bane Jwala with Jeetendra, Swayamvar with Shashi Kapoor and
Anand Ashram with Rakesh Roshan. She acted with Rishi Kapoor in four films none of which were successful. She was paired with Vinod Mehra in 10 films, including
Anuraag,
Us-Paar,
Raftaar,
Umar Qaid,
Mazaaq,
Zindagi and
Do Jhoot. She only acted in 2 films with Amitabh Bachchan,
Benaam and Basu Chatterjee's
Manzil (1979). Her Bengali film with Uttam Kumar,
Ogu Bodhu Sundari, released in 1981 and became successful. In 1982, she did the Marathi film (cameo in song Tumhi Adkitta Mi Ho Supari)
Bhannat Bhanu. Her films with
Rajesh Khanna include
Bhola Bhala,
Prem Bandhan and
Ghar Parivar. She worked with Sanjeev Kumar in many movies including Angoor, Daasi and Itni Si Baat. In 1985, she acted in the Bengali film
Pratigna. After 1985, she graduated to supporting roles and acted in movies like
Watan Ke Rakhwale,
Aag Hi Aag, Ghayal and many more.
1985–present: Transition period From 1985 to 1991, Chatterjee got more offers as a character actress and she made the transition to roles of mother and bhabhi (sister-in-law), often pairing with Dharmendra or Sunil Dutt. She played Sunny Deol's sister-in-law in
Ghayal. Occasionally, she got lead roles in films in the 1990s such as
Ghar Parivaar and
Aa Ab Laut Chalen, both opposite
Rajesh Khanna, then
Santaan, Prateeksha (1993) and
Udhaar Ki Zindagi with
Jeetendra and
Keemat: They Are Back (1998). She acted in the Indo-Canadian production
Bollywood/Hollywood in 2003 and
Na Tum Jaano Na Hum, Hum Kaun Hai? in 2004. Moushumi Chatterjee made a comeback to cinema, with Tanuja Chandra's
Zindaggi Rocks in 2006. Apart from
Balika Badhu (1967) her Bengali films as lead heroine include
Parineeta (1969),
Anindita (1972),
Anand Ashram (1977),
Ogu Bodhu Sundari (1981),
Prarthana (1984),
Shatarupa (1989),
Kari Diye Kinlam (1989),
Bidhilipi (1991) and later as supporting actress;
Nater Guru (2003),
Bhalobasar Anek Naam (2005),
The Japanese Wife (2010) and
Goynar Baksho (2013). She sang a song Tomar Duare in
Mallick Bari (2009). In 2014, she won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for the Bengali film
Goynar Baksho and received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015. ==Political career==