Moushumi Chatterjee Says Daughter Does Not Have to Marry Her Boyfriend

Veteran actor Moushumi Chatterjee has opened up about relationships, marriage and changing social expectations, sharing a candid piece of advice she has given to her daughter, Megha Mukherjee. Speaking at the Jagran Film Festival 2026 during a conversation with journalist Nayandeep Rakshit, the actor said that being in a relationship does not necessarily mean that marriage has to follow.

“I tell my daughter, ‘You can have a boyfriend, but you don’t have to marry that person,’” Moushumi said, stressing that young people should have the freedom to make important personal decisions for themselves.

Her comments have drawn attention partly because of her own life story. Moushumi entered the film industry at a very young age and made her debut with the Bengali film Balika Badhu in 1967. She later became a prominent actor in both Bengali and Hindi cinema, particularly during the 1970s. She married Jayanta Mukherjee, son of legendary singer-composer Hemant Kumar, when she was still very young. She subsequently became a mother early in life as well.

Reflecting on how society has changed, Moushumi urged young women to put greater emphasis on their own lives and choices. She advised women to be “a little selfish and self-centered”, explaining that social circumstances and expectations are different today. She also referred to the idea that change is a constant part of life, quoting the familiar phrase, “Parivartan sansaar ka niyam hai.”

The veteran actor also spoke about traditional expectations placed on women after marriage. According to her, families have historically taught daughters to take responsibility for their in-laws and household, while boys have not always been taught to share the same responsibilities at home. She suggested that such attitudes need to change as relationships and family structures evolve.

Moushumi further encouraged young people not to make major life decisions simply to prove something to others. She said people should do what makes them happy but should also understand their limits and consequences. She acknowledged that she, too, had made mistakes in life, but said the important thing was to learn from them and avoid repeating the same mistakes.

Her remarks reflect a broader shift in how relationships and marriage are being discussed across generations. For Moushumi, dating and marriage are not necessarily inseparable decisions, and young people should have the space to understand their relationships before making lifelong commitments.

At 70, the actor continues to speak openly about her experiences, using lessons from her own journey to offer a different perspective to younger generations. Her latest comments have once again brought attention to the changing conversation around love, marriage, independence and personal choice.