Mantra (actor)

Mantra
Born Puranjit Dasgupta
(1982-08-21) August 21, 1982
Nationality Indian
Occupation Actor
TV presenter
Radio Jockey
Model
Voice over artist
Known for Comedy Circus, Narad

Mantra (born Puranjit Dasgupta, August 21, 1982) is a Mumbai-based actor, television presenter, radio jockey, model and voice over artist.[1] He is currently preparing for the release of his upcoming film Dil Patang, where he plays the main lead.

Early life

Mantra was born to actress Chandra Dasgupta and publisher Prabir Dasgupta. He spent his childhood years in Indore. He did most of his schooling at Indore Public School, popularly known as IPS. His family is credited with having set up one of India's oldest publishing houses, Dasgupta Publications (since 1886), located on College Street in Kolkata.[2] He took on the nom de plume Mantra when he started his career as a radio jockey with India’s first private radio station Radio Mirchi in 2000. His radio career has spanned more than a decade and he has worked for Radio Mirchi, Radio City and Red FM, in Indore, Delhi and Mumbai.[3]

Mantra moved to Delhi in 2003 and joined Radio City, where he hosted Route 91 and simultaneously started taking acting lessons from noted theater personality Barry John at IMAGO. He appeared in theatre productions such as Infinite Theater's The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, Divya Arora's Melody of Love, Sohaila Kapur's Ouch and many more.[4] He is currently playing Andrew Aguecheek / Sebastian in Piya Behrupiya, a Hindi interpretation of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.[5] The play, produced by the Company Theater, was first performed at the Globe Theatre in London as a part of the World Shakespeare Festival in May 2012.

After a brief stint in Delhi, Mantra moved to Mumbai in 2006 and soon became popular for his deep voice and tongue in cheek humour while hosting Mumbai Local on Red FM.[3]

Mantra in films

Mantra's first break as a film actor came with Vishesh's film Tum Mile (2009), where he appeared as the second lead Vic. The film was based on the devastating Mumbai floods of July 26, 2005 that killed hundreds of people. Mantra went on to appear in a cameo in Abhishek Bachchan starrer Game 2010, played himself in Sagar Ballary's comedy Bheja Fry 2 (2010), appeared as Nandu, a gangster in Hum Tum Shabana (2011) and a Paris-based sex toy shop owner in London, Paris, New York (2012). His first film as a solo lead Dil Patang was released in 2014.

In 2016's Rebellious Flower (2016), a biopic of spiritual leader Osho Rajneesh,[6] Mantra plays the triple role of three spiritual guides who help Osho find enlightenment. The first is Masto Baba, an epitome of Bhakti or devotional love. The second is the eccentric Paggal Baba, who encourages Osho to travel across India to find knowledge. The last and the oldest is Magga Baba, a Dumbledore-like character who helps Osho discover and develop his own philosophy and ideas instead of preaching to him.[7] The film was shot on real locations in rural Madhya Pradesh in central India.

Mantra on television

Mantra's first major TV appearance was 'Lagegi' on UTV's Bindass channel in 2007. The show was later renamed as 'Hass ley India' and did more than 100 episodes. Mantra has been a VJ and has hosted shows such as First Day First Show and G-Spot on Channel V. He was a cricket commentator on Star Sports and a NDTV 24x7's sports show 'Cricket Controversies'. He hosted the dance reality show Zara Nach Ke Dikha and gained popularity as a stand-up comedian on three consecutive seasons of Sony TV’s Comedy Circus. He hosted SET Max's Dirty Khabar.[8][9] He hosted a short format show called Tippani on Sony Mix.[10][11] He played Doubting Dev in a show called Mystery Hunters India on Discovery Kids. Mantra also participated in the sixth season of celebrity dance reality show Jhalak Dikhla Ja as wild card entry.[12][13] He also hosted the latest season of Colors's India's Got Talent.[14][15] He now plays Narad as the main lead on Narayan Narayan - Chulbule Narad ki Natkhat Leelayen and host of latest show Family Fortunes on Big Magic.

Anchoring and modelling

Mantra is a popular anchor and has hosted several events including award ceremonies, cultural evenings and musical events. He has also appeared in several TV commercials for Style Spa Furnishings, Valvoline engine oil, Yummies and Windows phones.

Awards

Mantra is a two time winner of the Promax Award for his show "Mumbai Local" on Red FM. He has also bagged the RAPA Award for Best Radio Jockey twice. Mantra has also won the Best Actor award at the Bangalore Short Film Festival 2015 for his short film "Khatara" which is produced under the banner of Mantramugdh Productions.

References

  1. ↑ Tags:. "RJ Mantra "wants to be single all his life"". Tellychakkar.com. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
  2. ↑ Sudeshna Banerjee (2008-01-04). "The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) | Entertainment | Comic couple". Telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
  3. 1 2 "Red FM RJ Mantra - 'Sticking to English all the time isn't as cool as every Mumbaikar thinks' | Editorial-Just Talk". Radioandmusic.com. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
  4. ↑ Mantra. "RJ Mantra : Mantra Mugdh, RJ Mantra, India's No. 1 RJ". Mantramugdh.com. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
  5. ↑ "The Company Theatre's production of TWELFTH NIGHT (PIYA BEHRUPIYA)...". www.MumbaiTheatreGuide.com. 2012-06-07. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
  6. ↑ http://www.oshonews.com/2013/12/rebellious-flower-movie/. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. ↑ http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news-interviews/Triple-treat-for-stand-up-comedian-Mantra/articleshow/32904585.cms. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. ↑ Box Office India (2012-08-27). "Dirty Khabar | Box Office India : India's premier film trade magazine". Box Office India. Retrieved 2012-09-15.
  9. ↑ "MAX offers 'Dirty Khabar'". The Sunday Indian. 2012-08-28. Retrieved 2012-09-15.
  10. ↑ "> News Headlines > Sony Mix launches short format show Tippani". Indiantelevision.com. 2012-09-08. Retrieved 2012-09-15.
  11. ↑ "Sony Mix cashes on another music property 'Tippani' | Editorial-News". Radioandmusic.com. Retrieved 2012-09-15.
  12. ↑ http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-rj-mantra-voted-out-of-jhalak-dikhhla-jaa-6-calls-it-short-sweet-stint-1863809. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  13. ↑ http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/rj-mantra-eliminated-from-jhalak-dikhla-jaa-6/. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  14. ↑ http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/tv/news-interviews/VJ-Andy-to-host-Indias-Got-Talent-as-Mantra-quits/articleshow/30105825.cms. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  15. ↑ http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/andy-replaces-mantra-to-host-indias-got-talent/1/342758.html. Missing or empty |title= (help)
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