Tapas Paul

{{Infobox actor

| name = Tapas Paul

| native_name =

| image = File:Tapas_Paul_younger.jpg

| caption = Paul in his youth

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1958|09|29}}

| birth_place = Chandannagar, West Bengal, India

| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2020|02|18|1958|09|19}}{{cite web | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/bengali-actor-and-former-tmc-mp-tapas-paul-dies-of-cardiac-arrest/articleshow/74184003.cms | title=Bengali actor and former TMC MP Tapas Paul dies of cardiac arrest. | work=The Times of India | date=18 February 2020 | access-date=18 February 2020 | archive-date=18 February 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218043719/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/bengali-actor-and-former-tmc-mp-tapas-paul-dies-of-cardiac-arrest/articleshow/74184003.cms | url-status=live }}

| death_place = Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

| other names =

| nationality = Indian

| education = Burdwan University (B.Sc.)

| occupation = Actor, politician

| years_active = 1980–2013{{Cite web|url=https://reader.magzter.com/reader/cdm5hzfuncl191o36hu8c441987714464055/419877#page/10|title=তারকা তৈরীর কান্ডারী|year=2020|website=reader.magzter.com|publisher=Anandalok|language=Bn|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011220515/https://reader.magzter.com/reader/cdm5hzfuncl191o36hu8c441987714464055/419877#page/10|archive-date=11 October 2020|access-date=2 March 2020}}

| works = Full list

| party = Trinamool Congress

| spouse = {{marriage|Nandini Paul|16 January 1985}}{{Cite web|url=https://ebela.in/photogallery/family-life-of-tapas-pal-dgtl-1.913404?slide=3|title=তাপস পালের বিবাহিত জীবন|website=ebela.in|language=en|url-status=live|access-date=25 February 2020|archive-date=25 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200225163546/https://ebela.in/photogallery/family-life-of-tapas-pal-dgtl-1.913404%3Fslide%3D3}}

| children = Sohini Paul

| awards = Filmfare Award{{Cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/amp/news/report/former-trinamool-mp-tapas-paul-dead/20200218.htm|title=Bengali actor, ex-TMC MP Tapas Paul dead|website=Rediff|url-status=live|access-date=20 February 2020|archive-date=20 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220182731/https://www.rediff.com/amp/news/report/former-trinamool-mp-tapas-paul-dead/20200218.htm}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| embed = yes

| office1 = Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha

| constituency1 = Krishnanagar{{Cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-in/entertainment/celebrity-news/tapas-paul-1958-2020-a-pictorial-tribute-to-the-bengali-actor/ss-BB106oWH?li=AAgfYGb#image=5|title=Tapas Paul (1958-2020): A pictorial tribute to the Bengali actor|website=www.msn.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011220514/https://www.msn.com/en-in/entertainment/celebrity-news/tapas-paul-1958-2020-a-pictorial-tribute-to-the-bengali-actor/ss-BB106oWH?li=AAgfYGb#image=5|archive-date=11 October 2020|access-date=20 February 2020}}

| term_start1 = 2009

| term_end1 = 2019

| predecessor1 = Jyotirmoyee Sikdar

| successor1 = Mahua Moitra

| office2 = Member of West Bengal Legislative Assembly

| constituency2 = Alipore

| term_start2 = 2001

| term_end2 = 2009

| predecessor2 = Saugata Roy

| successor2 = Firhad Hakim

}}

Tapas Paul (29 September 1958 – 18 February 2020) was an Indian actor and politician.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/bengali/51542132|title=বিতর্কিত রাজনীতিবিদ ও অভিনেতা তাপস পাল মারা গেছেন|date=18 February 2020|work=BBC News বাংলা|access-date=16 March 2020|url-status=live|language=bn|archive-date=19 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219210058/https://www.bbc.com/bengali/51542132}} One of the most celebrated actors of Bengali cinema, Paul is best known for his on-screen roles opposite Mahua Roy Choudhury and Debashree Roy.{{Cite web|url=https://www.anandabazar.com/entertainment/bengali-actor-tapas-paul-death-an-obituary-on-actor-tapas-paul-dgtl-1.1111038|title=তাপস পাল: এক বিষণ্ণ ভালমানুষ থেকে ট্র্যাজিক হিরো|website=anandabazar.com|language=bn|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218162512/https://www.anandabazar.com/entertainment/bengali-actor-tapas-paul-death-an-obituary-on-actor-tapas-paul-dgtl-1.1111038|archive-date=18 February 2020|access-date=18 February 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/movies/regional-cinema/story/bengali-actor-and-former-mp-tapas-pal-dies-at-61-1647465-2020-02-18|title=Bengali actor and former MP Tapas Pal dies at 61|website=India Today|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218082300/https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/movies/regional-cinema/story/bengali-actor-and-former-mp-tapas-pal-dies-at-61-1647465-2020-02-18|archive-date=18 February 2020|access-date=18 February 2020}} He received a Filmfare Award.{{Cite web |last=PTI |date=2020-02-18 |title=Bengali actor and former Trinamool MP Tapas Paul passes away at 61 |url=https://theprint.in/india/bengali-actor-and-former-trinamool-mp-tapas-paul-passes-away-at-61/367049/ |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}

Tapas Paul was a Member of Parliament from Krishnanagar having won in the 2014 Indian General Elections on a Trinamool Congress ticket.[http://india.gov.in/govt/loksabhampbiodata.php?mpcode=4484 Detailed Profile: Shri Tapas Paul] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120505220240/http://india.gov.in/govt/loksabhampbiodata.php?mpcode=4484 |date=5 May 2012 }} india.gov.in. Retrieved 16 October 2012[http://www.netapedia.in/neta.php?str=1659 Tapas Paul] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120023326/http://www.netapedia.in/neta.php?str=1659 |date=20 January 2016 }} netapedia.in. Retrieved 16 October 2012

Paul shot to fame and popularity with his debut film Dadar Kirti (1980), a romantic drama by Tarun Majumdar, and sustained his fame with films like Saheb (1981),{{Cite web|url=https://www.anandabazar.com/district/north-bengal/bengali-actor-tapas-paul-death-people-poured-in-shooting-set-to-see-glimpse-of-the-actor-1.1111373|title=সে দিন 'সাহেব'কে দেখতে ভেঙেছিল পাঁচিল|website=anandabazar.com|language=bn|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222063235/https://www.anandabazar.com/district/north-bengal/bengali-actor-tapas-paul-death-people-poured-in-shooting-set-to-see-glimpse-of-the-actor-1.1111373|archive-date=22 February 2020|access-date=22 February 2020}} Parabat Priya (1984), Bhalobasa Bhalobasa (1985), Anurager Choyan (1980), Amar Bandhan (1986), Guru Dakshina (1987) to name few. He was awarded the Filmfare Award for his role in Saheb (1981).{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xU3jAAAAMAAJ|title=The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who|first=Sir Stanley|last=Reed|date=26 May 1984|publisher=Bennett, Coleman.|via=Google Books|access-date=16 August 2019|archive-date=29 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729074809/https://books.google.com/books?id=xU3jAAAAMAAJ|url-status=live}}

He made his Bollywood debut in Hiren Nag's Abodh (1984) opposite Madhuri Dixit.{{Cite web|url=http://www.rajshri.com/films/abodh-1984/|title=:: Rajshri Films - Abodh (1984) ::|website=www.rajshri.com|access-date=10 September 2017|archive-date=16 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916161009/http://www.rajshri.com/films/abodh-1984|url-status=live}} He collaborated with Tarun Majumdar for the second time in his romantic flick Bhalobasa Bhalobasa (1985) where he was paired with Debashree Roy. The film achieved a success and established his pairing with Roy as the most bankable one of the nineteen eighties. His other major hits with Roy include Arpan (1987), Surer Sathi (1988), Surer Akashe (1988), Nayanmani (1989), Chokher Aloy (1989), Shubha Kamana (1991), Mayabini (1992), Tobu Mone Rekho (1994), Tumi Je Aamar (1994). He collaborated with Buddhadeb Dasgupta in Uttara (2000) and Mondo Meyer Upakhyan (2002).{{Cite web|url=http://www.gomolo.com/tapas-pal-movies-list-filmography/1221|title=Tapas Pal Filmography, Tapas Pal List Of Movies On Gomolo.com|website=gomolo.com|access-date=10 September 2017|archive-date=10 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910204906/http://www.gomolo.com/tapas-pal-movies-list-filmography/1221|url-status=live}} He was arrested by C.B.I for alleged links to the Rose Valley chit fund scam in December 2016,{{Cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/cbi-arrests-trinamool-mp-tapas-pal-in-rose-valley-chit-fund-scam/articleshow/56255411.cms|title=CBI arrests Trinamool MP Tapas Pal|archive-date=30 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230203857/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/cbi-arrests-trinamool-mp-tapas-pal-in-rose-valley-chit-fund-scam/articleshow/56255411.cms|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.news18.com/news/india/making-of-the-rose-valley-scam-1329488.html|title=Rose Valley Scam : Making of the Rs 60,000 Crore Chit Fund Scandal|archive-date=30 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230230951/http://www.news18.com/news/india/making-of-the-rose-valley-scam-1329488.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/tmc-mp-tapas-pal-arrested-by-cbi-in-rose-valley-scam-116123000620_1.html|title=Rose Valley scam|archive-date=30 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230231127/http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/tmc-mp-tapas-pal-arrested-by-cbi-in-rose-valley-scam-116123000620_1.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.firstpost.com/politics/rose-valley-chit-fund-scam-cbi-arrests-tmc-mp-tapas-pal-party-calls-it-witch-hunt-3181076.html|title=Rose Valley chit fund scam|archive-date=11 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011220514/https://www.firstpost.com/politics/rose-valley-chit-fund-scam-mamata-slams-modi-govt-calls-mp-tapas-pals-arrest-vendetta-politics-3181076.html|url-status=live}} and was given bail after 13 months.{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/tapas-paul-gets-bail-after-13-months/articleshow/62748907.cms?from=mdr|title=Tapas Paul gets bail after 13 months|date=2 February 2018|access-date=2 February 2018|work=The Times of India|archive-date=1 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180601233432/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/tapas-paul-gets-bail-after-13-months/articleshow/62748907.cms?from=mdr|url-status=live}}

Education

Tapas Paul graduated with a bio science degree from Hooghly Mohsin College under University of Burdwan.[http://www.calcuttaweb.com/cinema/tapaspal.shtml Bengali Cinema: Tapas Pal] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071218174533/http://www.calcuttaweb.com/cinema/tapaspal.shtml |date=18 December 2007 }} calcuttaweb.com. Retrieved 16 October 2012

Film career

Paul's first movie appearance was in 1980, in the film Dadar Kirti, directed by Tarun Majumder. He was seated in a train compartment, when he caught attention of Shrinibas Chakraborty, the assistant director of Dadar Kirti (1980). He was then taken to Tarun Majumdar who was at that time looking for a new face for the role Kedar. The film became a huge success at box office. For his role as a naive Kedar, Paul received immense love and appreciation from his audience.{{Cite web|url=http://www.royrituparna.com/tarun-majumdar/|title=Tarun Majumdar|date=7 February 2014|website=Rituparna Roy|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011220518/http://www.royrituparna.com/tarun-majumdar/|archive-date=11 October 2020|access-date=10 March 2020}} Paul collaborated with Tarun Majumdar for the second time in his romantic flick Bhalobasa Bhalobasa (1985) where he was paired with Debashree Roy. The film achieved a roaring success and established his pairing with Roy as the most bankable one of the 1980s. His other major hits with Roy include Arpan (1987),{{Cite web|url=https://epaper.sangbadpratidin.in/|title=চরণ ধরিতে দিয়ো গো আমারে নিয়ো না নিয়ো না সরায়ে|website=Epaper Sangbad Pratidin|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200409072758/https://epaper.sangbadpratidin.in/|archive-date=9 April 2020|access-date=20 March 2020}} Surer Sathi (1988), Surer Akashe (1988), Nayanmani (1989), Chokher Aloy (1989), Shubha Kamana (1991), Mayabini (1992), Tobu Mone Rekho (1994).{{Cite web|url=https://www.sangbadpratidin.in/entertainment/cinema/tapas-paul-used-to-rides-on-local-train-during-his-struggling-period/|title=Tapas Paul used to rides on local train during his struggling period|date=18 February 2020|website=Sangbad Pratidin|language=en-US|access-date=18 February 2020|archive-date=18 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218164056/https://www.sangbadpratidin.in/entertainment/cinema/tapas-paul-used-to-rides-on-local-train-during-his-struggling-period/|url-status=live}} He collaborated with Buddhadeb Dasgupta in Uttara (2000) and Mondo Meyer Upakhyan (2002).

Controversy

On 31 December 2016, Paul was arrested for his involvement in the Ponzi firm Rose Valley Group.{{Cite web |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-tmc-mp-tapas-paul-arrested-in-rose-valley-case-2287932 |title=TMC MP Tapas Paul arrested in Rose Valley case | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis |access-date=31 December 2016 |archive-date=3 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103115002/http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-tmc-mp-tapas-paul-arrested-in-rose-valley-case-2287932 |url-status=live }} He was released after serving a thirteen months sentence.

On 11 January 2017, Bharatiya Janata Party MP Babul Supriyo filed a complaint against Paul, AITC MP Saugata Roy and MLA Mahua Moitra, for falsely accusing him of involvement in the Rose Valley scam.{{Cite web |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/rose-valley-chit-fund-case-babul-supriyo-sends-defamation-notices-to-tmc-leaders-for-linking-him-to-scam-4468606/ |title=Rose valley chit fund case: Babul Supriyo sends defamation notices to TMC leaders for linking him to scam | the Indian Express |date=11 January 2017 |access-date=11 January 2017 |archive-date=11 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170111154850/http://indianexpress.com/article/india/rose-valley-chit-fund-case-babul-supriyo-sends-defamation-notices-to-tmc-leaders-for-linking-him-to-scam-4468606/ |url-status=live }}

Political career

He was a member of All India Trinamool Congress and served as an MLA from Alipore for two terms (2001–2006 & 2006–2009). He was the MP of Krishnanagar from 2009 to 2018.{{Cite web|title=Actor-Politician Tapas Pal Dies Of Cardiac Arrest At 61|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/actor-politician-tapas-pal-dies-of-cardiac-arrest-at-61-2181694|access-date=28 August 2020|website=NDTV.com|archive-date=18 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218171043/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/actor-politician-tapas-pal-dies-of-cardiac-arrest-at-61-2181694|url-status=live}}

Personal life

He was married to Nandini Paul. She was a participant of Bigg Boss Bangla of season 2. Their daughter, Sohini, is a Tollywood actress.[http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/Wind+in+my+hair/1/82422.html Wind in my hair] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020034729/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/Wind+in+my+hair/1/82422.html |date=20 October 2012 }}, indiatoday.intoday.in. Retrieved 16 October 2012

Death

He died on 18 February 2020, aged 61. He had suffered from heart disease which led to a sudden cardiac arrest.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/actor-politician-tapas-pal-dies-of-cardiac-arrest-at-61-2181694|title=Actor-Politician Tapas Pal Dies Of Cardiac Arrest At 61|website=NDTV.com|access-date=18 February 2020|archive-date=18 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218171043/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/actor-politician-tapas-pal-dies-of-cardiac-arrest-at-61-2181694|url-status=live}}

Awards

Kalakar Award Best Actor for Rupban in 1993
Kalakar Award Best Actor for Mejo Bou in 1996
Kalakar Award Best Actor for Mama Bhagne in 2001
Kalakar Award Best Actor [Television] for Nayak in 2003
Kalakar Award Best Actor for Pratishodh in 2005
Filmfare Awards East Best Actor for Saheb in 1981
[http://www.bharatnirmanawards.com/ Bharat Nirman Awards] in 2012 {{Cite web|url=http://www.bharatnirmanawards.com/awards.html|title=-:: Bharat Nirman Awards ::-|website=www.bharatnirmanawards.com|access-date=28 February 2020|archive-date=29 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729174658/http://www.bharatnirmanawards.com/awards.html|url-status=live}}