Indian Film Actress with Super Star Rajesh Khanna: Moon Moon Sen

Moon Moon Sen, also credited as Moonmoon Sen, (born 28 March 1948) is an Indian film actress, known for her works in Bengali, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Marathi and Kannada films. She eventually starred in Bollywood films. She has appeared in 60 films and 40 television series. She has received Andhra Pradesh state Nandi Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1987, for her role in the film Sirivennela.

Moon Moon Sen was born into a Hindu family in Kolkata to popular Bengali actress Suchitra Sen and Dibanath Sen. Her father, of Ballygunge Place, was the son of one of the wealthiest businessmen of Kolkata, Adinath Sen. Her great grandfather Dinanath Sen was the Diwan or a Minister of the Maharaja of Tripura.

She was educated at Loreto Convent, Shillong and at Loreto House, Kolkata, she graduated from Somerville College, Oxford. She received her masters in Comparative Literature from Jadavpur University, Kolkata.

As a child, Sen learnt drawing from Jamini Roy, one of India's greatest artists. She loves paintings and collecting antiques. In an interview in 2000, she said she taught at Ballygunge Govt High School for a year and then taught graphics at Chitrabani, a school teaching film techniques. She was also active in social work and even thought about adopting a baby, even before she was married. Sen taught English at a well known Boys' school (Ballygunge Govt. High School) in Kolkata before joining films.

Moon Moon Sen started her career in films and television after marriage and motherhood. She made her debut in Andar Baahar (1984). Her daring role in that film apparently created a storm of controversy.

She had also starred in a suspense thriller 100 Days with Madhuri Dixit. After Zakhmi Dil (1994) she did not appear in films until 2003 when she starred in an unsuccessful thriller Kucch To Hai. She could not match success of her mother. She'd acted in a Telugu movie Sirivennela directed by the legendary Telugu director K.Vishwanath.

Before and after entering the film industry, she appeared alone (or with her daughters) in some modelling assignments. She notably modelled for soap ads which were quite controversial in the 1980s. Apart from doing some television serials, she also did couple of Bengali tele-films.

Sen said she would bare all even at 70.

"Age is not important, the attitude is. Sophia is the ultimate glam girl who can manage to look beautiful in such a picture even now. But yes, India too has beautiful women like Rekha and Hema Malini who can carry such a thing out with aplomb. In fact, I wouldn't mind myself if the shoot is done aesthetically and with taste."

Her film My Karma (2004), directed by Korak Day earned her international praise, as the film received international awards and recognition for her as a "tough and sweet Indian wife, standing as a rock behind her husband".

She is now doing a few films at a time. She is also apparently writing a cookbook in Bengali, which is yet to be published.

She joined Trinamool Congress in March 2014 and won in 2014 Lok Sabha Polls from Bankura constituency, where she defeated CPI(M)'s nine-time MP, Basudeb Acharia.

Moon Moon Sen married in 1978, to a descendant of the royal family of Tripura state. They have two daughters, actresses Raima Sen and Riya Sen. She has high regard for her husband, for his consistent support of her professional acting career.

Her late mother-in-law, Ila Devi, daughter of Indira Raje, was the princess of Cooch Behar, and elder sister of Gayatri Devi, the Maharani of Jaipur.

Deeply religious, in spite of her bohemian screen image, Moon Moon Sen is committed to family life and grieved at her mother, Suchitra Sen's passing away on 17 January 2014, due to a heart attack. She immersed the ashes of her mother ritualistically in the Ganges, on Wednesday, 29 January 2014, the prayers attended by dignitaries, like West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, close friends and family, who had missed the funeral, it being a hurried affair after five hours of death, as per the last wishes of the dying actress Suchitra Sen.

Awards :

Nandi Award for Best Supporting Actress – Sirivennela (1987)

Kalakendra Screen Award

Bharat Nirman Award

Kalakar Awards.

Moon Moon Sen's Filmography with Super Star Rajesh Khanna :