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For Mahaakshay Chakraborty , better known as Mimoh , success today isn't measured by box office numbers, industry validation, or comparisons with the towering legacy of his father, veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty . Instead, it is defined by peace, gratitude, and the ability to remain grounded through life's many highs and lows.

In an exclusive conversation with ETimes, Mimoh opens up about the invaluable lessons he learned from watching his father's struggles, why he no longer seeks external validation, and how embracing uncertainty has transformed his outlook on life. He also speaks about his marriage to actor Madalsa Sharma , the importance of compartmentalizing different aspects of life, his willingness to take on challenging roles across languages and genres, and the possibility of sharing screen space with his father and brother in the future.

What was little Mimoh like in school?Little Mimoh was just like every other kid in school. I remember birthdays being the best days because we could wear civilian clothes instead of uniforms. Everyone's attention would be on you, there would be chocolates, birthday parties, and you would feel like a superstar for a day. Apart from that, school was like any other school. I had my friends and, like most kids, I loved PT class the most because we got to play sports during school hours. It felt like a fantasy land where we didn't have to study.

Were you a studious child or a mischievous one?Not mischievous at all. I was good in studies and was particularly fond of physics while growing up. I was fascinated by space and astronomy, and I still am. Even today, I take online courses from universities around the world on subjects like space, astronomy, and history. I was neither too quiet nor too naughty—I was somewhere in the middle. My only aim was to avoid getting punished by teachers.

Were you a teacher's favourite?Not really, although I always wanted to be. It was always a 50-50 situation. I wasn't the most mischievous student, nor was I the quietest. I was one of the tallest students in school, so teachers always made me sit at the back. I used to complain that I couldn't see the blackboard, and they thought I was making excuses to sit in front. Eventually, we discovered I actually needed glasses.

Being the son of Mithun Chakraborty and Yogeeta Bali , were you treated differently by classmates?Yes, of course. Sometimes I would get those snobbish looks. If things didn't go someone's way, I would often become the target. But eventually, I got used to it. I realised it's a part of life. People assumed there was special treatment because of who my parents were, even though that was never the case. My parents never wanted that. You can't really change people's perceptions.