Rinki Bhattacharya – Writer, documentary filmmaker and daughter of acclaimed filmmaker Bimal Roy

Rinki Bhattacharya is a writer, documentary filmmaker and columnist from Kolkata. She is the daughter of acclaimed Bollywood filmmaker Bimal Roy, and ex-wife of Basu Bhattacharya, a well-known name in Hindi parallel cinema. Their son Aditya Bhattacharya is also a film director, who directed Aamir Khan in Raakh (1989). She is the founder Chairperson of ‘Bimal Roy Memorial & Film Society’. She currently serves as Vice Chairperson of ‘Children’s Film Society of India’, and works as a freelancer journalist apart from publishing a few books.

She began her career as a freelance journalist in 1966 after marriage

Rinki Bhattacharya (maiden name Rinki Roy) was born in Kolkata in 1942 into a family with filmy links. Her father Bimal Roy, acclaimed Bollywood director moved to Mumbai in the early 1950s to pursue a career in Bollywood. Later some of his team members in Kolkata like Gulzar, Basu Bhattacharya, Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Sudhendhu Roy and Nazir Hussain also moved to Mumbai. Basu Bhattacharya started his career as an assistant under Bimal Roy for Madhumati and Sujata. Very soon love blossomed between him and Rinki, which resulted in their marriage against Roy’s wish in 1963. The student and mentor also drifted apart.

In 1966 Basu Bhattacharya started his career as an independent filmmaker through Teesri Kasam, while Rinki Bhattacharya started her career as a freelance journalist publishing articles in different periodicals. Unfortunately her father passed away same year. She wrote columns for The Economic Times, The Indian Express and many other leading publishers.

Domestic violence led to the separation of the couple after two decades

After living together for 2 decades, his wife Rinki Bhattacharya left him in 1983 because of domestic violence, after which Basu’s career also trembled, and no more box office hits for a long period. They legally separated in 1990. The couple has three children – one son and two daughters.

She marked her debut as a documentary filmmaker through Char Divari, which dealt with domestic violence and abuse. Later she joined Women’s Movement in India, and wrote many books related to this subject and women empowerment. She edited an anthology on domestic violence in India, titled, Behind Closed Doors – Domestic Violence in India. She also produced many documentaries.

She wrote many books based on her father’s personal and professional life too. Bimal Roy: A Man of Silence,, Bimal Roy’s Madhumati: Untold Stories from Behind the Scenes, Janani – Mothers, Daughters, Motherhood and Bengal Spices are other published books.

Rinki Bhattacharya – Some interesting and less-known facts

1. She is related to Kapoor family as her son Aditya Bhattacharya had a brief married life with Shashi Kapoor’s daughter, Sanjana Kapoor.

2. During her childhood many prominent writers used to visit her home, which deeply influenced her writing skills. Thus she got exposed to literature at a very young age.

3. She successfully litigated against her mother and siblings, and won her share over father’s property.

4. She left her husband because of domestic abuse.

5. Her daughter Anwesha Arya is a writer.

6. She authored a few cookery books too.