A famous mother and daughter duo in the world of films is Aparna Sen and Konkona Sen Sharma. While the former is a well- known actress, director and writer, Konkona is on her own path to glory as an actress. Apart from the critically acclaimed Mr and Mrs Iyer, directed by her mother, she has wowed the audience with her roles in Page 3 (2005), 15 Park Avenue (2005) and Omkara (2006). In fact she has won two consecutive Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Awards for her performances in Omkara (2006) and Life in a..Metro (2007). Her performance in the former won her a second National Award under the Best Supporting category. The year 2009 is to see her in films such as Luck by Chance, Wade up Sid, Sunglass, Mirch, 8 and Tanu weds Manu.
There are little known aspects of Konkona' s life. Making her debut as a child artiste in the film Indira, she studied in Modern High School for Girls, Calcutta , as well as the Calcutta International School . She went on to do her graduate degree in English from St Stephen's College, Delhi in 2001.
Konkona's maternal grandfather, Chidananda Dasgupta is a film critic, scholar, professor, writer and one of the co-founders of the Calcutta Film Society with Satyajit Ray and Harishadhan Dasgupta. Her grandmother Supriya Dasgupta is a cousin of legendary modern Bengali poet Jibanananda Das. Her father Mukul Sharma (Aparna' s former husband), is a science writer and journalist.
Aparna Sen is a renowned name in both Bengali and Indian cinema. She has made her mark in both film and theatre and as a director of parallel cinema. Among her well-known acting roles is in films such as Teen Kanya, The Guru, Bombay Talkies Kotwal Saab, Paromitar Ek Din and her latest Antaheen.
As a director she has outshone herself in 15 Park Avenue, Mr and Mrs Iyer, Paromiter Ek Din, Yugant and 36, Chowringee Lane .
Born in 1945 in Kolkata, she studied at Modern High School and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Presidency College , Kolkata. She made her film debut in Satyajit Ray's Teen Kanya when she was 16. Since then she has acted in lead roles in many films. In 1981, Aparna made her debut as a film director in 36, Chowringee Lane which won national and international awards. Since then she had directed a series of films and acclaimed both within and outside the country. She moved to Mumbai and continues to make films in Hindi and English.
Truly Aparna and Konkona have become household names among film buffs both in India and abroad.

Compiled by Cultural Correspondent