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),[12]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).[13]
He made his Bollywood debut in Hiren Nag's Abodh (1984) opposite Madhuri Dixit.[14] 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).[15] He was arrested by C.B.I for alleged links to the Rose Valley chit fund scam in December 2016,[16][17][18][19] and was given bail after 13 months.[20]
Paul's first movie appearance was in 1980, in the film Dadar Kirti, directed by Tarun Majumder.[21] 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.[7] For his role as a naive Kedar, Paul received immense love and appreciation from his audience.[22] Paul collaborated with Tarun Majumdar for the second time in his romantic flick Bhalobasa Bhalobasa (1985) where he was paired with Debashree Roy.[7] The film achieved a roaring success and established his pairing with Roy as the most bankable one of the 1980s.[7] His other major hits with Roy include Arpan (1987),[23]Surer Sathi (1988), Surer Akashe (1988), Nayanmani (1989), Chokher Aloy (1989), Shubha Kamana (1991), Mayabini (1992), Tobu Mone Rekho (1994).[24] He collaborated with Buddhadeb Dasgupta in Uttara (2000) and Mondo Meyer Upakhyan (2002).
Controversy
In 2014, Paul issued a public apology after threatening to "let loose [his] boys" to rape members of the opposing CPI(M).[25]
On 31 December 2016, Paul was arrested for his involvement in the Ponzi firm Rose Valley Group.[26] He was released after serving a thirteen months sentence.[20]
