Puranjit Dasgupta (born 21 August 1982), better known by his stage name Mantra, is an Indian actor, film director and producer, who started his career as a Radio jockey.
[2][3] He appeared in various Hindi films, notably Panipat (2019),[4] High Jack (2018),[5] Rebellious Flower (2016),[6] London, Paris, New York (2012), Bheja Fry 2 (2011), Game (2011) and Tum Mile (2009).
[10] Before venturing into the media industry, he was in the hospitality business from 1996 to 2000 and worked as a front desk receptionist and manager for The Taj Hotel.
[17] He went on to appear in Abhishek Bachchan starrer Game (2011), followed by Sagar Ballary's comedy film, Bheja Fry 2 (2011).
[18] He played the role of Nandu, a gangster in Hum Tum Shabana (2011) and a Paris-based sex toy shop owner in London, Paris, New York (2012).
[5] He portrayed the role of Najib ad-Dawlah in Ashutosh Gowariker's 2019 period film Panipat starring Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Kapoor and Kriti Sanon.
In 2010, Mantra co-hosted dance reality show, Zara Nachke Dikha with Jennifer Winget on Star Plus.
[15][8] As a wild card entry, Mantra participated in the sixth season of the celebrity dance reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa in June 2013.
[2][38] He has done several plays, including Sohaila Kapur's Ouch, Divya Arora's The Melody of Love, Infinite Theatre's The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui and Rajat Kapoor's Macbeth.
[42] In 2020, Kaali Awaazein, a fictional 10-episode horror audio web series on Amazon's Audible Suno, was written and directed by Mantra, where Amitabh Bachchan gave his voice.
[44] In March 2021, Mantra directed a new Spotify Original podcast, I Hear You, a paranormal audio series featuring Aahana Kumra, who plays a Delhi based detective Priyamvada Parmar.
[45][46] He directed another Spotify original, Darr Ka Raaz with Dr. Phobia, a psychological horror starring Rajesh Khera and Riya Deepsi, released in April 2021.
[47] MnM talkies produced Virus 2062, a Spotify India's audio thriller voiced by Ali Fazal and Richa Chadha.