The man who created and lost Chippendales

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: When you think of NRIs who have made it big in America, you think of Satya Nadela and Sundar Pichai who have gone on to become billionaires of big tech companies.

But before them, there was Somen Banerjee, an immigrant from Mumbai, who in 1979 founded Chippendales, America’s first male strip club. When the series about his life 'Welcome to Chippendales' was announced with Kumail Nanjiani playing his character, it created a furor on the internet because his story was finally being told.

But creating the male strip club wasn’t what Somen’s plan was when he quit his job at the gas station. He first founded a backgammon club called Destiny II, which he hoped gave the aura of success the II after the name. But when it failed, not wanting to back down on his dream, he pivoted to exotic male dancers after a night out with friends.

With it becoming a success overnight, he changed the name to Chippendales after the American furniture brand. It wasn’t until Emmy-winning choreographer Nick De Noia joined him did the club really take off, reaching astronomical heights by opening a new club in New York and having a touring show that played to millions every year.

But its success was its downfall, as Somen got jealous of Nick’s success who made TV appearances posing as ‘Mr. Chippendale taking credit for his work. He finally got caught when one of his accomplices turned witness and when he felt that he would lose the case and his wife would be left with nothing he committed suicide in his jail cell in 1994.