Chitra Sen (Chira Mandal) was born on 5 May 1934 in Kolkata. Her father was Panchu Gopal Mandal and mother was Arati Mandal. Sen took Manipuri and Bharatnatyam dancing trainings from Balkrishna Menan and Shakti Nag. She married Shayamal Sen in 1966 who was also an actor and a student of Utpal Dutt. In beginning Chitra Sen worked under Shyamal Sen's direction. Her daughter in law Reshmi Sen is a dancer and actress and her grandson Riddhi Sen, son of Kaushik and Reshmi is also an aspiring actor.

Filmography

• Joutuk (1958)
• Komal Gandhar (1961)
• Personal Assistant (1959)
• City of Joy (1992)
• Kanyadan (1993)
• Unishe April (1994)
• Anu (1999)
• Daaybaddho (2000)
• Cancer (2001)
• Haraner Natjamai (2002)
• Path (2003)
• Je Jon Thake Majhkhane (2006)

Plays

• Alakanandar Putra Kanya.^[4]
• Jalchabi (with Rangrup theatre group under the direction of Seema Mukhopadhyay)^[5]
• Maer Moto (based on a play of Kabita Singh directed by Mohit Chattopadhyay)
• Bhalo Rakkhosher Galpo (with Swapnasandhani)
• Aloka.^[4]

Television

• Subarnalata
• Boyei Gelo
• Rajjotok
• Mon Niye Kachakachi

• 2010 Best actress award from the Government of West Bengal for her role in Jalchabi.