Hulu’s “Welcome to Chippendales” crime drama depicts the true life story of Somen “Steve” Banerjee (portrayed by Kumail Nanjiani), the Indian immigrant who based the multimillion greenback international male stripping empire that swept the nation within the ’80s and ’90s.
The eight-part restricted sequence from “Pam & Tommy” creator Robert Siegel facilities on Banerjee’s rise and fall in an outrageous plot full of greed, scandal, and homicide. In addition to Nanjiani, the present additionally stars Nicola Peltz Beckham as Dorothy Stratten, Dan Stevens as Paul Snider, and Murray Bartlett as Nick De Noia — the Chippendales choreographer/Banerjee’s enterprise companion who (spoiler alert) was murdered in 1987.
“Welcome to Chippendales” is not the primary retelling of this tragic crime saga. Discovery+ launched a four-part docuseries in September 2021 titled “Curse of the Chippendales,” which chronicles the identical harrowing story by means of interviews with former Chippendales dancers and unique enterprise leads. Though Hulu’s present — which rolled out its first two episodes on Nov. 22 — digs into the nitty gritty of what transpired throughout the Chippendales enterprise, viewers are curious to know what occurred to a few of these key gamers.
Read forward for every little thing we all know in regards to the real-life individuals featured in “Welcome to Chippendales.”
Nicola Peltz Beckham Was “Honored” to Bring Dorothy Stratten’s “Shocking and Wild” Story to Life
What Happened to Somen Banerjee?
The Chippendales founder, born in Bombay, India, debuted his sensational male striptease troupe in 1979, shortly attracting ladies throughout to his Los Angeles nightclub. As detailed in “Welcome to Chippendales,” Banerjee let nothing stand in the best way of his success, even going so far as resorting to homicide to maintain his empire intact.
In the early ’80s, Banerjee determined to increase his enterprise throughout the nation and enlisted the assistance of Emmy-winning tv producer and choreographer De Noia. The deal they organized awarded De Noia half the income and rights to the Chippendales title from its touring engagements. The two finally clashed over the present’s inventive course and income and dissolved their partnership towards the tip of the ’80s. Following that, the FBI claims Banerjee put successful out on De Noia, who was discovered useless in his Manhattan workplace on April 7, 1987, from a gunshot wound to the face, ABC News reported.
On Sept. 2, 1993, Banerjee was arrested for allegedly “conspiring to kill former enterprise associates who began a competing operation” and indicted for “conspiracy to violate the federal murder-for-hire statute,” the United Press International reported. He was additionally indicted for 5 counts of “inflicting others to journey in overseas commerce and to make use of services in overseas commerce to additional the homicide scheme” and charged for the murders of his different former associates Mike Fullington, Steve White, and Read Scot, along with racketeering and arson.
On July 29, 1994, Banerjee pled responsible to racketeering in federal court docket — a cost that included arranging De Noia’s homicide and tried arson — agreed to forfeit his curiosity in Chippendales’ mother or father firm, Easebe Enterprises, Inc., per the Los Angeles Times. He was to be sentenced to 26 years in jail however was discovered useless in his jail cell on Oct. 23, 1994, from an obvious suicide.
What Happened to Somen Banerjee’s Wife, Irene?
Banerjee was married to a lady named Irene (performed by Annaleigh Ashford in “Welcome to Chippendales”), whom he tied the knot with a while within the ’80s. The pair had two kids collectively, Lindsay and Christian, and stayed collectively till Banerjee’s dying in 1994. The New York Post reported that shortly earlier than his sentencing, Banerjee transferred his Chippendales firm to Irene, who died on Feb. 8, 2001.
What Happened to Dorothy Stratten?
Stratten was a former Playboy mannequin who was married to nightclub promoter and Chippendales worker Snider, who found her in 1978 when she was simply an adolescent serving ice cream out at a Dairy Queen in Vancouver, Canada. According to ABC News, Snider groomed Stratten and helped launch her modeling and performing profession after he satisfied her to pose for a nude photoshoot. The two married in June 1979 shortly after Stratten moved to Los Angeles, however she died on the age of 20 in August 1980.
Shortly earlier than her dying, Stratten was rumored to be having an affair with director Peter Bogdanovich, whom she labored with whereas filming 1981’s “They All Laughed.” She and Snider fought in regards to the affair till the latter obtained a letter stating he and Stratten had been “separated bodily and financially,” Village Voice reported. The two met up on Aug. 14, 1980, to debate a monetary settlement of their divorce, throughout which Snider shot and killed Stratten earlier than additionally killing himself. Stratten was later buried on the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery.
