JOHNNY WALKER - BADRADDIN JAMALUDDIN KAZI
Johnny Walker (1920s – 29 July 2003) is the screen name of an Indian movie comedian, who acted in around 300 movies. He was born as Badruddin Jamaluddin Kazi in Indore, British India, the son of a mill worker. His father was made redundant and the family moved to Bombay (now Mumbai). The son took various jobs as the sole breadwinner for the family, eventually becoming a bus conductor with Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST).
Johnny Walker was born in the early 1920s to a mill-worker in Indore. Born to a Muslim
family he was named Badruddin Jamaluddin Kazi at birth. The mill in
which his father worked closed and the family, of which Walker was the
second of ten children, moved to Maharashtra.
There Walker became the sole breadwinner, travelling many miles and at
unsocial hours in order at various times to buy and then sell ice candy,
fruit, vegetables, stationery and other goods. Throughout his youth he
dreamed of being involved in films, idolising Noor Mohammad Charlie and
practising stunts that he saw on screen.
One of Hindi Cinema’s earliest and best known stand-up comedian, Johnny Walker regaled audiences for over three decades with his comic expressions and quirky dialogues delivered with an inimitable nasal inflection.
Born Badruddin jamaluddin Kazi, Johnny Walker arrived in Bombay in the early 40s. The responsibility of looking after a large family led him to become a bus conductor. His screen debut was in the film “Aakhri Paigham” (1949). His big break, however, came when Balraj Sahni, his costar in “Hulchul” discovered his ability to entertain audiences with ready wit and repartee.
On Sahni’s recommendation, he met director Guru Dutt, who gave him his first significant role in “Baazi” (1951). Kazi adopted his screen name, Johnny Walker, from the eponymous liquor brand, following the success of his role as a drunkard in the film.
“Baazi” and “Jaal” marked the beginning of a long association between the director and the comedian. Though Johnny Walker played the lead in several comedies, his best remembered roles are with Guru Dutt in such films as “Aar Paar” (1954), Mr. & Mrs. 55 (1955) and “Kagaz Ke Phool” (1959).
Never loud or vulgar, and never resorting to slapstick, Johnny Walker proved it was possible to be funny without being coarse. He exemplified this in his roles as the masseur Abdul Sattar in “Pyaasa” (1957) and the bumbling nawab in “Mere Mehboob” (1963).
Johnny Walker had several hit songs picturized on him like ‘Sar jot era chakraye’ in “Pyasa” and “Ae dil hai mushkil jeena yahan” in “CID” (1956).
In 1968, he won the Filmfare Award for Best Comedian for his performance in “Shikar”.
The 1970s saw the coming of more boisterous and slapstick comedy dominated by Mehmood. However, Johnny Walker appeared in a memorable bit role in “Anand” (1971), and later “Shaan” (1980). He directed one film, “Pahunche Huye Log” (1985). Johnny Walker returned to the screen in 1998 to act in Kamal Hasan’s “Chachi 420”.
One of Hindi Cinema’s earliest and best known stand-up comedian, Johnny Walker regaled audiences for over three decades with his comic expressions and quirky dialogues delivered with an inimitable nasal inflection.
Born Badruddin jamaluddin Kazi, Johnny Walker arrived in Bombay in the early 40s. The responsibility of looking after a large family led him to become a bus conductor. His screen debut was in the film “Aakhri Paigham” (1949). His big break, however, came when Balraj Sahni, his costar in “Hulchul” discovered his ability to entertain audiences with ready wit and repartee.
On Sahni’s recommendation, he met director Guru Dutt, who gave him his first significant role in “Baazi” (1951). Kazi adopted his screen name, Johnny Walker, from the eponymous liquor brand, following the success of his role as a drunkard in the film.
“Baazi” and “Jaal” marked the beginning of a long association between the director and the comedian. Though Johnny Walker played the lead in several comedies, his best remembered roles are with Guru Dutt in such films as “Aar Paar” (1954), Mr. & Mrs. 55 (1955) and “Kagaz Ke Phool” (1959).
Never loud or vulgar, and never resorting to slapstick, Johnny Walker proved it was possible to be funny without being coarse. He exemplified this in his roles as the masseur Abdul Sattar in “Pyaasa” (1957) and the bumbling nawab in “Mere Mehboob” (1963).
Johnny Walker had several hit songs picturized on him like ‘Sar jot era chakraye’ in “Pyasa” and “Ae dil hai mushkil jeena yahan” in “CID” (1956).
In 1968, he won the Filmfare Award for Best Comedian for his performance in “Shikar”.
The 1970s saw the coming of more boisterous and slapstick comedy dominated by Mehmood. However, Johnny Walker appeared in a memorable bit role in “Anand” (1971), and later “Shaan” (1980). He directed one film, “Pahunche Huye Log” (1985). Johnny Walker returned to the screen in 1998 to act in Kamal Hasan’s “Chachi 420”.
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