In the realm of Bollywood, few stories are as inspiring as that of Johnny Lever. Born John Prakash Rao Janumala, this man has defied odds and etched his name into the annals of Indian cinema with unparalleled grace and humor.
This is the story of an actor who faced tough times early on, forced to leave school due to financial difficulties, resorting to street vending to make ends meet and even contemplating giving up. However, destiny had a different path for him – he transformed his life, rising to become one of Bollywood’s beloved comedians. He has shared the screen with top stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Priyanka Chopra, among others, and is now highly respected in the industry. If you haven’t figured it out yet, I am talking about none other than Johnny Lever!
Johnny Lever, originally named John Prakash Rao Janumala, is recognized as one of India’s leading comedians. Despite a challenging upbringing in a financially strained household, he persevered and even took up various part-time jobs such as street vending in Mumbai to make ends meet after leaving school in the seventh grade due to his family’s hardships.
In those days, he’d often imitate well-known Bollywood actors and groove to their tunes, drawing curious glances from passersby. This unique ability earned him the nickname Johnny Lever, after he mimicked high-ranking officials at an event, a name that persisted when he ventured into the world of films.
The actor from Housefull 5 recounted in an interview with Beer Biceps that his path wasn’t simple. He revealed how his father’s alcoholism and violent behavior left a lasting impact on him. At the tender age of 13, he contemplated suicide, but the thought of his three younger sisters prevented him from carrying out his plan.
Prior to making his debut in Bollywood, Johnny honed his skills by performing in local musical events and doing street-side impersonations of celebrities such as Ashok Kumar and Jeevan in Pune. He used to earn around Rs 100 per day for these performances.
His big break in Bollywood came when actor Sunil Dutt spotted his talent at one of his stand-up performances and offered him a role in Dard Ka Rishta. From there, his career took off, and he became one of the first stand-up comedians in India.
Johnny Lever has earned renown for his presence in approximately 350 films, such as Tezaab, Kishen Kanhaiya, Karan Arjun, Coolie No. 1, among numerous others. His exceptional knack for comic delivery and talent to infuse humor into every character have endeared him to audiences and solidified his position as a crucial element in the realm of Bollywood comedy.
Over the years, he has worked with A-list stars such as Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Priyanka Chopra, and many others, further solidifying his status as a Bollywood legend.
Currently, Johnny Lever is living it up with a high-end 3-bedroom apartment in bustling Mumbai and boasting a staggering net worth of 250 crores. Yet, he hasn’t forgotten his fans, as he prepares to amuse them once more on the big screen. His upcoming film, “Welcome to the Jungle,” is packed with famous faces like Akshay Kumar, Disha Patani, and Raveena Tandon, due out in December this year. Additionally, he’s looking forward to Housefull 5 as well.
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2024-12-20 16:23