Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 960
11:02 AM
WILL RAMAYANA HOLD WELL IN THE POST-HOLIDAY PERIOD?
Ramayana is doing superbly well at the box office, though the pre-Diwali effect did dent the collections to an extent. The film was released on Thursday, November 5, while Diwali fell on Sunday, November 8. So, it was expected that Ramayana would not collect as per its potential initially. Yet, the expectations were too high and weren't met.
Ramayana had huge advance bookings, and there was an assumption that spot bookings would further increase collections. However, in the North, people were busy with last-minute shopping, preparations, etc. and they didn’t come out in large numbers. As a result, Ramayana collected Rs. 43 crores on November 5. On Friday, November 6, the film dropped Rs. 33.25 crores, which was normal.
On Saturday, November 9, however, Ramayana went on to collect Rs. 48.75 crores before again dropping to Rs. 34 crores on Sunday, November 8, the day of Diwali. On Monday, however, the film showed its true colours. The earnings jumped to a huge Rs. 91.50 crores. Tuesday was also like a holiday, and that’s when Ramayana collected Rs. 76.50 crores.
The six-day collections of Ramayana are Rs. 327 crores. The first week collections are expected to be around Rs. 410-425 crores. It is less than the industry expectations of Rs. 500 crores in an extended first week. However, the film is still in a good zone.
To begin with, the word of mouth is positive, as proven by the insane jump on Monday. There’s a strong demand to see the film on the big screen and hence, the film will have a long run in cinemas. Secondly, the aforementioned collections are only from India, that too from the Hindi version. The regional versions are doing fairly well. Overseas, Ramayana is on a blockbuster run and may become the biggest overseas grosser (after Dangal), surpassing Pathaan’s collections of $48.50 million.
All eyes will be on the second week, which will again be huge. The competition is limited in the third week as well and hence, it can have a dream run of sorts until November 26.
Ramayana is doing superbly well at the box office, though the pre-Diwali effect did dent the collections to an extent. The film was released on Thursday, November 5, while Diwali fell on Sunday, November 8. So, it was expected that Ramayana would not collect as per its potential initially. Yet, the expectations were too high and weren't met.
Ramayana had huge advance bookings, and there was an assumption that spot bookings would further increase collections. However, in the North, people were busy with last-minute shopping, preparations, etc. and they didn’t come out in large numbers. As a result, Ramayana collected Rs. 43 crores on November 5. On Friday, November 6, the film dropped Rs. 33.25 crores, which was normal.
On Saturday, November 9, however, Ramayana went on to collect Rs. 48.75 crores before again dropping to Rs. 34 crores on Sunday, November 8, the day of Diwali. On Monday, however, the film showed its true colours. The earnings jumped to a huge Rs. 91.50 crores. Tuesday was also like a holiday, and that’s when Ramayana collected Rs. 76.50 crores.
The six-day collections of Ramayana are Rs. 327 crores. The first week collections are expected to be around Rs. 410-425 crores. It is less than the industry expectations of Rs. 500 crores in an extended first week. However, the film is still in a good zone.
To begin with, the word of mouth is positive, as proven by the insane jump on Monday. There’s a strong demand to see the film on the big screen and hence, the film will have a long run in cinemas. Secondly, the aforementioned collections are only from India, that too from the Hindi version. The regional versions are doing fairly well. Overseas, Ramayana is on a blockbuster run and may become the biggest overseas grosser (after Dangal), surpassing Pathaan’s collections of $48.50 million.
All eyes will be on the second week, which will again be huge. The competition is limited in the third week as well and hence, it can have a dream run of sorts until November 26.
Ramayana collects 327 cr in 6 days days in Hindi; records historic highest Tuesday of all time
10:00 AM
Box Office India Trade Network
RAMAYANA (Hindi) had a historic first Tuesday; it collected 76.50 crore nett as the Diwali holiday spilled into two days with some circuits seeing it on Monday and others having it on Tuesday. This has meant the film has put up around 168 crore nett over the two Diwali holidays. The collections on day six are similar to the first day of DHURANDHAR THE REVENGE.
The film dropped even less in the national chains as here, it was only a 12% drop compared to the overall drop of 15%. This is because some mass pockets and single screens were at a optimum on Monday and feel a little more on Tuesday. The total collections of the film now stand at 327 crore nett after five days though they will come down to lower levels day by day now.
It is when all this holiday factor goes out of the window that a judgement can be made where the film is going. It is Bhai Dooj on Wednesday which will help the collections in certain areas while other places it will be a normal working day. The collections will still be at a higher level than they should be.
RAMAYANA did best in Mumbai and Mysore on Tuesday and if Gujarat was a little disappointing on Monday, it held up superbly well on Tuesday. The film superb in the South outside the Hindi version in Nizam/Andhra. All the regional versions are excellent and that includes Tamil and Malayalam which normally struggle to do much. Kannada also struggled but here the film has a star from the state so that was expected to do well. The film is doing fantastic business in Mysore, Tamil Nadu and even Kerala be it regional or Hindi versions.
The collections of RAMAYANA (Hindi) till date are as follows.
Thursday - 43,00,00,000 apprx
Friday - 33,25,00,000 apprx
Saturday - 48,75,00,000 apprx
Sunday - 34,00,00,000 apprx
Monday - 91,50,00,000 apprx
Tuesday - 76,50,00,000 apprx
TOTAL - 3,27,00,00,000 apprx
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RAMAYANA recorded a historic first Tuesday smashing through all records with a collection of 76.50 crore nett beating the previous record of GADAR 2 by a huge margin. Both films had the holiday factor going for them which is the main reason for such huge collections on a Tuesday.
DHURANDHAR THE REVENGE was a little above 46 crore nett which is the best for a non holiday Tuesday. If we take the fair value of RAMAYANA, then its fair value is higher than DHURANDHAR THE REVENGE. This was not the case on Monday but if we take out the holiday factor, then Tuesday is better. This is because DHURANDHAR THE REVENGE saw a drop in collections on Tuesday.
It will take a huge film and Tuesday falling on the right day for this record to be breached. Not only is its a record for Tuesday but is among the top five single days in history with two belonging to RAMAYANA and three belonging to DHURANDHAR THE REVENGE
The top first Tuesday collections of all time are below
1. Ramayana - 76,50,00,000 apprx (Holiday)
2. Gadar 2 - 55,23,00,000 (Holiday)
3. Dhurandhar The Revenge - 46,26,00,000
4. Pushpa 2 - The Rule - 34,12,00,000
5. Animal - 33,17,00,000
6. Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (Hindi) - 29,78,00,00
7. Simmba - 27,93,00,000 (Holiday)
8. War - 27,13,00,000 (Holiday)
9. Kick - 26,82,00,000 (Holiday)
10. Dhurandhar - 25,55,00,000
11. Stree 2 - 25,00,00,000 apprx (Partial Holiday)
12. Saiyaara - 24,41,00,000
13. Chhaava - 24,38,00,000
14. Housefull 4 - 24,07,00,000 (Partial Holiday)
15. Jawan - 23,08,00,000
16. Dangal - 22,39,00,000
17. Sanju - 21,62,00,000
18. Tiger Zinda Hai- 21,60,00,000
19. Krrish 3 - 21,33,00,000 (Partial Holiday)
20. Pathaan - 20,97,00,000
Shah Rukh Khan is particular that at this age, he’ll look cool in his own way-Shazia Samji
9:49 AM
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; November 12, 2026)
Ed Sheeran’s rap, Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone’s chemistry, or Sachin-Jigar’s foot-tapping music — everyone has their own reason why they can’t get enough of Tu Mil Jaaye from King. For choreographer duo Shazia-Piyush, the reason is simple: King Khan. Talking to mid-day, the duo revealed that they requested filmmaker Siddharth Anand to give them the chance to choreograph a number in the December 24 release.
Shazia recalled, “Siddharth sir made us hear Tu Mil Jaaye. He told us that it’s not a typical love song and we have to [incorporate] storytelling, romance, and action. Then he asked us to pitch how we’d visualize this song.” For the choreographers, there was added pressure as it was Khan’s favourite song in King. Piyush added, “Siddharth sir said, ‘You have to earn this song’.”
After Anand approved their vision for Tu Mil Jaaye, came the next step — getting Khan’s nod. Piyush revealed that the superstar is particular about being presented in an age-appropriate manner, before elaborating, “With the aura that he has, Shah Rukh sir is particular that at this age, he’ll look cool in his own way. So, you can’t give him something that doesn’t look good on him, though he makes everything look amazing. So, we decided to make him sit in the car and do the rap. He felt the rap was too fast and wondered how he’d do it, but it went so smoothly. He is a gem of a person.”
What made the filming a cakewalk was Khan and Padukone’s dedication. Shazia said, “Shah Rukh sir told Piyush and me that he would rehearse till it doesn’t feel right. Even after the day’s shoot, Shah Rukh sir and Deepika ma’am would rehearse at night [for the next day]. As Deepika ma’am has worked with Shah Rukh sir in the past, she’d give us tips about how they’d look good together or about their body language.”
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‘Tu Mil Jaaye’ was shot over a week in May, in Cape Town. It’s sung by Arijit Singh and Madhubanti Bagchi, with rap verses by Ed Sheeran
Ramayana stunt double Luke G Loannou on matching Ranbir Kapoor’s moves: "He has zero ego on set"
9:48 AM
S Farah Rizvi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; November 12, 2026)
“The last thing you want is for the audience to notice a change between the actor and their double,” says UK-based stunt performer Luke G Loannou. Gaining recognition for his role as Ranbir Kapoor’s body double in Ramayana, Loannou brought 11 years of international experience from blockbusters like Wonder Woman and No Time to Die to his recent five-week stint in Mumbai.
“I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from the Indian film industry, but matching Ranbir Kapoor’s physical language quickly became an organic, two-way street,” Loannou says. “As a stunt double, one of the most important things is understanding how the actor moves so that everything feels seamless on screen.”
The collaboration was reciprocal. “There were certainly moments when I needed to study and match Ranbir’s posture and movements, but during the action sequences, Ranbir would often ask me about particular movements and how best to perform them. Sometimes I would adapt to his style, and other times he would work towards matching mine. Ultimately, we were both working towards the same goal: creating a consistent physical performance that felt natural and convincing.”
Efficiency was paramount. “We would generally try to develop and rehearse the action as much as possible before bringing Ranbir in,” Loannou explains.
“Naturally, he had an incredibly busy schedule, so our job was to make the process as efficient as possible. We’d prepare the movements, demonstrate what we were trying to achieve, and then work with him to break everything down into manageable steps. Safety was our first priority, and we wanted Ranbir to feel comfortable and confident with whatever he was performing.”
Loannou speaks highly of Kapoor’s character. “What really impressed me was Ranbir’s professionalism and work ethic. There was no ego involved. He was approachable, completely committed to the work, and having worked alongside many actors throughout my career, I can genuinely say he was one of the easiest and most enjoyable people I’ve had the pleasure of collaborating with.”
The film’s mythological setting presented unique challenges. “Costume is something audiences don’t always consider when watching action sequences, but it can have a huge impact on how you move,” Loannou notes. “Performing in minimal footwear or sandals is very different from training in modern trainers. It required constant communication with the costume and props departments to find practical solutions together.”
Technical complexity was also a factor. “Of course complex mechanics of high-wire combat remains as one of the most important aspects of wire work is making the movement feel believable,” Loannou says. “You want the audience to feel the weight of a landing, the speed of someone moving through the air, and the power behind every movement. That requires a tremendous amount of collaboration between the performer and the rigging team. The forest sequence was a major part of my involvement, and it presented some particularly interesting physical challenges.”
Reflecting on his time in India, Loannou was struck by the hospitality. “Coming to India introduced me to a different working environment and culture, but what stood out most was how welcoming and accommodating everyone was.”
Ramayana: Can Ranbir Kapoor's film earn Rs. 1500 cr ? Trade experts share views
9:46 AM
Mohar Basu, Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; November 12, 2026)
Numbers, numbers, numbers. That’s where the conversation about Ramayana: Rise of a Legend, initially focused on the performances and storytelling, has shifted to in the week since its release. With the Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, and Yash-starrer reportedly crossing the Rs 900 crore mark worldwide, the trade is now hopeful that filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari’s magnum opus will reach the Rs 1500 crore mark.
Discussing Ramayana’s dominance in the Indian market, trade analyst Ramesh Bala told mid-day, “The film made around Rs. 550 crore by the end of its sixth day [Tuesday, Nov 10]. It’s performing well in the South too. There were considerable expectations from Karnataka because of Yash, but it has fared well in Kerala and the Telugu-speaking markets too. The US market is also [contributing significantly]. I believe the film will reach Rs. 1500 crore worldwide.” He added that the figure could go higher when the film releases in China.
Even though trade analyst Taran Adarsh felt the movie had room for a bigger opening, he noted, “It registered the highest ever collections for any film in the pre-Diwali period. It could have done even better in the initial days, but it has more than made up. It earned around Rs 95 crore on Monday, and Rs 75 crore on Tuesday [in India].”
The two-part movie, mounted on a Rs 4000 crore budget, has tremendous pressure to earn back its investment. According to Rajasthan-based exhibitor Raj Bansal, people in the trade circle are spreading negativity around the movie.
He shared, “The film is running to house-full shows in my theatre. I am expecting its lifetime collection to reach around Rs 800-1200 crore [in the domestic market]. But there are some so-called box office analysts, who, when they don’t get paid by the producers to promote their film, run it down. That’s what they tried doing with Ramayana too.”
Taran Adarsh noted that ‘Ramayana: Rise Of A Legend’ had the highest Monday collection with Rs 95 crore, upstaging ‘Dhurandhar The Revenge’ that previously held the record. The epic also holds the highest Tuesday collection now.
(Crisp) Movie Review: BLIND GAME by FENIL SETA
11:41 PM
Blind Game, which has released today on Zee5, is directed by the late Sangeeth Sivan. The film commences on a promising note but, in no time, goes downhill. The writing is very poor. The circumstances under which the friends get into trouble are childish, while their ideas to get out of it are sillier. In one scene, the friends plan to fake the death of one of them using an unclaimed body. There’s talk of replacing the dead body's hair and nail samples with those of the friend, so that the authorities would not suspect that any foul play has occurred! Truly a 'This is beyond science' moment. Arjun Rampal rises above the flawed script and is sincere. Priyamani tries her best but is let down by the writing. Mahesh Palai (Rangta) is menacing but is completely forgotten after a point. The actors playing friends are okay. All in all, Blind Game is avoidable.
My rating - * ½ out of 5!
My rating - * ½ out of 5!
Ramayana collects 250.50 cr in 5 days in Hindi; records highest Monday of all time
10:00 AM
Box Office India Trade Network
RAMAYANA (Hindi) did fantastic business on the big Diwali holiday as it recorded collections of 91.50 crore nett which is just phenomenal growth from the day before. The film has gone up from 34 crore nett to over 90 crore nett which is a 170% jump.
The film missed out on the 100 crore nett mark but that is probably as the holiday is not as strong as usual as it plays out over two days followed by Bhai Dooj on Wednesday. Nevertheless, its the third highest collection ever seen for a single day after the Saturday and Sunday of DHURANDHAR THE REVENGE.
The film has collected 250 crore nett now after 5 days and due to the film being in holiday period, its hard to tell where the first week will end but 400 crore nett is locked. It can go towards the 450 crore nett mark. The Monday also ensures a HIT film but that's not what this film has been made for as over Diwali, its not too difficult to become a HIT. It has to go and do better and it will as it has practically all of November to collect the numbers.
The slight disappointment is that Gujarat/Saurashtra could have been better considering the period but again this plays out over days and it could be something to do with how Diwali has fallen this year. Overall it's a great result on Monday because although its a big holiday, the collections did come down quite a bit on Sunday which is worrisome and getting 170% growth is no easy task.
If we add the languages then it will easily be the highest day ever for a film from the Hindi film industry as it goes to around 109 crore nett.
The collections of RAMAYANA (Hindi) till date are as follows.
Thursday - 43,00,00,000 apprx
Friday - 33,25,00,000 apprx
Saturday - 48,75,00,000 apprx
Sunday - 34,00,00,000 apprx
Monday - 91,50,00,000 apprx
TOTAL - 2,50,50,00,000 apprx
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RAMAYANA recorded the highest Monday of all time by a huge margin as it smashed through the 60 crore nett plus figure of DHURANDHAR THE REVENGE. It is the first major record that RAMAYANA has set though it would have been better still if it got the highest single day in history. The big Diwali holiday being split into two days in various regions means it could not get the record but that will be compensated with another big day on Tuesday.
It was only a decade back that a 20 crore nett Monday would have been seen as a huge Monday and here we are looking at 90 crore nett collections. A few years ago, films like GADAR 2, ANIMAL and STREE 2 got Mondays which were in the 35-40 crore nett range and they were seen as huge at that time. HOUSEFULL 4, just before the pandemic, had collected 34 crore nett on the same day and this is far far higher. The collections are coming due to higher rates and RAMAYANA has the 3D factor going for it as well. The footfalls of the film are only 75 lakhs apprx in the first five days. The ticket pricing post DHURANDHAR THE REVENGE has changed the potential for the bigger films.
The admits may not be there but the figures can still be huge and if both really come together then the sky is the limit. The DHURANDHAR THE REVENGE Monday is probably a little better on fair value as its a huge holiday which could mean that the real collections of RAMAYANA are more in the 50-55 crore nett range without the holiday. But even 50-55 crore nett is a huge figure and there will not be many films hitting 50 crore nett on Monday in the next few years.
The top first Mondays of all time are as follows.
1. Ramayana - 91.50 crore (Holiday)
2. Dhurandhar The Revenge - 60.28 crore
3. Border 2 - 56.25 crore (Holiday)
4. Tiger 3 - 56.08 crore (Holiday, Day Two)
6. Pushpa 2 - The Rule - 40.74 crore
6. Baahubali 2: The Conclusion - 39.81 crore (Partial Holiday)
7. Gadar 2 - 38.36 crore
8. Animal (Hindi) - 37.68 crore
9. Stree 2 - 36.87 crore (Holiday)
10. Tiger Zinda Hai - 36.53 crore (Holiday)
11. Housfull 4 - 34.12 crore (Holiday)
12. Krrish 3 - 29.64 crore (Holiday)
13. Jawan (Hindi) - 28.61 crore
14. Bajrangi Bhaijaan - 26.78 crore (Holiday)
15. KGF - Chapter 2 - 25.24 crore
16. Dangal - 24.98 crore
17. Sanju - 24.63 crore
18. Pathaan - 24.51 crore
19. Saiyaara - 23.54 crore
20. Chhavva - 23.12 crore
20 years ago, Ekta Kapoor's guard told me, ‘Zaroorat hogi toh bula lenge’-Gaurav Khanna
9:46 AM
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; November 10, 2026)
After a successful run on reality television, winning Celebrity MasterChef India and Bigg Boss 19, Gaurav Khanna is returning to daily soaps with Dil Ki Bewafaiyaan. Having spent much of his career on television, the actor has no plans to distance himself from the medium that gave him his identity.
‘It is not easy for a male actor on television to get a nuanced role’
The subject of his new show and the chance to explore a different character drew him to the project. The show also marks Gaurav’s first collaboration with Ektaa Kapoor, whom he had hoped to work with for nearly two decades. Recalling his first visit to her office as a newcomer, Gaurav says, “I told her that 20 years ago, I had come to her office and handed my pictures to the guard, who told me, ‘Zaroorat hogi toh bula lenge.’ She replied, ‘Gaurav, you’re a superstar. You can come whenever you want.’”
He adds, “Dil Ki Bewafaiyaan is a different kind of love story, and viewers will see love in a new light. My character is realistic yet entertaining. It is not easy for a male actor on television to get such a nuanced and strong role, as the medium is largely considered female-oriented.”
‘I am what you see’
His stint on Bigg Boss 19 also put his personality under public scrutiny, with some viewers questioning whether his ‘Mr Perfect’ image was genuine. Gaurav insists he was simply being himself. He says, “Some people initially thought I was acting for the camera. I used to laugh because they probably hadn’t come across someone like me. I am what you see. By now, most of them have realized that and many are my friends.”
‘When you start from zero, there is no disappointment’
Gaurav credits his upbringing in Kanpur and his parents for keeping him grounded. He says, “Wherever I am today, I am still that boy from Kanpur who came to Mumbai to make his dreams come true. When you start from zero, there is no disappointment. The moment you begin thinking you are above others, that becomes a problem.”
His celebrity status, he adds, has not changed his everyday habits. He says, “I still take rickshaws, go grocery shopping and bargain. You should never lose your sense of reality. I just want to entertain people. If I can reach their hearts and touch their emotions, that is a victory for an actor.”
‘Television can never be far from my heart’
Gaurav, who became a household name as Anuj Kapadia in Anupamaa, says, “I am a television actor, and everything I am today is because of this medium. Television can never be far from my heart. I am open to any medium that gives me a chance to perform something I believe in, but I don’t want to do run-of-the-mill stuff.”
Comparing the appeal of television and films, he says, “Television is like the IPL, while films are like one-day matches. Both have their own charm. TV enters people’s homes every day, and that gives me a different high. It is fast-paced, and you may shoot 10 scenes in a day. I love that hustle.”
‘I came to Mumbai to study’
Gaurav says acting was not a part of his plan when he moved to the city. He shares, “I never came to Mumbai thinking I would become an actor. I came here to study and never imagined that television would accept me so warmly. I have always kept my doors open. I don’t know which medium I will be working in five years from now, but I know I will be doing something.”
Manoj Bajpayee on the current security threat in Bollywood: "It’s concerning"
11:02 PM
Akash Bhatnagar (HINDUSTAN TIMES; November 10, 2026)
The attack on actor Tiger Shroff last month brought the issue of threat to the security of Bollywood stars back to light. As a result, many Bollywood celebrities upgraded their security details, including actor Amitabh Bachchan, who greeted his fans in his weekly Sunday ritual through a bullet proof glass recently. Actor Manoj Bajpayee calls that visual “concerning”.
Manoj Bajpayee, who was recently seen in Last Man In Tower, has been in the industry when the fear of the underworld governed the fraternity.
Ask him if he feels that time is returning and he says, “It will never go back to the same old time. That time, the industry was the target, right now, it’s not this time. The pace and definition of the crime has changed completely. Now, somebody is sitting somewhere else and sending their shooters to attack a target, and that target may even not be the real target.”
As per the statement of the accused in Shroff’s shooting incident, their real target was actor Salman Khan, and they even did a recce of the houses of actors Akshay Kumar, Bachchan and Aamir Khan.
“From Tiger’s incident, what has come to the fore is that he was not the target, but suddenly became one. The whole conversation was about these other stars who were the real target and now they have to surround themselves with utmost safety,” Bajpayee says.
However, the actor is hopeful of the measures being taken by the government to ensure the safety of these targeted celebrities.
“Yes, it is a matter of concern but one thing I know is that the state government is looking into it with a lot of concern. They are monitoring the situation and taking all the precautions. I just hope that things get better, comfortable and safer for all of us,” he ends.
Johnny Walker taught me stardom comes and goes; what remains is the person you are-Nasirr Khan
11:01 PM
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; November 10, 2026)
Johnny Walker was among Indian cinema’s most celebrated actors, known especially for his impeccable comic timing in films such as Baazi, CID, Mr & Mrs 55, Pyaasa, Madhumati and Naya Daur. Born on November 11, 1926, he began his career as a bus conductor in Mumbai before going on to become one of Hindi cinema’s finest comedians. His brand of humour and distinctive style helped comedians move beyond playing sidekicks to heroes, allowing them to have parallel tracks of their own alongside leading actors such as Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand and Guru Dutt. He passed away on July 29, 2003, but his legacy continues to resonate with audiences and influence generations of performers.
As his 100th birth anniversary approaches, his son, actor Nasirr Khan, looks back at the values his father held dear, the choices he made for his family and the life lessons he passed on.
Nasirr, who is currently seen in Tumm Se Tumm Tak, recalls, “The biggest takeaway from his life is his simplicity and humility. Despite becoming a huge star, he never let go of the person he was before fame came his way. He always believed that ‘kisi ka bhi stardom zindagi bhar nahi rehta, aata hai aur chala jaata hai. What remains is the kind of person you are and how you lead your life.’ He was sober, philosophical, grounded and pious. He taught me to stay humble, work with honesty, remain focused and understand the difference between reel life and real life.”
Away from the camera, Johnny Walker was a man of few words, and his approach to comedy was equally understated. Nasirr recalls, “He had taken up almost every kind of job before becoming a star, and his comedy drew from his own life experiences. He never demeaned, insulted or ridiculed anyone through his humour, nor did he resort to vulgarity. He treated everyone with respect and made people laugh through clean, wholesome comedy. His impeccable sense of timing made him naturally funny, so he never had to be loud or over the top. His humour was simple and relatable, which is why audiences continue to connect with it even today.”
The legendary actor also remained humble about his achievements and rarely took credit for his success. Nasirr shares, “He would always acknowledge the people he worked with, including Guru Dutt, Chetan Anand, Mohammed Rafi, Dilip Kumar, B R Chopra, Bimal Roy, M S Sadiq, Gulzar saab and Hrishikesh Mukherjee, as well as music directors, lyricists, writers and co-actors. He never made his success about himself. He would always say, ‘I was because of them’.”
His decision to prioritise family over professional commitments was another defining aspect of his life. Nasirr says, “In 1966, when my father was at the peak of his career, he reduced his workload by nearly 60 per cent to devote more time to his family. He gradually stepped away from work through the 1970s and retired in the early 1980s. It was a conscious decision, and he remained committed to it. Giving up fame and a successful career to prioritise his family is not easy, but he chose to do so.”
Even decades after leaving the industry, Johnny Walker continues to find admirers among younger audiences, with his songs frequently being shared on social media.
Nasirr adds, “Even today, people share his songs, including Jaane Kahan Mera Jigar Gaya Ji, Yeh Hai Bombay Meri Jaan, Sar Jo Tera Chakraye and Kaise Diwali Manayein Hum Lala, to name a few. Even though he left the industry in 1980, today’s generation continues to remember him through his work. For a simple man from Indore who started out as a bus conductor, remaining relevant decades later is no small feat.”
Plans are also underway for an intimate gathering of people who knew and worked closely with the actor. Nasirr says, “I plan to celebrate my father’s life with an intimate gathering of those who were part of his journey. It will be a chance to revisit cherished memories and share anecdotes that keep his legacy alive.”
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