Showing posts with label Jamie Lever. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jamie Lever. Show all posts
I have come this far is as I have the luxury of time and the freedom because I’m single-Jamie Lever
3:08 PM
Set to perform in the city this week, comedienne-actor Jamie Lever gets candid about her comedy style and the privileges of being Johnny Lever’s daughter
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; May 17, 2026)
This is that time in Jamie Lever’s comedy calendar when she’s revising her act, tweaking jokes, adding something and subtracting what doesn’t work. The last-minute changes are on, as the comedienne gears up for The Jamie Lever Show in the city in less than a week. Giving her company in her pursuit is her uncle and mentor, Jimmy Moses. “I spent three months working on the script. My uncle has been with me throughout. As they say, comedy is a serious business,” she begins.
Lever shares she consciously approaches even a dancing reel on Instagram with the same sincerity. “A lot of young girls are looking up to me. I get messages like, ‘Didi, I’m inspired by you. We want to be multifaceted like you.’ So, I want to ace every performance, whether I am with Salman Khan on Bigg Boss or I am making a small reel,” she explains.
Naturally, there are consequences, or compromises as Lever, one of the busiest comediennes in the country, puts it. “I compromise a lot in my personal life. I’ve reached an age where one should have kids. There are these thoughts like ‘I’ve come so far, but I don’t have a lot of things that my friends have.’ But I give priority to comedy,” she says. “The only way I have come this far is because I have the luxury of time and the freedom because I’m single.”
If today her goal is to inspire younger women, the 20-something Lever had a far more personal one. “When I began, my fight was just to prove myself, to prove that I deserve to be here. My dad also said, ‘Tu thodi na paise ke liye kaam kar rahi hai. But if you want to be in this field, you have to prove yourself.’”
She recalls how protective he had been as a father, and how it surprised her that when the time came, he took a step back and let her take the stage. “He was shocked when I shared my wish to be a comedienne. I remember I was in the UK, doing a Masters in Marketing. I had a job. So, he had no idea. I also used to think that I might not get the permission to do it, and that I didn’t have what it takes to be a comic.”
“Since childhood, he has been very protective. He had a lot of rules: no sleepovers or trips, no coming home late. From there, to letting me be in this field and lending me his support the way he did was a big shift. When I decided that I was going to work in this field, my mother was surprised by how my dad’s heart just changed. He let me go out of his protective arms. My mother says that he changed as a human. He told me, ‘I could see some talent in you and I don’t want to be the one to stop that.’”
Today, of course, the father-daughter duo performs on stage, another anomaly in a society where despite several female star kids, the expectation remains that the male child will continue his father’s legacy. “Growing up I didn’t even have any examples of a comedian’s daughter making it in comedy,” she says. It was around 2012 that Lever began her career, performing at The Comedy Store, Mumbai. She made her television debut on the 2013 season of Comedy Circus, titled Comedy Circus Ke Mahabali.
While her father let her out from under his wings, his surname went with her, and Lever confesses it has brought immense privilege. “When I started my journey, I automatically had a fan following, which I did not have to work for. And that happens with star kids,” she says.
Being her father’s daughter also means easy acceptance from within the industry. Over the last few years, Lever has risen to popularity mimicking several Bollywood celebrities like Farah Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Sonam Kapoor and the late Asha Bhosle.
“I get a lot of support from the industry because everybody feels ‘Yeh toh apne Johnny bhai ki beti hai’. In fact, so many people tell me to mimic them. Once, Usha Uthup ji called me, saying, ‘You have mimicked Asha [Bhosle], do me too.’ Javed Akhtar called me to his house and asked me to perform for him and Shabana ji,” she shares. But the comedienne is mindful that impersonations don’t turn into insults.
“I have always been clear that I can’t disrespect my father’s colleagues or his fans. Just imagine if I were to do below-the-belt comedy, it would be so disturbing for his fans,” she says, adding, “My dad always told me, ‘Don’t take advantage of this privilege’.”
A part of me is gone with Asha Bhosle’s passing-Jamie Lever
2:37 PM
Kanksha Vasavada (BOMBAY TIMES; April 29, 2026)
Having “first discovered by a Gujarati magazine 20 years ago”, Jamie Lever says she owes “so much to this community”. For the actress-comedienne – who is set to perform in the city tomorrow – shares, “The Gujarati audience has supported me more than anyone, and since the start of my career, they have constantly invited me to perform. I owe so much to this community. I love how people here appreciate the art and know how to have fun, which is why Gujarati theatre is still so popular, even in Mumbai.”
She adds, “I had a lot of Gujarati friends in school, so I picked up the language at a young age and speak it fluently. Now, many people naturally start chatting to me in Gujarati, and I am absolutely thrilled to finally bring my show to a community that has encouraged me from the beginning.”
‘My focus is on offering family-oriented content’
With international artistes like Russell Peters and Trevor Noah bringing their hit tours to India, is it challenging for comics like her to keep their content relevant? “There is so much content available today that audiences are spoilt for choice, making it tougher for artistes to stand out and offer something unique. Having said that, people know what I do and appreciate my impersonations, which is where I have found my niche. My performances feature a lot of physical comedy, much like my father when he performed on stage, and the audience enjoys seeing a glimpse of him in my work.”
She adds, “I focus on keeping my content clean and family-orientated, because I want my family to be able to watch me without feeling awkward. There are fewer young comedians performing clean comedy today, so I am proud to have maintained my father’s style that way. I have created a show where 16-year-olds can come with their parents and grandparents, and everyone’s having a good time.”
‘I take each show as my start from zero’
Talking about comparisons with her father, Johny Lever, Jamie shares, “My father has worked in the industry for over 40 years and has spent 50 years on stage. He’s performed many a time in Gujarat, where the audience knows his content inside out, and often requests specific sets – which translates to added pressure and higher expectations. After 12 years of performing and perfecting my craft, I finally feel confident in what I have to offer, but I never take it lightly. Every show feels like starting from zero. I always feel that pressure, but I think it keeps me grounded.”
‘A part of me is gone with Asha ji’s passing’
Having mimicked Asha ji for 12 years, I feel a deep connection with her, and when I heard the news of her passing, I could not hold back my tears. I felt as though a part of me was gone, and I am saddened that the chance to meet her has been taken away. However, many people have written to me, asking me to keep her voice and spirit alive through my performances, and I would love to continue singing in her voice for them. I will do my best to honour her memory through my art.
-----------------------------------------------
On mimicry, Jamie shares, "Impersonation involves an in-depth observation of artiste’s mannerisms, expressions, and vocal modulation. I wonder how much effort someone like Sunil Grover must put in, as he becomes a perfect replica of a person. We observe artistes with detail and precision, and while it is hard work, I love that audiences truly appreciate it."
Talking about her acting career, Jamie said, "I played a serious character recently and found it challenging. While comedy is my first love, I have also viewed myself as an actor. So, I don't want to restrict myself and want to get out of my comfort zone."
Johny Lever to play himself in Farhad Samji’s next
11:04 PM
The actor will star as himself in Farhad Samji’s next film, which will also have several superstars doing cameos
Yashika Mathur (HINDUSTAN TIMES; April 24, 2026)
Legendary actor-comedian Johny Lever is all set to lead filmmaker Farhad Samji’s next film, playing a fictionalized version of himself. Interestingly, as a mark of respect and tribute to the iconic artist, stars such as Akshay Kumar and Salman Khan have decided to do a cameo for free.
They have both given one day’s time for their parts. The makers are also reportedly planning to rope in more stars for a solid ensemble for the film.
While Johnny is currently shooting in Ooty for other projects, shooting for this project is underway in Mumbai. Johnny is currently juggling between this film, Welcome To The Jungle, and Golmaal 5. While he remains unreachable, we catch up with his daughter, comedian Jamie Lever.
Jamie tells us, “I speak to him when he comes back from work every day, and he is very excited about this project. He says that he is doing something very unlike himself and has to unlearn everything he knows so far to deliver this role. It is definitely something new, a very different branch of comedy than what he is known for so far.”
When you mimic someone, it is not considered mockery-Jamie Lever
9:30 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; December 29, 2025)
Comedian Jamie Lever recently announced a break from social media, a move that was linked to the backlash she faced over a video mimicking Bigg Boss 19 contestant Tanya Mittal. However, Jamie later clarified through a post that her decision to step away was purely due to personal reasons and her need to spend quality time with her family.
‘My break has nothing to do with Tanya Mittal’
Speaking to us, Jamie said, “This has nothing to do with Tanya Mittal. I don’t know how people connected the two things. In my post, I wrote, ‘I lost a part of me’ because 2025 has been a very busy year. I have just come back from my US tour. I have done films and other projects. I realized I lost time with my family and that’s what I meant by, ‘I lost something this year’. So, it was just me saying I need time. I needed to detox from social media because it can be exhausting to have to deal with messages and expectations of people.”
When asked about the trolling after she mimicked Tanya, she says, “Tanya has not reacted to my video. I have zero communication with her. I think trolling people has become the new thing.”
‘I’ve been mimicking people for the past 12 years’
Jamie, who is known for mimicking several celebs, including Farah Khan Kunder, Asha Bhosle and Kareena Kapoor Khan, admits she was taken aback by the intense backlash. “I didn’t expect this reaction. I have been mimicking people for the past 12 years and mimicry has been going on in our country for so many years. It is an art form and the highest form of flattery, and we don’t have to explain this to people over and over again. When you mimic someone, it is not considered mockery,” she says, adding, “When people say things like, ‘You are body shaming her,’ I want to tell them that when you are mimicking someone, you are obviously going to use the person’s body language. The facial expressions and tonality of the voice require a lot of skill to do that. My point is simple - if you don’t understand mimicry or dislike the video, then don’t watch it.”
‘Want to spend time with family now, will return to social media next year’
So, does she plan to return to social media sometime soon? “Right now I want to spend time with my family. I have relatives that have come home from different cities. I want to enjoy spending time with them like sitting together and having coffee. I am on a social media detox now and I will be back next year, which is anyway just a few days away.”
We lack good comedy writers; hum bhi improvise kar sakte hai par kuch likha toh ho-Johny Lever
9:14 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; July 22, 2025)
Veteran comedian Johny Lever, who has entertained audiences for over four decades, has consciously cut down on work in recent years. The reason, he says, is simple - the lack of strong, inspiring roles. He adds, “When someone approaches me with a project, I try to see how I can take it a notch higher with my inputs. If the role is not interesting, why would I ruin my name by taking up mediocre work?”
‘Comedy pe zyada kaam nahi ho raha hai’
Last seen in Housefull 5, Lever observes that comedy is no longer being explored as actively in films. “Comedy ko kum kar diya hai, uss pe zyada kaam nahi ho raha hai. Comedy has become tough now. People are watching so much comedy in form of reels, toh aur zyada innovative comedy laaye kahan se? Also, we lack good comedy writers. Usually, we improvise and enhance a scene. Legends like Mehmood saab and Kishore Kumar saab would add their own inputs to the script. Hum bhi kar sakte hai par kuch likha toh ho. Kuch dhaancha ho toh uske upar kuch sajayenge na. Dhaancha hi nahi hai toh kya karenge? For now, there’s only action in abundance in movies.”
‘We used to observe people & imbibe their body language’
Lever also feels there are very few actors today who are keen on doing comedy or who can pull it off well. He says, “The thing is, today everybody is trained in a film school. But the theoretical knowledge doesn’t work on set. When you are on a set, you have to follow the cues of the team members. We used to observe people and imbibe their body language for our characters. Character ko andar se jeete the. Pagalon ki tarah kaam karte the.”
‘Comedy mera shauk tha aur phir mera profession ban gaya’
One of the reasons he supported daughter Jamie Lever’s decision to step into comedy is that he didn’t receive that kind of support from his own father. “Whenever I used to go on stage, my dad used to come to hit me. Once, I was performing at the Shanmukhananda Hall in Mumbai, and he came with a rubber pipe and began chasing me. The audience thought it was part of the act and started laughing and clapping,” he says.
On a nostalgic note, he says, “One day, I shot an ad and was paid Rs 25,000. It was equivalent to dad’s provident fund, which he received after 25 years of service. That is when he realized, ‘Mera beta kuch kar raha hai.’ He would be surprised to see people clap and laugh while watching me perform. It opened his eyes. Comedy mera shauk tha aur phir woh mera profession ban gaya.”
‘Comedy is in Jamie’s blood’
Lever, known for his roles in Baazigar, Koi… Mil Gaya, Awara Paagal Deewana and Golmaal Again, beams with pride when speaking about his daughter Jamie, who has carved a niche in the comedy space. “See, that’s in her blood. Initially, she didn’t plan to pursue comedy as a career. She was studying in London. One day she visited a café with her friends where a live stand-up performance was on and she suddenly told her friends, ‘Yeh barabar nahi kar raha. He is missing all the punches.’ She pointed out where the comedian could have added the punches. Then she called her mom up and said she aspires to do stand-up. Pehle mujhe gussa aa gaya, because I’ve been through struggles, and I was worried that my daughter would also have to go through that,” he says.
I come from the Mr Johny Lever school of comedy, a flag bearer of clean comedy-Jamie Lever
9:27 AM
Janice Rodrigues (BOMBAY TIMES; February 23, 2025)
On stage, she is hilarious and her impersonations are on-point, but there’s so much more to her as a person. Following in her father Johny Lever’s footsteps, Jamie Lever is very aware that she has big shoes to fill. After her recent show in Goa, Jamie spoke to us about her career and doing clean comedy. Excerpts:
Stand-up comedy is a more male-dominated area. Was it difficult for you, a female comedian, to get a break?
At the start of my journey, I never put myself in the category of a female comedian; for me, the fight was just to make my mark as a comedian. It was important that I respectfully find my position, not just be a star kid, who is trying her hand at comedy. True, there are fewer female comics today; it’s not an art form that parents support women to do. It is also a bit hard for society to accept female comics. But now, things are changing and women have become more confident and bolder and are the ones telling the jokes.
There’s a fine line between impersonating and offending somebody. How do you strike a balance?
We must be very conscious of the fact that when we prepare something, we should not cross the line. I come from the Mr Johny Lever school of comedy, a flag bearer of clean comedy. I grew up knowing that this is the only style of comedy I must do. It is a conscious choice, but it also came naturally. About keeping a balance, yes, it does happen, you might offend somebody. For example, I impersonate a lot of actors, but I will not say anything personal about their character or family. It is all in good humour, and that is why in my case, most of these actors have reached out to me, saying, ‘We really enjoyed our impersonation.’
Coming back to the clean comedy versus crass/roasting, what is your take on that?
Roasting is an art form, much appreciated abroad, but not so much in India. Some have attempted roasting in the past, and they have failed miserably. India is not ready for roasting. Roasting happens abroad on a public platform, and many big celebrities are roasted with the who’s who in the audience and they all enjoy it. Yes, it may spark some controversy later, but they are still accepting of that art form. Whereas in India, when you do a roast, there are FIRs and complaints filed, which is understandable because our culture doesn’t allow it. It hurts sentiments, because we are very emotional people, our upbringing, our roots, our conditioning, doesn’t allow that kind of insult and humiliation. So I think comics need to be aware... Especially given the current scenario where episodes have been taken off. So, yes, we have to draw the line somewhere.
On comparisons with dad Johny Lever
When I started working, I didn’t have any of those thoughts. It was my own inner battle, to fight with my insecurities and self-doubts. But yes, when I stepped into the industry, the first thing they said, ‘Oh, you will be compared with your father’ and that’s when it struck me. But I never took that pressure because I will never be able to match up; It’s a fact. A man who’s worked in the industry for over 40 years, and on stage for over 50 years, done over 500 films... how can I ever match up? I had to just be on my own journey.
As Karan Johar expresses outrage over being mimicked; comedians and celebs share their views
8:18 AM
After Karan Johar’s outraged Insta Story about being mimicked on TV, we ask comics and celebs — how far is too far?
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 7, 2024)
Filmmaker Karan Johar expressed hurt over being mimicked on a TV show, in his Insta Story, on Sunday. Producer Ektaa R Kapoor, too, shared it, writing: ‘Happened so many times! Ugly humour sometimes on shows…’
Social media was quick to deduce that Johar was referring to the show Madness Machayenge - India Ko Hasayenge, and the actor in question was Kettan Singh, who hosts a Koffee With Karan parody called Coffee with Churan, on the show.
Mimicry and impersonation are a routine feature on comedy shows, but the filmmaker’s outcry begs the question: how much is too much? We talk to celebs and comics on the debate.
---------------------------------------------
I was sitting and watching television with my mom... and saw a promo of a reality comedy show on a supposedly respectable channel... a comic was mimicking me in exceptionally poor taste... I expect this from trolls and faceless and nameless people but when your own industry can disrespect someone who has been in the business for over 25 years it speaks volumes about the times we live in... this doesn’t even anger me it just makes me sad! (sic)
- Karan Johar
---------------------------------------------
KETTAN SINGH’S DEFENCE
Karan sir saw the promo, not the episode. I don’t know whether he didn’t like me impersonating him or saying something that was offensive. I extend my apology and won’t argue. I can’t point out that it’s because of the writer who wrote the material, because it’s teamwork.
---------------------------------------------
The mimics
DR SANKET BHOSALE
Your intent with impersonating someone has to be very clear. There’s a very thick — not thin — line between making fun of someone and mimicking someone. Both my wife Sugandha (Mishra, comic) and I mimic people to impress them. We never use abusive language.
VIKALP MEHTA
With comedy, even if you don’t want, someone might get offended. (Actor) Ranveer Singh also mimicked (actors) Hrithik Roshan and Varun Dhawan on Koffee with Karan, and Karan ji was laughing then. I went on India’s Got Talent, Karan ji enjoyed my mimicry of (actor) Akshay Kumar. An artiste only aims to make people laugh, but yes, we should be responsible.
JAMIE LEVER
I am very mindful of where I draw the line. I will not go overboard or ever talk about say, Farah (Khan, choreographer) ji’s kids or husband, or make a remark on how she is earning money. That may be a bit below the belt. So, making fun of all that or someone’s sexual orientation... Things like that, we have to be mindful of.
The mimicked
JAVED AKHTAR, SCREENWRITER
People who mimic do end up saying a lot, but I wonder if their intentions are vicious. It’s done for fun. I’ve been mimicked on radio and stage. Kabhi agar paani sar se uncha ho gaya toh nahin karenge phir woh (upon realizing). But I will request those who mimic: there’s a limit, and never make it vulgar.
UDIT NARAYAN JHA, SINGER
I like being mimicked. Mimicry bhi usi artiste ki hoti hai jo logon ke priya hote hain. Apni-apni soch ki baat hai — for me it’s nothing to feel bad about.
My comic image became a stumbling block in my career-Jamie Lever
8:12 AM
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; January 24, 2024)
Jamie Lever has made us laugh aplenty through her viral Instagram reels mimicking people, and her film Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon (2015). But she also feels that her comedy and expectation to make people laugh, “has become a stumbling block” in her career.
“I go for auditions and screen tests. Some casting directors take a chance, saying let’s test Jamie for something different. But most see me and think ‘ab koi punch line aayegi’. I have to break away from that,” she shares, adding, “In my last film Yaatris (2023), a family drama, my character wasn’t supposed to be funny. I read a review which said ‘Jamie couldn’t make us laugh’ But the point of my character was to not make you laugh.”
This year seems set to change the perception as the actor-comedian gears up to feature in two films - Vidyut Jammwal’s Crackk and a Telugu film, Aa Okatti Adakku. For the daughter of comedy star Johnny Lever, the latter film is special.
“I am a South Indian and my mother tongue is Telugu. Ever since I started working, I wanted to do one film in Telugu for my grandma as she only speaks Telugu. So, while she has seen me in projects on screen, she has no idea, ki yeh ladki bolti kya hai! I want her to watch my film and enjoy,” she quips, adding, “Next month, I have my one woman show in Mumbai. I am really excited for that too,” she ends.
Akshay Kumar, Rana Daggubati to have a qawwali face-off in Housefull 4
8:05 AM
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 21, 2019)
After featuring in the qawwali song “Wallah Re Wallah” alongside Katrina Kaif and Salman Khan in the 2010 film, Tees Maar Khan, Akshay Kumar is ready to revisit the musical format. Mirror has learnt that Sajid Nadiadwala’s upcoming reincarnation comedy, Housefull 4, features a qawwali sequence with the actor and his co-star Rana Daggubati taking centrestage. According to a source close to the development, the song sequence is a face-off between Akshay and Rana and an important elememt that takes the story forward. “It appears at a crucial juncture and is on the lines of a fun conversation between the protagonist and the antagonist,” the source informed. While Akshay and Rana are at the centre, other key characters played by Bobby Deol, Riteish Deshmukh, Kriti Sanon, Pooja Hegde, Kriti Kharbanda, Johny and Jamie Lever, Chunky Pandey and Ranjeet joining in the jugalbandi.The Farhad Samji directorial is spilt in two eras—the present and the past—wherein the latter is a comic take on S S Rajamouli’s epic saga Bahubali. Farhad has also penned the lyrics and composed the basic tune for the qawwali. “The song is set in the present era and was shot at a studio in Mumbai,” the source added. For the shoot, Akshay and Rana were dressed as qawwals and were joined by 200 back-up dancers. Touted to be the costliest Bollywood comedy ever made, Housefull 4 went on the floors last year. While the present era is majorly set in London, the costume-heavy flashback portions were shot in Rajasthan. Akshay plays a barber residing in the Queen’s City but details of other characters have been under wraps. The film also features Nawazuddin Siddiqui in a special turn as an exorcist in a song which was shot earlier this year.
Namashi was born for the movies; he has learnt a lot from his father, Mithun Chakraborty-Johny Lever
2:17 PM
Johny Lever on working with both Mithun and his son
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 19, 2019)
After working together in the 2001 drama Lajja, Johny Lever and Rajkumar Santoshi are reuniting for Bad Boy, which marks the acting debut of Mithun Chakraborty’s son Namashi and producer Sajid Qureshi’s daughter Amrin. The marathon schedule in Ooty is still going on but the veteran comedian has completed his portions in a week’s time. “I play Amrin’s relative from a Bengali family and have a hilarious face-off with her love interest Namashi which will bring the house down with laughter,” Johny promises, saying that Namashi, whom he has known since his childhood, is a talented actor. “He was born for the movies and I’m not saying this because he is Mithun Chakraborty’s son. He as a learnt a lot from his father and done several acting courses.”
Johny and Mithun worked together in several films. The one he recalls is Yugandhar (right) in which both played dacoits. “I could not get a shot right despite 12 retakes so Mithun stopped the shoot and requested the director to leave me alone for some time and advised me not to overthink the scene and in the course of a conversation, diverted my attention. When I returned after a break, it was okayed in one shot,” he recounts.Next up: The reincarnation comedy Housefull 4 in which he teams up with daughter Jamie for the first time. “Even though I don’t have any scenes with her, our roles are connected. Mine has a surprise twist, we shot mainly in Jaisalmer. The sets were amazing,” he exults.
Johny and Jamie Lever join Housefull 4 cast
8:08 AM
Father-daughter duo will share screen space for the first time in Farhad Samji’s multi-starrer comedy
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 28, 2019)
The father-daughter duo of Johny and Jamie Lever has come together for the first time for Sajid Nadiadwala’s Housefull 4. The multi-starrer comedy is fronted by franchise regulars Akshay Kumar and Riteish Deshmukh and new additions Bobby Deol, Kriti Sanon, Pooja Hegde and Kriti Kharbanda.According to a source close to the development, Johny and his daughter, who has followed him into comedy, are a part of an important thread in the story. “Jamie would enact her scenes with her father to improve her comic timing. The script has her sharing screen space with Akshay and Riteish. It is a screenplay-driven humour, more in the situational comedy sphere, so it was all about getting the expressions right,” the source added.
The reincarnation comedy is divided in two eras and Jamie and Johny feature in both. “The Baahubali era is a set-up of huge palaces and heavy costumes for which the actors underwent a special makeover with an element of humour in it too,” the source informed.
A major chunk of Housefull 4 was shot in the UK, while the past-life sequences were recreated on a Mumbai set. “Sajid (Nadiadwala, producer) was keen to shoot the portions on a set as that would enable the director to capture the grandeur of the palace and give it a realistic touch. The visual effects are primarily being used in the long shots,” the source added.
Principal shoot of the film is complete, but the team might reunite for a brief patchwork schedule in the city. Director Farhad Samji is currently working on the edit with his visual effects team. The movie, which also stars Rana Daggubati and Chunky Pandey in pivotal roles, sees Akshay in the role of a barber in the Queen’s City.
Johny Lever's daughter Jamie is female Babulal in Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon
7:46 AM
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 17, 2015)
Twenty two years after
Johnny Lever's character, Babulal, in the SRK starrer,
Baazigar, left the audience in splits, his daughter, Jamie, is playing a
similar
character in Abbas-Mustan's comic caper Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon. “Babulal
was inherently funny while this kadak, muphat bai is dragged into funny
situations,“ says Jamie, who saw Baazigar when she was 10 and laughed
her heart out. “My father is a serious person at home. Even
today, when I do stage shows with him, he's like a boss. I think he
sometimes forgets he's my father.“
The filmmakers saw a stand-up video of Jamie, which was doing the rounds on social media, and offered her this role. “It was a surprise to both my father and me. Abbas-Mustan have known me since I was a child and Kapil Sharma is the biggest name on TV today. I couldn't have asked for a better launch,“ asserts Jamie, who had dabbled in marketing for two years earlier. She received a standing ovation at a live show abroad, which convinced Johnny that she could follow in his footsteps.
The filmmakers saw a stand-up video of Jamie, which was doing the rounds on social media, and offered her this role. “It was a surprise to both my father and me. Abbas-Mustan have known me since I was a child and Kapil Sharma is the biggest name on TV today. I couldn't have asked for a better launch,“ asserts Jamie, who had dabbled in marketing for two years earlier. She received a standing ovation at a live show abroad, which convinced Johnny that she could follow in his footsteps.
Meet the other Bollywood star kids who live on the fringe
9:10 AM
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; August 16, 2015)
Jamie, daughter of veteran comedian Johny Lever, remembers director duo Abbas-Mustan dropping in to their house often. After all, Lever Sr, one India’s best-known funny men, has featured in several of their films. She recalls Abbas-Mustan, in their stark white outfit which got them their Men In White monicker, often lounging around in her living room.Years later, their spotless white trademark outfits remain, only now Jamie is an actress in their film, not the daughter of an actor. Lever Jr features in their upcoming comic caper, Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon, which marks the debut of the country’s current comic flavour, Kapil Sharma.
Ask her how she bagged the role, and Jamie’s reply is quick. “No,” she drawls. “It is not that dad told them.”
Star valueIt’s known that star kids get offers on a platter even before they are ready to act. Not that the opportunities come without pressures. Often, the younger generation is compared to their parents and has to constantly battle expectations. But, it can’t be argued that getting a launchpad for them is a tad easier — if not in a home production, another star will turn mentor as Salman Khan did for two star kids — Athiya Shetty (daughter of Suniel Shetty) and Sooraj Pancholi (son of Aditya Pancholi) in his production Hero. But there are other industry kids looking for a foothold in Bollywood. They are offsprings of character actors, technicians, action directors and writers. Though these roles are integral to the industry, the kids come without the star tag.
Actress Manisha Kelkar (above), daughter of the late writer Ram Kelkar explains, “It is a case of being there, but not yet there.” Her father passed away in 2002, “so I don’t know if things would have been different had he been around,” she points out. Kelkar Sr penned several of Subhash Ghai’s films including Ram Lakhan (1989) and Khalnayak (1993).
Her childhood memories, like Jamie’s, too are replete with faces of big Bollywood names alongside her fathers — producers like J Omprakash and Subhash Ghai among them. “In those days hotel rooms would be booked for story writing sessions. It would invariably be the Fariyas hotel at Lonavla or Sun-n-Sand at Juhu. We, as kids, would tag along.”
In fact, Ghai had told her brother Yogesh that he would launch him in Saudagar (1991), but that never happened and her brother then showed no interest in acting.
Name droppingFinding themselves at the periphery, these industry offsprings can’t go around dropping names as a sure ticket to land a role. Nor would reams be written about them being tomorrow’s star.
It’s a lesson Vicky Kaushal has learnt. Acclaimed for his role in Neeraj Ghaywan’s critically-acclaimed film Masaan, Kaushal found himself struggling for roles just as any newcomer would do. But, Kaushal is the son of action director Sham Kaushal. Vicky says, “You are just like anyone else. Nobody is going to cast you because your father is part of the industry too. You have to audition and do the rounds like any non-industry person interested in an acting career.”
Jamie adds, “I cannot be going around and saying, ‘Hey, can you launch me? I am Johnny Lever’s daughter’.” Abbas-Mustan saw her in an online spoof which she had done in Gujarati. Her antics in the video fetched her a role. “And guess what?” she drawls. “This is one of those rare films of Abbas-Mustan featuring Jamie, not Johny Lever.”
Jamie has been doing stand-up acts and was part of the comedy television show, Comedy Ka Maha Muqabala. Ironically, on the show she was to team up with Kapil Sharma, who then left the show to do Comedy Nights With Kapil. But as fate would have it, Jamie now features with Kapil in her debut film. “I did not want to be here, there and everywhere. Over-exposure can be dangerous in Bollywood. I stuck to stand-up acts, anchoring and comedy shows. I avoided being part of soaps. Now that I want to act, I am still a relatively fresh face when it comes to Bollywood.”
Reliving talesManisha, on the other hand, began with Marathi films and veered towards Bollywood with Lottery (2009) and Bandook (2013), both of which are better forgotten. She says, “I am blessed to be part of the industry, but when I go for auditions, I do not mention my father’s name. When the old-timers get to know, they share anecdotes about him…It is nice to hear others talk fondly about my father, but it need not translate into work.”
Manisha recently featured in an online short film, Friend Request. She still does the rounds of auditions and hopes for that big break.
Veteran actor Mohan Bhandari’s son Dhruv (above) echoes her sentiment. A popular face on the small screen, Mohan has featured in films like Bawandar (2000), Pratighaat (1987) and Paheli (2005). Says Dhruv, “having a father from the same profession makes no difference. I had to struggle. When people come to know who my is father, the expectations rise.”
Ultimately they feel that hard work and luck — the biggest driving force in Bollywood — matters. Who knows who will make it and who will not?
As Dhruv adds, “There is no easy way out. No one gives you work because of your background. There are enough examples of children with famous fathers, who did not make it big.”
A decade ago Dhruv was slated to make his debut along Pulkit Samrat in a television show called Sixerrr. The show failed to take off, Pulkit went on to become a Bollywood actor. Dhruv went on to do television and then did a film that was better forgotten. He now has a fresh lease of life with his ongoing television show Tere Shehar Main.
Making it
Vicky fetched acclaim in his award-winning film Masaan, but he still has to go through the rounds of meeting people, auditioning. His next film Zubaan is slated to release in October. After Masaan, he knows he has to work harder, as expectations are high. According to him, his father did not mix his professional and his personal life. “So, I did not hang around the sets. I have studied engineering, but went on to do theatre and become an assistant director till Masaan made people notice me.”
Wish fulfilled
On the other spectrum, there are stars like Akshay Kumar who go the extra length to help. A couple of years ago when his business manager Vikas Bali passed away he decided to fulfill his wish to make his son Vedant Bali an actor. As Vikas had been associated with the Khiladi ever since he stepped into Bollywood, Akshay took up the responsibility. Vedant featured in I Love Desi which released earlier this year. Akshay’s decision to help his manager’s son find a foothold is an exception rather than a rule in B-Town.
Divine intervention
Manjiri Makhijani, daughter of Mac Mohan (best remembered as Sholay’s Sambha), who passed away in 2010, attributes it to “God’s grace” that she could rope in Tom Alter as well as music composers Salim-Sulaiman for her film, The Corner Table, made for the festival circuit. When she made up her mind to direct film, he gave her tips. Manjari has worked as an assistant director for films like Wake Up Sid (2009) and 7 Khoon Maaf (2011). She began with a short film, The Last Marble, about a street child that fetched her honours on the international film festivals circuit. Directing Bollywood films is top on her to do list.
There are not many from the periphery who have made it to the top of the heap. But then Salman Khan — writer Salim Khan’s son — reigns over Bollywood. As Manisha explains, “You can never know what clicks, if you are lucky and blessed, things just happen.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)