Showing posts with label Johnny Walker. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Johnny Walker. Show all posts
100 years of Johnny Walker, who used a Rs 26-a-month ticket punch to map the soul of cinema
11:07 AM
Today marks 100 years of Johnny Walker: the non-drinking bus conductor who used a Rs 26-a-month ticket punch to map the soul of cinema
Alpana Chowdhury (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 18, 2026)
Playing a petty pickpocket with irresistible aplomb in C.I.D. (1955), the iconic Johnny Walker took audiences through a city of striking contrasts singing “Ae dil hai mushkil jeena yahan… Yeh hai Bombay meri jaan.” On the one hand, Bombay boasted stately Art Deco buildings, palm-tree-lined sea fronts, broad avenues, rumbling trams, horse-drawn Victorias, Plymouths, textile mills, and a unique work culture. On the other, it could be a cold, unforgiving landscape. Having experienced its harsh underbelly while struggling for a living, the comedian sang the track with such infectious chutzpah that it became the defining anthem of the metropolis.
Born as Badruddin Kazi on 11 November 1926 in Indore, the late actor would have celebrated his centenary this year. Delightfully, despite being a lifelong teetotaller who never touched a drop of alcohol, Kazi was rechristened after the famous Scotch whisky brand by filmmaker Guru Dutt, who was thoroughly mesmerised by Kazi’s uncanny impression of a stumbling drunkard.
A ticket to stardom
Long before Baazi (1951) changed his fortunes, the comedian endured a crushing early life. After his father lost his job at an Indore cotton mill, his large family relocated first to Deolali and then to Bombay. Starting out selling ice candy in Deolali at the tender age of fourteen, Kazi later sold fruits and vegetables on the streets of Bombay to support his household. Eventually, he secured a job as a conductor on the BEST bus routes, earning a modest monthly wage of Rs 26.26.
The job had one silver lining: free transit across the length and breadth of Bombay, which allowed him to drop by movie studios. The cheeky conductor transformed the aisle of the bus into his personal stage. He would shout out stops in bizarre, exaggerated voices—bellowing “Mahim-wala passenger, get ready, ladies first!”—and pull off uncanny mimicry to keep weary commuters laughing.
When his family relocated to Hyderabad in 1947, the uncomplaining youngster stayed behind to chase his cinematic dreams, entering the industry as a junior artiste—a polite euphemism for an extra in the crowd. “If I was lucky, I got a few lines of dialogue, for which I would be paid Rs 10,” he recalled during an interview at his spacious bungalow in the 1990s, long after retiring from the screen.
The turning point
While working as a crowd extra for Rs. 5 a day, Kazi often entertained stars on set during breaks with his impressions. While shooting Hulchul, actor-scriptwriter Balraj Sahni watched him perform and saw a genuine talent being treated like a jester. Sahni pulled him aside, told him to respect his craft, and arranged an audition with Guru Dutt, who was then drafting Baazi. The audition led to the birth of a screen legend. Kazi had staggered into Dutt’s office, pretending to be sloshed, picking a quarrel and causing such a scene that Dutt nearly had security toss him onto the street—until Sahni revealed it was all an act. Impressed by the the performance, Dutt cast him on the spot and gave him the catchy moniker after the release of Baazi.
The film marked the start of a legendary partnership. The two men were polar opposites—Dutt the erudite intellectual, and Kazi the unpretentious, cheery realist who had studied only until the sixth standard—yet they forged a deep personal bond. They played badminton after wrap-ups, ate phuchkas (pani puris) at street stalls, and went on hunting trips to Madhya Pradesh.
Dutt valued his friend so highly that he conceived specific roles for him, gave him top billing directly under the leads, and even asked lyricists to write entertaining, profound songs especially for him. Following Aar Paar (1954), Dutt gifted his favourite screen prankster a brand-new convertible Ford. Until then, Kazi had happily ridden public transport, thrilled whenever commuters recognized him.
Romance and realism
It was on the sets of Aar Paar that the actor fell for his co-star, Noorjahan (Noor), sister of actress Shakila. Though her character on screen rebuffed him coquettishly with Na na na tauba, real-life romance blossomed between the stanzas.
In stark contrast to the rogue he played on screen, Johnny Walker was a devoted family man who loved quiet fishing trips to Powai Lake with his wife. “Being married to her has made me one of the happiest men on earth!” he effused.
Playing the man on the street came naturally to him as he had been one himself. The unforgettable tel-maalish champiwala in Pyaasa (1957) was modelled on street masseurs Dutt and Walker had observed in Calcutta, who chattered incessantly while massaging clients. “My years of struggle made me aware of human foibles and frailties. That’s why I could play these characters in an identifiable manner,” he reflected.
Stepping off the wheel
Walker lent his comic genius to masterpieces by directors like Chetan Anand (Taxi Driver), Raj Khosla (C.I.D.), B R Chopra (Naya Daur), Bimal Roy (Madhumati), and H S Rawail (Mere Mehboob). Yet in 1968, at the pinnacle of his stardom, he voluntarily cut back his workload. “I was doing double shifts then, but I felt money was of no use if I didn’t have time to eat or sleep when I should,” he reasoned.
In 1985, he stepped away from cinema altogether, coming out of retirement only once for Kamal Haasan’s Chachi 420 in 1997. Content with his quiet life, his car, his home, and providing his children the education he missed, he famously remarked: “Crorepatis don’t have my peace of mind.”
For his 100th birthday, here’s a toast to the non-drinker who gave this melting pot of a city its beating heart: Main Bambai ka babu, Naam mera Anjana, English dhun mein gaaun, Hindustani gaana…
I quit the industry and worked for an MNC for 7 years-Nasirr Khan
8:31 AM
Richa Shukla (BOMBAY TIMES; August 6, 2022)
Nasirr Khan, son of veteran actor and comedian late Johnny Walker, is currently seen in the TV show Shubh Laabh-Aapkey Ghar Mein. He spoke to us recently about his journey in showbiz and his long absence from the entertainment industry a few years ago. Excerpts...
‘WHATEVER I HAVE ACHIEVED IN LIFE, I DID IT ON MY OWN’
Talking about the current phase of his career, he says, “Indian TV is basically dominated by women. So, if I am getting a meaty role at the age of 53, I think I am lucky. By the grace of God, I am getting good shows with good roles and money now. I can say that whatever I have achieved in life, I did it on my own. Whenever I faced failures, it was because I didn’t make the most of opportunities that came my way, my mistakes, and some wrong decisions that I took.”
‘MY FATHER NEVER CALLED UP ANYONE TO RECOMMEND ME FOR ANY PROJECT’
Nasirr, who always wanted to be an actor like his father, has done movies like Baghban, The Lunchbox and Wazir. Later, he moved to doing TV shows. He says, “Becoming an actor was my childhood dream and I was born and brought up in a filmi environment. But I knew that my father wouldn’t call any director to recommend me. He was a very simple and real person, and had struggled, too. Out of six brothers and sisters, I was the only one who became an actor. My father always encouraged me, stood by me and guided me. But he told me that he wouldn’t call any of his friends in the fraternity to recommend me. He would say, ‘Beta, na koi bolega nahi, aur kaam koi dega nahi. ’ So, it’s better to choose your own path.”
‘THERE WAS A TIME WHEN I WAS SIDELINED IN THE INDUSTRY’
Despite a good start to his career, somewhere things didn’t shape up the way he had expected. He shares, “It’s true that I got good projects, but due to some reason or the other, I couldn’t make the most of it. I never pushed myself hard enough as an actor and accepted whatever was easily offered to me. I didn’t fight to get what I wanted or deserved. There was a time when I was sidelined and replaced at the eleventh hour by other actors, or my role got edited, and I kept mum. But I have no regrets at all. I don’t sit and cry over spilled milk. If I could do it when I had nothing, I can do it now when I have something in hand. That’s what I believe in.”
‘I WORKED WITH A US-BASED TECH COMPANY FROM 2008 TO 2015’
Nasirr tried his hands at anchoring and worked as a dubbing artist, too. But due to lack of good offers, he left the industry and worked for an MNC. “From 2008 to 2015, I was out of the entertainment industry and worked with a US-based technology company. I was completely disassociated from the entertainment industry. Suddenly, the company crashed and there was a fallout among the investors. I was left high and dry with nothing in hand. But I never cried or slipped into depression. I am very positive and headstrong. I was prepared for a new beginning. So, returning to showbiz was the only option I had. My second innings in the entertainment industry began in 2016,” he says.
Many people still don’t know that I am Johnny Walker’s son; my father would’ve been proud of that-Nasirr Khan
8:01 AM
Tanvi Trivedi (BOMBAY TIMES; October 27, 2021)
He says, “I don’t know how people attached Khan to my surname, but then I went with it. Otherwise, my real name is Nasirr Kazi. My father changed his name for his own reasons in the 50s, but people changed my name on their own.”
Nasirr is happy that he got work in the industry on his own merit. He shares, “People didn’t even realise that I was Johnny Walker’s son and so they didn’t expect me to follow a certain career path. If we sit down to compare the two eras, it is impossible because comedy and films were much simpler in those days when my father acted with stars like Dilip Kumar and Guru Dutt. Now, a child is almost born with a mobile phone, so he will perhaps not find that kind of humour appealing. But, I do feel that people and things were far simpler in those days than now.”
The actor is currently seen in the TV show Shubh Laabh. He has been a part of many films, too, in the past. Ask him about not getting good offers in films, and he says, “My father had his own struggles in the 50s, he made it on his own, left it all and then enjoyed his life. I also want to follow that. Why my films didn’t work or why a certain TV show did not work, is not in my hands. The fact is every actor has gone through his share of struggle. I have learnt now that inner peace and satisfaction are more important. Work is a part of your life, not your whole life. I have seen top actors sliding down and unknown people becoming stars. So, it is all about just enjoying your work.”
Son Nasir Khan plans trilogy on Johnny Walker; Roman Sen to play the lead
8:33 AM
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 12, 2015)
Nasir Khan, son of late actor Johnny Walker, is all set to make a film on the legendary comedian. It's not a biopic but a contemporary suspense thriller with the protagonist named after his father. "We have a new actor, Roman Sen, playing Johnny Walker, a fictional character with certain characteristics of my father," reveals Nasir from Budapest, admitting that he didn't want any direct comparisons with his comedian dad. "In fact, I wouldn't want anyone to compare Roman with my father either. It wouldn't be fair to either. There was something peculiar about my father which one can't pinpoint. And it's the same with Roman."
Nasir is producing and directing the as-yet-untitled film which is being co-written by Sajid and Kamran. Sajid has also worked with Walker on a few films in the past. "My father hated vulgarity of any kind and believed that films should be made for the family. I'm targeting the same audience with a film high on drama, suspense, action and romance," asserts Nasir.
Now for the twist: The film is being planned as a trilogy. "I wouldn't make a Part 2 just because Part 1 would work. It's a complete story showcased in three parts. Just like Baahubali or any superhero series. ," he avers. "I want today's Gen X and the kids to know my father who was much loved by their parents and grandparents."
The film will be shot in Mumbai and eastern India. It will go on the floors by the end of this year or early next year. "We are looking for an actress to star opposite Roman," he says. "We won't use any archival footage from my father's films but I may use one of his songs."
Slowly, word spread that I was Fali's girl and that made things really difficult for me-Shyama
7:21 AM
MUMBAI MIRROR (July 28, 2015)
Recently, in Kangna Ranaut's film, Tanu Weds Manu Returns, a snatch from Geeta Dutt's evergreen hit, Ja ja ja ja bewafa, rang across the auditorium bringing back nostalgic memories of a heartbroken Shyama in Guru Dutt's Aar Paar. Interestingly, the singer herself had approached the actress to act in her husband's 1954 noir comedy.
"I was so touched that I told Geeta didi I would not charge anything, she could give me whatever she wanted," Shyama had admitted in an interview, listing Aar Paar as one of her favourite films and Guru Dutt as a wonderful director who would act out every scene for his artistes. He also choreographed the songs which ranged from the above mentioned Ja ja ja ja bewafa, Arre na na na na tauba tauba and Sun sun sun zalima to Babuji dheere chalna, Mohabbat kar lo ji bharlo and Ye lo main haari piya. There was also the title track Kabhi aar kabhi paar crooned by Shamshad Begum and Shakila's cabaret track, Hoon abhi main jawaan aye dil. The songs were shot in real locations like a car, a club, a zoo and a garage, in real time. It was O P Nayyar's first hit score as he struck a chord with lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri and entered people's hearts with Geeta's versatile voice.
Apart from the music, the thriller revolving around a cab driver, Kallu, a car chase and a bank robbery, is remembered for its evocative monochromatic visuals, credit for which go to Guru Dutt's cinematographer V K Murthy. However, for Shyama, Murthy turned out to be a spy in disguise.
Cupid had struck on the sets of Sazaa (1951), though it wasn't love at first sight. Fali Mistry, the cinematographer who directed the Dev Anand movie, did not endear himself to the film's leading lady after he ordered her hairdresser, Mrs Green, to snip off her unfashionable Rapunzel tresses. "We'll have a cascade of ringlets instead," he decided. Shyama sobbed her heart out as she watched her lovely locks fall to the ground, wondering why she was being punished for wanting to become a heroine.
Fali, a perfect Parsi gentleman, wiped away Shyama's tears, wooed her with his quiet words and won her heart with his gentle smiles. Soon, they started meeting clandestinely and then after a while, got bolder.
Fali would often drive past her house, honking loudly. That was Shyama's signal to rush to a window and flash him one of her bewitching smiles. Unknown to them, this exchange was watched by Johnny Walker, who was a regular at the restaurant beneath Shyama's house.
"We tried to play it cool but Johnny bhai suspected we were up to something. Slowly, word spread in the industry that Shyama was Fali's girl and that made things really difficult for me," Shyama had laughed at the memory.
Johnny Walker was a part of Aar Paar but more than him, Shyama learnt to be wary of V K Murthy during the shoot. Fali's former assistant kept a hawk's eye on her and if he ever caught her even playfully trifling with her hero, he would immediately report to the boss who would pull up Shyama that evening.
"I'd wave him away saying, 'Of course, I'm your girl Fali, but thoda flirting kar liya to kya,'" reminisced Shyama, adding that deep down, her Parsi boyfriend knew that she was his. She proved it by going against the wishes of her orthodox Muslim parents and tying the knot with him quietly one morning. Later, she reported on the sets of Laadla where she was told to her bemusement that they were shooting a wedding sequence. "But I got married this morning," she giggled. No one knew that she was serious.
Aar Paar elevated Shyama into the top league and Guru Dutt wanted to pair up with her again in Mr & Mrs 55. But this time, she asked for double the amount she had been paid for Aar Paar. And he dropped her for Madhubala.
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