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Johnny Lever
Lever in 2012
Born	John Prakash Rao Janumala (1957-08-14) 14 August 1957 (age 67) Kanigiri, Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh, India
Occupations	Actor comedian
Years active	1975–present
Spouse	Sujatha Lever ​(m. 1984)​
Children	2, including Jamie
Relatives	Jimmy Moses (brother)

John Prakash Rao Janumala, better known by his stage name Johnny Lever (born on 14 August 1957) is an Indian actor and comedian who is known for his works in Hindi cinema. He is one of the first and most recognised comedians in India. He is considered to be amoungest the Greatest Comedians in Indian Cinema and is the recipient of numerous accolades, including thirteen Filmfare Awards nominations in Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role, and has won the award twice, for his work in Deewana Mastana (1997) and Dulhe Raja (1998). He began his career in 1984, and has acted in more than three hundred Hindi films.

Early life

Lever was born on 14 August 1957 in a Telugu Christian family in Prakasam, Andhra Pradesh. His father worked as an operator in Hindustan Unilever plant where he also worked as a labourer for six years. Lever was brought up in King's Circle area of Dharavi in Mumbai. His mother tongue is Telugu and is fluent in Punjabi, Urdu, Hindi, English, Marathi and Tulu. He is the eldest in the family consisting of three sisters and two brothers (including his younger brother Jimmy Moses).

Lever studied in Andhra education society English high school until the seventh grade as he could not study further because of financial problems in his family. As a result, he decided to leave school and started working odd jobs, such as selling pens on the streets of Mumbai by mimicking some famous Hindi film stars of that time and dancing to the songs of Hindi film stars. He also spent his early years in Yakutpura, an old city of Hyderabad, where he learnt the unique style of comedy acting.

During a Hindustan Unilever company function, he mimicked a few senior officers, and from that day on, the workers said he is Johnny Lever. When he later joined the film industry, he decided to use Johnny Lever as his screen name.

Career

Stand-up comedy career

He started to perform stand-up comedy in musical shows (orchestras), Tabassum Hit Parade and after earning fame, joined the group of Kalyanji-Anandji, a music direction duo. Lever is one of the first stand-up comedian in India and widely regarded as pioneer of stand-up comedy profession in India. Even before joining Hindustan Unilever (HUL), he was giving stage performances. Because of his growing absenteeism and since he was earning well from stage shows, he quit HUL in the year 1981. He did a lot of shows and world tours with them, one of his first big tours being with Amitabh Bachchan in 1982. At one of his shows, actor Sunil Dutt noticed his talent and potential and offered him his first movie Dard Ka Rishta.

He recorded a comedy cassette called Hasi Ke Hangame which gave him recognition at homes via the audio mode. During this period, he also did a few commercials for Kachua chhap incense, directed by Shekhar Kapur. In 1986, he performed in a charity show Hope 86 in front of members of the Hindi film industry as a filler. His talent was recognized, which resulted in producer Gul Anand offering him the film Jalwa, alongside Naseeruddin Shah.

Film career

1980s

Lever got his first break in Tum Par Hum Qurban, in which the famous TV and stage compère and yesteryears actress Baby Tabassum launched her son Hoshang Govil as the leading man, and then with the film Dard Ka Rishta, thanks to Tabassum and the late Sunil Dutt. Since then, he has acted in more than 350 films including films such as Tezaab, Kasam, Khataranak and Kishen Kanhaiya . After Dard Ka Rishta, he was seen in Jalwa, Hero Hiralal with Naseeruddin Shah.

1990s

His first major success came with Baazigar, and after that he was seen in movies as a supporting actor/comedian. Despite being busy with his movie roles, he continued to do live shows. One of his most memorable live performances was an impersonation of Michael Jackson at the 1999 Filmfare Awards. His most acclaimed performance was the character of "Babulal" in the film, Baazigar, directed by Abbas-Mustan. He is also remembered for some of his other famous characters, like "Chotta Chattri", "Aslam Bhai", etc.

2010s

He also acted in a Tulu movie, Rang. His first Tamil feature film was Anbirkku Alavillai released in 2011. He also starred in a Kannada film, Gara.

Television career

Lever's first appeared in an episode of sitcom Zabaan Sambhalke as Johnny Utolandand in 1993. Lever also appeared on Zee TV in his own show, Johny Aala Re. In 2007, he appeared as a judge on the stand-up reality show Comedy Circus. In 2017 Lever joined the cast of Partners as Commissioner Googol Chatterjee.

He is the president of MAAM (Mimicry Artist Association Mumbai), and has done thousands of live shows all over the world.

Personal life

He married Sujatha Lever in 1984 and has two children Jamie and Jessy. His younger brother, Jimmy Moses, is also a comedian and mimicry artist.

Lever is a Christian. When asked about his transition, Lever replied:

It was God's will. I had always been a religious person, but one incident changed my life. My son was diagnosed with throat tumor. I was helpless and turned to God for help. I stopped working in films and spent all my time praying for him. Ten days later, when he was taken for a test, the doctors were surprised because the cancer had vanished. It was the beginning of a new life for me.

Filmography

Films

As playback singer

As dubbing artist

Television shows

Awards and nominations

See also

• List of Indian comedians
• List of stand-up comedians
• Johny Aala Re Portals:
  • Biography
  • India
  • Bollywood
  • 1990s
  • Comedy

References

1. ^ चैहान, Jitesh Arpan Chauhan जीतेश सिंह (1 February 2015). "Dalits in Indian cinema". Forward Press. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
2. ^ Saxena, Akanksha (14 August 2020). "'Tum jiyo hazaaron saal': Netizens wish 'king of comedy' Johnny Lever on his birthday". Times Now. Retrieved 14 July 2021. On August 14, 1957, Lever was born in a Telugu Christian family in Andhra Pradesh's Prakasam.
3. Shyam Benegal; William Van Der Heide (12 June 2006). Bollywood Babylon: Interviews With Shyam Benegal. Berg. pp. 196–. ISBN 978-1-84520-405-1. Archived from the original on 11 October 2013. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
4. "Comedy is serious business: Johnny Lever". The Hindu. 7 January 2009. Archived from the original on 12 March 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
5. Awaasthi, Kavita (3 March 2012). "Johnny Lever feels his talent is under-utilised". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
6. "VHP threatens agitation against actors Nagma, Johnny Lever". 10 December 2013. Archived from the original on 22 March 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
7. "Johny Lever: In the film industry, there is dosti but no dost". indiatimes.com. Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
8. "Find Bollywood Actor Johnny Lever Filmography, Movies, Pictures and Videos". Jointscene.com. Archived from the original on 7 January 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
9. ""Try Jesus" – Johnny Lever (Film Actor)". hisprayerhouse.org. His Prayer House. Archived from the original on 25 October 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
10. "Interview: "I have learnt a lot from the UK" – Johnny Lever | Bollywood News UK". 13 May 2012. Archived from the original on 12 March 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
11. "This johnny's levered to fame". financialexpress.com. Indian Express Newspaper (Bombay) Ltd. Archived from the original on 25 October 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
12. "17 Unknown Facts About Johnny Lever, The King Of Comedy". www.postoast.com.
13. "Happy Birthday Johny Lever: The Ultimate Comedy King - ABP LIVE". www.news.abplive.com.
14. "Johnny Lever on Phalke Awards". Archived from the original on 12 March 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
15. "Johny Lever: The missing comic in Hindi films | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis". 9 October 2011. Archived from the original on 12 March 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
16. "Johnny Lever Filmography". Dishant.com. Archived from the original on 2 May 2008. Retrieved 15 June 2011.
17. "Mangalore: Popular comedian Johnny Lever shoots for Tulu movie". daijiworld. Daijiworld Media Pvt Ltd Mangalore. Archived from the original on 29 July 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
18. "Anbirkku Alavillai To Promote Marriage Counselling". Archived from the original on 10 July 2012.
19. "Comic relief – The Hindu". The Hindu. 15 March 2019.
20. ^ "Zabaan Sambhalke – Episode# 29 – Goondaraj – Best Tv Show". 11 October 2015. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2020 – via YouTube.
21. ^ "Johny Aala Re, Bollywood comedian Johnny Lever, Zee TV show on Sify Max". Sify. Archived from the original on 19 November 2011. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
22. ^ "Sony innovates 'Comedy Circus'". Indiantelevision.com. 26 June 2007. Archived from the original on 11 March 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
23. ^ "Johny Lever to make his TV debut with Partners. Here's everything to know about the show". The Indian Express. 27 October 2017. Archived from the original on 13 January 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
24. "14th August 1957: Popular Bollywood Actor and Comedian Johnny Lever is Born -". What Happened on This Day in History - Maps of India. 14 August 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
25. "Johnny Lever's kid is college fest fave". Hindustantimes.com. 14 August 2010. Archived from the original on 12 April 2011. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
26. "Johnny Lever, Bollywood Johnny Lever, Johnny Lever Movies". Surfindia.com. 7 January 1950. Archived from the original on 27 May 2008. Retrieved 15 June 2011.
27. John, Ali (17 April 2012). "Johnny Lever turns preacher". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 1 March 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2014.

External links

• Johnny Lever at IMDb 
• Johny Lever on Bollywood Hungama

• Indian male film actors
• 20th-century Indian comedians
• Male actors in Hindi cinema
• Male actors in Urdu cinema
• Indian stand-up comedians
• Indian expatriate male actors in Pakistan
• Living people
• Telugu actors
• Filmfare Awards winners
• Indian Christians
• People from Prakasam district
• Male actors from Andhra Pradesh
• Screen Awards winners
• Zee Cine Awards winners
• 1957 births