I’m a really big deewana of Umer Shareef: Johnny Lever

Veteran Indian comic expresses love for Pakistani comedy shows and opens up about ‘Dilwale’

KARACHI:

“Assalam-o-Alaikum sahib!”

Comics world over have this one common trait that makes them what they are — they can wear your shoes. Even before I could pose any questions, veteran Bollywood actor and comedian Johnny Lever caught me off-guard. His adroit responses and first-rate knowledge of Pakistani TV, comedy and society in general, proved why this man was able to define Indian comedy over an illustrious career spanning decades.



The statement holds weight when put into perspective with Johnny’s career. He cemented his position as a must-have for almost every Bollywood project that was conceived during the 90s. The decade saw the three Khans —  Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan — emerge and own literally everything Indian film was about. While the three embodied finesse, perfectionism, body ideals and looks, there was Johnny embodying everything the three Khans weren’t. With his semi-mullet and multiple avatars, Johnny became Bollywood’s true mascot.



“I was there in almost 85 per cent  of the films during those days. No matter what the genre, producers used to say that they want me in their films,” he recalls, during an exclusive conversation with The Express Tribune.

Then a time came when Johnny learnt to say no. “I realised that I had done enough work to gain recognition with the people. Hence I got selective with my roles. I only chose those that appealed to me.”

Over the years, the unsung star has somewhat sunk into the horizon. “It’s a natural progression ... before me, it was Asrani sir. Someone had to come after me and now there are actors such as  Paresh Rawal, Boman Irani and Rajpal Yadav,” he adds. Almost a decade ago, Johnny slowly began to fade away from his own muse. “I didn’t want to be the kabab mein haddi and eat into other people’s careers.”

That time has now gone. Comedy has evolved in Indian cinema and there are ample people shouldering it. Yet, no one has been able to replace Johnny the mimic, the cruel Gabbar Singh who wouldn’t even give you a chance to catch your breath during the fits of laughter he’d invoke in you. At the age of 65, he is still on top of the game whose rules he authored in India.





Johnny will next be seen in Rohit Shetty’s Dilwale, playing the role of a desperate thief-cum-pickpocket who befriends Raj (Shah Rukh) after the latter rescues him from a public mauling when he is caught red-handed.

Terming his character in the film as his best role so far, Johnny said Dilwale is also special for him because it reunites him with his old friend and collaborator Shah Rukh after a gap of almost 12 years.

Crediting their chemistry to Shah Rukh’s charisma and screen presence, he shares how his co-star tends to bring the best out of him. “Even my comic timing becomes impeccable when I am working alongside him.” But the Shah Rukh he had once known is no more the same. He has climbed to the top and is today the unparalleled ruler of the industry. “I was a bit nervous because during this whole time he has gone straight to the top of Bollywood and is now its Mount Everest. When we started out, he used to be Shah Rukh bhai to me but now he has become King Khan.”

Johnny is quick to add that Shah Rukh is still the same humble man he had befriended years ago. “Shah Rukh bhai created such a wonderful work environment, not just for me but also the younger lot such as Varun Dhawan and Varun Sharma. He was constantly giving us feedback on ways to improve our performances.”



The environment hasn’t always remained wonderful for Johnny. During the relatively lean years of his career when Bollywood was no more dependent on the supplier of its chief ingredient, he even tried his luck with Reema Khan’s Love Mein Ghum. The veteran comedian has been a strong proponent of cultural exchange across the barbed line of control. He finds no shame in admitting that Moin Akhtar and Umer Shareef have taught him a great deal and feels the schism between the two entertainment industries is only imaginary. “I’m a really big deewana of Umer Shareef’s style of comedy. Even when I was starting out, I used to watch Pakistani comedy programmes and learnt a lot from them,” he recalls.

Johnny poses with the cast and director of Dilwale at the film’s trailer launch in Mumbai

And despite decades waving past, the indulgence hasn’t died down. Johnny rarely misses an episode of Pakistani TV shows such as Mazaqraat and Khabarnak. So much so, that he had even once taken up the challenge of Naseer bhai, of Express News’ Khabardar, and asked him to guess a song. “If people in India can watch American films, then why can’t they watch Pakistani shows as well?” asks Johnny.

The millennial years have seen the comedy scene pick up pace in India. From TV shows such as The Great Indian Laughter Challenge to the emergence of comedy collectives such as AIB, it has indeed come a long way. Yet the comedy kingpin feels comedy in India is still in an embryonic state. “Despite cultural similarities in both countries, the humour consumed by Pakistani audiences is slightly different. It is slightly ahead of India.” Explaining the undercurrent of this theory, Johnny says it is all thanks to the ‘forward nature’ of Pakistani comics.

“In India if you try and incorporate some khichai into your jokes [in feature films] it usually ends up upsetting people. Whereas comedians such as Umer bhai are known for this,” he adds. Johnny relates an incident narrated by his contemporary himself. “Umer bhai once told me that he almost got the living daylight beaten out of him by Sultan Rahi [Maula Jutt actor] because Rahi did not appreciate a joke Umer bhai cracked,” he laughingly says. To which Johnny asked why he continues doing this when it is bound to land him into trouble, Umer’s apt response was, “I can’t live without it. Majboori hai.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 23^rd,  2015.

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