Johnny Lever: Difference between revisions

| birth_name        = John Prakash Rao Janumala<ref name="dalitsincinema">{{Cite web|last=चैहान|first=Jitesh Singh Chauhan जीतेश सिंह|date=1 February 2015|title=Dalits in Indian cinema|url=https://www.forwardpress.in/2015/02/dalits-in-indian-cinema/|access-date=31 March 2021|website=Forward Press|language=en-US}}</ref>

| birth_place        = [[Prakasam district]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], India

}}

'''Johnny Lever''' (born '''John Prakash Rao Janumala'''; 14 August 1957) is an Indian actor and comedian who is known for his works in [[Bollywood|Hindi cinema]]. He is one of the first [[stand-up comedy|stand-up comedian]]s in India.<ref name="BenegalHeide2006">{{cite book|author1=Shyam Benegal|author2=William Van Der Heide|title=Bollywood Babylon: Interviews With Shyam Benegal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_3fi_o1JzY4C&pg=PA196|access-date=31 May 2012|date=12 June 2006|publisher=Berg|isbn=978-1-84520-405-1|pages=196–|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131011093549/http://books.google.com/books?id=_3fi_o1JzY4C&pg=PA196|archive-date=11 October 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> He has received 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 is also famous for [[Judaai (1997 film)|''Judaai'']] for the dialogue Abba Dabba Jabba. He began his career in 1984, and has acted in more than three hundred [[Bollywood]] films.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/comedy-is-serious-business-johnny-lever/article369772.ece |title=Comedy is serious business: Johnny Lever - The Hindu<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=12 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312212529/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/comedy-is-serious-business-johnny-lever/article369772.ece |archive-date=12 March 2014 |url-status=live |newspaper=The Hindu |date=7 January 2009 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/johnny-lever-feels-his-talent-is-under-utilised/article1-820144.aspx Johnny Lever feels his talent is under-utilised - Hindustan Times<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104221637/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Bollywood/Johnny-Lever-feels-his-talent-is-under-utilised/Article1-820144.aspx |date=4 January 2014 }}</ref>

Johnny Lever was born on 14 August 1957 in a [[Telugu Christian]] family<ref name="dalitsincinema"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/vhp-threatens-agitation-against-actors-nagma-johnny-lever-31321.html |title=VHP threatens agitation against actors Nagma, Johnny Lever<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=12 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140322054637/http://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/vhp-threatens-agitation-against-actors-nagma-johnny-lever-31321.html |archive-date=22 March 2014 |url-status=live |date=10 December 2013 }}</ref> in [[Prakasam district|Prakasam]], [[Andhra Pradesh]].<ref>{{Cite web|title='Tum jiyo hazaaron saal': Netizens wish 'king of comedy' Johnny Lever on his birthday|url=https://www.timesnownews.com/the-buzz/article/tum-jiyo-hazaaron-saal-netizens-wish-king-of-comedy-johnny-lever-on-his-birthday/637044|access-date=2021-07-14|website=[[Times Now]]}}</ref> His father worked as an operator in [[Hindustan Unilever]] plant where he also worked as a labourer for six years.<ref>{{cite news|title=Johny Lever: In the film industry, there is dosti but no dost|website=www.indiatimes.com|publisher=Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd.|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Johny-Lever-In-the-film-industry-there-is-dosti-but-no-dost/articleshow/38925234.cms|access-date=25 October 2014}}</ref> Lever was brought up in King's Circle area of [[Dharavi]] in [[Mumbai]]. His mother tongue is [[Telugu language|Telugu]] and is fluent in Hindi, Marathi, English and Tulu.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jointscene.com/artists/Bollywood/Johnny_Lever_/621 |title=Find Bollywood Actor Johnny Lever Filmography, Movies, Pictures and Videos |publisher=Jointscene.com |access-date=2012-03-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107133108/http://www.jointscene.com/artists/Bollywood/Johnny_Lever_/621 |archive-date=7 January 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> He is the eldest in the family consisting of three sisters and two brothers (including his younger brother [[Jimmy Moses]]).

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]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mid-day.com/videos/johnny-lever-on-phalke-awards/3660 |title=Johnny Lever on Phalke Awards<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=12 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312224802/http://www.mid-day.com/videos/johnny-lever-on-phalke-awards/3660 |archive-date=12 March 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-johny-lever-the-missing-comic-in-hindi-films-1596571 |title=Johny Lever: The missing comic in Hindi films {{!}} Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=12 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312212255/http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-johny-lever-the-missing-comic-in-hindi-films-1596571 |archive-date=12 March 2014 |url-status=live |date=9 October 2011 }}</ref>

He is the president of MAAM (Mimicry Artist Association Mumbai), and has done thousands of live shows all over the world.{{Citation needed|date=August 2021}}

==Personal life==

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.<ref>{{cite web | title = Johnny Lever turns preacher | url = http://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/tabloid/johnny-lever-turns-preacher/article1-1045697.aspx | first = Ali | last = John | work = [[Hindustan Times]] | date = April 17, 2012 | access-date = June 24, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140301071401/http://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/tabloid/johnny-lever-turns-preacher/article1-1045697.aspx | archive-date = 1 March 2014 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

===As actor===

{|class="wikitable sortable"

! class="unsortable" | Notes

|1982

|Award Anshuman

===As playback singer ===

{| class="wikitable sortable"

! Title

! Song

===Television shows===

{| class="wikitable sortable"

! Title

! Role

| ''[[Zabaan Sambhalke]]''

| ''[[Johny Aala Re]]''

| ''[[Comedy Circus]]''

| ''[[Partners Trouble Ho Gayi Double]]''

=== Filmfare awards ===

{| class="wikitable sortable"

| rowspan="13" |[[Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role|Best Performance in a Comic Role]]

| rowspan="2" |1998

| rowspan="2" |1999

| rowspan="2" |2001

=== IIFA Awards ===

{| class="wikitable sortable"

| rowspan="5" |[[IIFA Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role|Best Performance in a Comic Role]]

| rowspan="2" |2001

=== Indian Television Academy Awards ===

{| class="wikitable"

=== Producers Guild Film Awards ===

{| class="wikitable"

=== Screen Awards ===

{| class="wikitable sortable"

| rowspan="4" |[[Screen Award for Best Comedian|Best Comedian]]

=== Zee Cine Awards ===

{| class="wikitable sortable"

| rowspan="2" |[[Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Comic Role|Best Actor in a Comic Role]]

[[Category:Indian comedians]]

[[Category:Male actors from Andhra Pradesh]]

[[Category:1957 births]]