Biography
Who is Johnny Lever?
Early life and real name
Johnny Lever was born John Rao Janumala on August 14, 1957, in the Prakasam district of India. He grew up in the King's Circle area of Matunga in Mumbai. His father worked as an operator in a Hindustan Unilever plant, where Johnny also worked as a labourer for six years.
He studied in the Andhra Education Society English High School until the seventh grade. Financial problems in his family forced him to leave school and start working odd jobs. He sold pens on the streets of Mumbai by mimicking famous Hindi film stars and dancing to their songs.
How Johnny became famous
During a Hindustan Unilever company function, he mimicked several senior officers, which earned him the nickname Johnny Lever. When he later joined the film industry, he decided to use this nickname as his professional screen name.
He started performing stand-up comedy in musical shows and orchestras. He later joined the group of Kalyanji-Anandji and became one of the pioneers of the stand-up comedy profession in India. He quit his factory job in 1981 as he earned well from stage shows and went on world tours, including one with Amitabh Bachchan in 1982.
Career highlights
Veteran actor Sunil Dutt noticed Johnny during a live show and offered him his first movie role in Dard Ka Rishta. Since then, he has acted in more than three hundred Hindi films. Some of his well-known film appearances include Tezaab, Kasam, Khataranak, and Kishen Kanhaiya.
His major cinematic success came with the film Baazigar, where he played the memorable character of Babulal. He received thirteen Filmfare Award nominations for best performance in a comic role and won the award twice for his work in Deewana Mastana and Dulhe Raja.
Television and family
Johnny expanded his career into television by appearing in sitcoms and reality shows. He acted in an episode of Zabaan Sambhalke and hosted his own show titled Johny Aala Re. He also served as a judge on the stand-up reality show Comedy Circus and joined the cast of Partners.
He married Sujatha Lever in 1984, and they have two children named Jamie and Jessy. His daughter Jamie Lever and his younger brother Jimmy Moses are also involved in comedy and mimicry.
Birthday and age
Johnny Lever was born on August 14, 1957, which makes Johnny 69 years old today. That birthday falls under the Leo sign. Johnny shares the date with 29 other famous people.
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