Johnny Walker

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moved to Bombay after his textile mill closed down in Indore, young Johnny did many odd jobs including becoming a bus conductor in BEST to make both ends meet for his huge family. Though torn by poverty Johnny believed its God-given duty to make people laugh. Hence he would entertain his bus passengers with comical antics, secretly dreaming to carve a mark in Bollywood just as his idol Charlie Chaplin! But he had the responsibility of looking after his family because of which he never revealed his ambition nor tried luck in Bollywood.

How did Johnny Walker get Ticket to Bollywood While Johnny Walker entertained his bus passengers one day eminent actor Balraj Sahni entered his bus and was left amused by his fabulous performance of a drunkard, an act he was specialized. Before getting out of the bus Balraj Sahni asked Johnny to meet filmmaker Guru Dutt in his studio. Delighted at the offer the next day Johnny Walker barged into filmmaker Guru Dutt’s office in an inebriated state and started creating a scene. Dutt was taken aback and angrily called out to his security guard. But before the guard could arrive, Balraj Sahni, who was in sitting in the studio interrupted and revealed the truth. An impressed Dutt immediately signed him for his film Baazi. How did Badruddin Kazi become Johnny Walker? Few know Johnny Walker’s real name was Badruddin Kazi so how did he get his new name Johnny Walker. Well as said above Qazi was a very good at drunkard act hence when Qazi surprised Guru Dutt with his drunkard act at his office he was bowled over. Hence he decided to re-christen Qazi as Johnny Walker, after the famous whisky brand that Guru Dutt used to drink. Guru Dutt felt the name gelled with his marvelous drunken style. The name became a ‘landmark’. Another astonishing fact is that though the name Johnny Walker was based on a liquor brand, in real life the actor was never drunk!!! The Unique Guru Dutt and Johnny Walker Jodi Readers will be surprised to know that Guru Dutt and Johnny Walker gelled so well that the duo worked together till the last breath of Guru Dutt. In fact Guru Dutt incorporated Johnny Walker in his films by altering the plot and making special space for Johnny Walker. Right form Baazi (1951) till Guru Dutt’s last film Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi (1966) Johnny Walker was the integral part of his films. Dilip Kumar makes Johnny Walker his regular comedian Besides Guru Dutt the other actor with whom Johnny Walker made a great chemistry was the Superstar of the 50’s Dilip Kumar. When Bimal Roy made Devdas he was looking for a comedian who was good at alcoholism. He happened to watch Johnny Walker in Guru Dutt’s Baazi and immediately called him for the role. Though Johnny Walker had a cameo role in the film yet he left an incredible mark in the film. Dilip Kumar, the hero of the film, was so pleased that he made Johnny Walker his regular comedian in his films like Naya Daur (1957), Madhumati (1958), Paigham (1959), Dil Diya Dard Liya (1966), Gopi (1970), Mazdoor (1983) etc.