Quotes of All Topics . Occasions . Authors
Ranchi is a much better place than Mumbai or any other big city in the country. People here are simple and open-minded.
Comedy is more an art of body language and gestures - it is more a performance of an artist than the lines given to him/her.
Back To Dad' gives a message that every youngster should learn and this is surely going to leave a very strong impact on the masses.
Most filmmakers, who offer me roles say 'Johnny bhai, come on the sets and do what you feel like.' That isn't the way I like to work.
For making a good comedy film, you need a good writer whose craft can be understood through the time that he takes to write his script.
Comedy comes from childhood only. The humour genes you are born with remain with you. I was always making mischief and making people laugh.
I studied only till class VII at the Andhra Society High School, Wadala and dropped out when I realised that education was not my cup of tea.
People often call me saying: 'Johnny, we have a role that we think only you can do.' If I like the character, then I instantly say yes to them.
I am just like any regular person. I am a fun-loving guy, which is reflected in my acting. I love to spend time with my family like any other person.
When I entered the industry in 1984, I was welcomed, no one pushed me away. I want the younger comedians to experience the same. They should feel wanted.
I observe people around me, interact with them and try to understand what's on their minds. I also try and include their little quirky mannerisms in my films.
It was a conscious decision on my part to take up fewer films. And if you're not seen that often on screen, nobody calls you to perform at an awards ceremony.
My poverty taught me a lot. If someone dies, I cannot cry as I have seen so much hardship and death. I went to shoot even the day my dad had died. Death is reality.
I won't do roles that are dirty, full of double meaning dialogues and vulgar gestures. Though such roles had made me a star, my conscience was against doing such scenes.
I do a lot of social service and I don't boast about it. I believe that if you give with one hand, the other hand shouldn't know of it. I don't believe in cheap publicity.
A supportive actor's career depends upon the variety that he showcases in all his roles. If his roles will be similar to one another, then his career will not have a long run.
It is said that a person who makes other people laugh has a lot of pain in his heart. On the contrary, I have thoroughly enjoyed being a comedian and don't nurse such thoughts.
Johnny Walker and I were very close. My house is just next to his, we were neighbours. Some time back, he came to my place with his children and we spent some lovely moments together.
A good writer takes time to go in-depth into a subject and then comes out with a good script. Then it's the job of the actor and director to improvise with it and make it even better.
A hero has to become a comedian to do a comic role but a comedian does not have to do anything. People laugh at him anyway. Even when I attend funerals, people look at my face and laugh.
Often my friends point out that I haven't contributed to a particular film at all, or my comic timing wasn't bang on. I tell them I'm human and bound to make mistakes... I hope I don't repeat those mistakes.
I was always taught to do something to have an identity of your own. Forget your mom, dad, brother, sister, regardless of how big they are, you should do things by yourself, even if it means selling clothes or pens on the road.
As soon as a big amount is involved, the producer looks for a bankable face. No producer will make a Rs 20 crore film starring Rajpal Yadav and Johny Lever, as we cannot pull an entire film on our shoulders. Yet, we do get roles.
Stand-up comedy is a different game all together. You have to improvise on the spot if you feel that the audience isn't enjoying your performance. In a movie or serial, you are in a situation while on stage you create a situation.
When you're on a battlefield, you should know how to fight your way to victory, and you've to be very well-prepared for it. You've to be ever ready like the fire-fighters. The moment you get a call, you have to reach wherever you are required.
A good role is one that moves along with the story, like 'Baazigar' and 'Kareeb' for example. Similarly, I agreed to '36 China Town' and 'Phir Hera Pheri' because my characters in both films have a graph and are significant in moving the story ahead.
There are some actors who have an interest in comedy but they can't say this openly. They do feel insecure about the comedian walking off with all the applause. In fact, I have seen my lines being changed and scenes being reworked to suit certain actors.
A person who is a comedian does comedy in real life, too. But then there are others, too, who are very good in real life, but can't perform in front of the camera. They get nervous. Nevertheless, an inborn comedian does comedy whether he is in films or not.
In fact, I get angry when people laugh at me. I go to the airport and the ground hostess starts laughing at me when she sees me. I get irritated and ask them if I just did some comedy for them to laugh like that. But then I apologise because I know they must have remembered some movie scene that I did.
My first show was in Patkar Hall next to Bombay Hospital. It was a total flop. I was so nervous standing in front of all those people that I completely froze. I forgot all my lines and the audience booed me off the stage. I realised that day that you have to earn the audience's appreciation. They aren't fools.
My son had a tumour on his neck. We went for surgery but it failed because the tumour was difficult to remove. Later, we went to New York for his surgery. I was scared as his first operation had failed. I went to church and met a pastor. He told me to go ahead, God would take care of everything. And the surgery was successful.