Johnny Walker (Indian actor)

Badruddin Jamaluddin Khan Kazi was born in Indore, British India (present-day Madhya Pradesh, India), one of twelve children of a weaving teacher.^[1][2][3][4] Sources generally place his date of birth around 1924 or 1926, either in March or November.^{[1][5][6][7][8]}

When his father lost his job, the family moved to Mumbai. Kazi, who got a job as a Bombay Electric Supply & Transport (BEST) bus conductor, took it upon himself to entertain his passengers with his comical way of calling out bus stops, funny impressions and tricks.^[9]

Throughout his youth, he dreamed of being involved in films, idolising Noor Mohammed Charlie and practicing stunts that he saw on-screen. He got a break in the film industry after actor Balraj Sahni introduced him to actor and director Guru Dutt after being amused by Kazi's antics.^[9][10][11]

Johnny Walker nurtured his desire to work in films and entertained passengers while working the BEST buses with amusing routines, hoping that he would at some point be spotted by someone with connection in a film. Balraj Sahni was either at that time writing the script for Baazi (1951), or acting in Hulchul, told Kazi to demonstrate his drunkard act to Guru Dutt. From that meeting, he gained a role in Baazi. It was Guru Dutt who gave him the name of Johnny Walker, a reference to the brand of Scotch whisky, when he was inspired by Kazi's display in the role of a drunkard.^[10][12][13]

Thereafter, Walker appeared in all but one of Dutt's movies and the director encouraged him to ad lib and to draw on his varied life experiences.^[10] He was primarily an actor of comedic roles but towards the end of his life became disenchanted, saying, "Earlier, comedians had a respectable position and an almost parallel role with the protagonist, now it is just to bring a touch of humour. I don't buy that." His attempts to portray heroic personae in the eponymous Johnny Walker and Mr. Qartoon M.A. were not successful but films such as Mere Mehboob, C.I.D., Pyaasa and Chori Chori made him a star. His heyday was in the 1950s and 1960s and his later career was affected by the death of Dutt, who had greatly influenced it, in 1964. He worked with directors such as Bimal Roy and Vijay Anand but his career faded in the 1980s.^[12][13] He was unwilling to adopt the cruder form of comedy and changed priorities that had become the vogue, saying that

"In those days we used to do clean comedy. We were aware that the person who had come to the cinema had come with his wife and children ... the story was the most important thing. Only after selecting a story would Abrar Alvi and Guru Dutt find suitable actors! Now it's all upside down ... they line up a big hero and find a story to fit in. The comedian has ceased to be a character, he's become something to fit in between scenes. ... I opted out because comedy had become hostage to vulgarity. I acted in 300 films and the Censor Board never cut even one line."^[10]

Johnny Walker was particularly satisfied with his work in B. R. Chopra's Naya Daur (1957), Chetan Anand's Taxi Driver (1954) and Bimal Roy's Madhumati (1958).^[10] His final film came after an absence of 14 years when he took a role in a remake of Mrs. Doubtfire titled Chachi 420 (1997).^[12][13] During the intervening period, he had a successful business dealing with precious and semi-precious stones.^[10]

Some songs were written especially for him. His drawing power at the box office was such that distributors would insist on him having a song and would pay extra to ensure it. He is the second actor (the first being the actress Madhubala with an eponymous 1950 film) to have one or more Hindi films in his name, but the only one with two (the 1957 film Johnny Walker and the 1992 Malayalam film Johnnie Walker). He was the first actor to keep a secretary/manager. He was the first actor to stop working on Sundays. He was the first actor to bring colloquialism to cinema through the film Taxi Driver. He also produced and directed the 1985 film Pahunche Huwey Log.^[10][12]

Johnny Walker married Noorjahan,^[14] sister of Indian actress Shakila,^[14] despite opposition from her family.^[13] They had three daughters and three sons.^[13] Regretting that he had been forced to leave school during 6th class, he sent his sons to the USA for schooling.^[10]

Despite often playing the roles of a drunkard and thief, Johnny Walker was a teetotaller and claimed to have never drunk alcohol in his life.^[9]

Johnny Walker died on 29 July 2003 after a long period of illness.^[1][14] He was 79.^[12]

Johnny Walker is regarded as one of the greatest comedians in Indian Cinema. Many actors like Mehmood Ali, Johnny Lever and Govinda were influenced by his style of comedy.^[15] Actor Rajpal Yadav sees him as his inspiration and said, "He is such an actor in our lives that if we consider a century of actors, then Johnny Walker sahab is one of the greats."^[16]

The Hindu wrote, "He was known for his honesty, commitment and punctuality on sets". He was very fond of poetry too. He could recall hundreds of 'ashaars' to suit all occasions. A thorough gentleman, he would keep everyone in good humor through his jokes."^[13] In 2022, Walker was placed in Outlook India's "75 Best Bollywood Actors" list.^[17]

• Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for his role in Madhumati
• Filmfare Best Comedian Award for his role in Shikar

Johnny Walker acted in around 300 films.^[12]