Johnny Lever, a celebrated Indian actor and comedian, enjoys iconic status in Bollywood. His contributions to Indian cinema and comedy are undeniable, cementing his place as a legend.

Wiki/Biography

Born John Prakash Rao Janumala on Wednesday, August 14, 1957, in Kanigiri, Andhra Pradesh, Johnny Lever’s zodiac sign is Leo. He spent his formative years in Mumbai’s King’s Circle area (Dharavi) and also in Hyderabad’s Yakutpura. His education ended at class 7 due to family financial difficulties. He started working at the young age of 12, selling pens on the streets of Mumbai, honing his comedic skills by imitating Bollywood stars and dancing to their songs. This early experience in Hyderabad significantly shaped his unique comedic style.

Physical Appearance

Height (approx.): 5’ 5”
Eye Colour: Black
Hair Colour: Black

Family, Caste & Wife

Johnny Lever hails from a Telugu Christian family. His father, Prakash Rao Janumala, worked at Hindustan Lever Ltd. (now Hindustan Unilever), and his mother’s name was Karunamma Janumala. He has three younger sisters and two brothers, one of whom is Jimmy Moses, a fellow actor, singer, stand-up comedian, and mimicry artist. In 1984, he married Sujatha Lever. The couple has two children: a son, Jessey Lever (an actor and musician), and a daughter, Jamie Lever (a stand-up comedian and actress).

Career

As A Stand-Up Comedian

While employed at Hindustan Lever Ltd., Johnny Lever began performing stand-up comedy at various events and musical shows. His growing popularity led him to join Kalyanji-Anandji’s troupe. The significant income from these stage shows prompted him to leave Hindustan Lever in 1981. He went on numerous tours and shows with them, notably a performance with Amitabh Bachchan in 1982. A charity show, “Hope 86,” provided a crucial breakthrough, leading to his film debut.

In Films

His film debut was in “Yeh Rishta Na Toote (1981).” Sunil Dutt, after seeing one of his performances, offered him a role in “Dard Ka Rishta (1982).” His breakthrough role came with “Baazigar (1993)” as ‘Babulal’. His memorable roles include “Chotta Chattri,” “Aslam Bhai,” “Hiralal,” “Col. Almeida, Camp Manager,” and “Pappi Bhai.” He’s also appeared in films from various regional industries including Pakistani cinema (“Love Mein Ghum,” 2011), Tamil cinema (“Anbirkku Alavillai,” 2011), Tulu cinema (“Rang,” 2014), Gujarati cinema (“Pappa Tamne Nahi Samjaay,” 2017), and Kannada cinema (“Gara,” 2018).

In Television

Johnny Lever’s television career started with the sitcom “Zabaan Sambhalke,” where he played ‘Johnny Utolandand’. He also hosted “Johny Aala Re (2006)” on Zee TV and played a triple role in Sab TV’s “Partners Trouble Ho Gayi Double (2017).”

Other Works

Beyond acting, Johnny Lever recorded a successful comedy cassette, “Hasi Ke Hangame,” and appeared in advertisements for “Kachua Chhap incense.” He even made his singing debut with the song “Bhoot Raja” from “Chaalbaaz (1989).” He also judged the popular comedy reality show “Comedy Circus” on Sony TV.

Controversies

• In December 1998, he faced a seven-day imprisonment for showing disrespect towards the Indian Constitution and National Anthem at an event.
• In 2013, he faced threats from the Vishva Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal over allegations of religious proselytizing.
• A 2019 stand-up performance where he joked about Salman Khan’s hit-and-run case went viral, sparking controversy.

Awards

Johnny Lever has received two Filmfare Best Comedian Awards: one for “Deewana Mastana” (1997) and another for “Dulhe Raja” (1998).

Address

151/152 Oxford Tower, Yamuna Nagar, Lokhandwala, Andheri West, Mumbai

Favourite Things

• Music Director: Kalyanji-Anandji
• Comedian: Charlie Chaplin
• Actor(s): Mehmood, Johny Walker
• Singer(s): Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar
• Song: “Main To Tum Sang Nain Mila Ke” from “Man-Mauji (1962)”

Car Collection

He owns an Audi Q7.

Net Worth

His net worth was approximately Rs. 190 crores (as of 2018).

Facts

Johnny Lever enjoys mimicry, watching films, and listening to music. He developed his mimicry skills after observing a neighbor. A near-death experience at age 13, when he contemplated suicide, led him to re-evaluate his life. While working at Hindustan Lever Ltd., his mimicry of senior officers impressed colleagues, and their union leader, Sudesh Bhosle, gave him the name “Johnny Lever,” a name he retained in his film career. He’s a practicing Christian and actively preaches. He’s the president of MAAM (Mimicry Artist Association Mumbai). A personal tragedy involving his father’s paralytic attack remains a source of regret. He’s known for his philanthropy and involvement in social causes. He considers Kishore Kumar and Mehmood as major influences. He starts his day with crossword puzzles.

Additional Information

A unique aspect of Johnny Lever’s personality is that he’s more affected by happy moments than sad ones. He recounts an instance where he performed a show shortly after learning of his sister’s death, highlighting his resilience and dedication to his craft.

Film Appearances