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20th August 2012 Unnoticed names in Bollywood - Part 1

Note - I'm not making fun of them. I genuinely appreciate their work (however limited in scope). They've been
the pillars of so many hit movies that we tend to forget their contributions.
Also this list is not complete by any means. If I can predict the future, I see this list extending in at least 3
parts.

Satyen Kappu (Satyendra kapoor) ( Career span 1961-2007)

Lets start from a relatively famous personality - Ramlal in Sholay. His IMDB list shows a whopping 319
movies. In larger productions he was the ramukaka or servant. In mid sized productions he would play a
bechara baap or a police inspector or any other character.
His marathon film innings can be found here [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1566068/]

Dinesh Hingoo ( Career span 1967-)

The "Hehehehehhehe" guy.


The parsi bawaji with a rather wide smile on his face. If you were making a comedy in 90's, you'd find him in
any of the comedy scenes with that iconic laughter. Remember the Baazigar scene?
Well, he's acted in 305 movies so far. Here's a complete list of his films [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0455454/]

[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0455454/]
Ram M ohan ( Career span 1958-2010)
Masterji, postman, Judge, A beggar, drunkard, poor farmer, rocket scientist in a shoddy movie, a veteran with
medals hanging on his walls - This guy's been all of them. In a long running movie career, he has the
distinction of singing a song in one of his movies! A long career spanning across 5 decades,he's seen all
rising and falling stars. Here's his filmography [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0595916/]

Anjana M umtaaz ( Career span 1968- )

[http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AqizBzVmgWM/UDFJ2yJ-
IoI/AAAAAAAAJnU/58ECPQmX2ZI/s1600/anjana.png]

In cricket, When Sunil Gavaskar retired, we got another legendary batsman in Sachin Tendulkar. When the
original Maa of Bollywood - Nirupa Roy retired, Anjana mumtaaz took her place. Though she was a stronger,
happier and non-blind maa, she continued the glorious tradition of wailing, weeping and making an impact by
getting caught by bad guys. She provided her acting in maternal capacity for almost 2 decades, before the
post 2000 era of more glamorous and in vogue moms took over.

Sudhir (Career span 1962-)

[http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bzxs8Dlxh6Y/T6MTXPVuUjI/AAAAAAAAI-
Y/l3pz7LKyN40/s1600/sudhir2.png]

The eternal sidekick of any villain in 1970's Bollywood. He wasn't as iconic as his elder baddy friend
Macmohan, but he was there. Be it any smuggling operation, a bank robbery or the proverbial rape scene in
a village shanty- he was always present. As Bollywood moved from action movies to romantic and family
entertainers, Sudhir found himself stereotyped as a comic character acting in a few important scenes.
Remember the Police Commissioner in DulheRaja?

Yunus Parvez (Career span 1963-2007)

You probably won't remember him as an actor who starred in "Zanjeer", "Deewar", "Golmaal", "Angoor". But
you may remember him in "Mr. India", "Tridev"! You can often see him doing an Usmaan Chacha or bade
miyaa type role in N number of movies. He often came across as either a Samaritan with good nature or a
70's landlord with menacing intentions. Whatever he did, it came with the comic character that he was always
associated with.

Javed Khan (Career span 1973-)

We'll always remember him as "Anand Akela" in AAA or the servant in "Lagaan". He appeared in nukkad too.
A wasted youth, a petty thief or a regular bloke on the street would be his identity in any of his movies. I'd
rather like to see him being used in the new wave Hindi cinema, He has a lot of opportunity now!

There are many more such faces whom we take for granted.
7th May 2012 Unnoticed names in Bollywood - 2
Continuing the saga of unnoticed names in Bollywood. All of these guys are perhaps a little more known
than those in part-1. Several of their roles are immortal in our mind yet I feel they've never got any acclaim for
their iconic roles.

Harish Patel (career span 1983 - )

I always thought he's a well known face in Hindi Cinema. I remember him in
Andaz Apna Apna, the epic Kanti Shah classic Gunda and even in Mira Nair's
Kamasutra! He's played a happy go lucky character in most of his movies.
Like the unique baddie Gulshan Grover, he's always had a patent catch
phrase in all of his movies.
The "Mera naam hai ibu hatela" in Gunda, exaggerated "Haiiiiiiiiii" in Mohra or
the assistant in Pulic Public.

For me, his Sevaram in Andaz Apna Apna stands out! [http://www.google.com/imgres?
um=1&hl=en&safe=off&client=fi
refox-
a&sa=X&rls=org.mozilla:en-
Razak Khan (career span 1989 - ) US:official&biw=1366&bih=648
For an entire Indian generation, this man represented the antithesis of a typical
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Bollywood villain or Bhai. He'd often appear as a CFB-local ruffian with little or no
atweXrq0M:&imgrefurl=http://w
evidence to support that claim. The unique combination his lean built and mean
attitude created an amazing onscreen character. Best ww.topnews.in/harish-patel-run-
of him can be seen in the
hilarious Ninja Chacha or Takkar pehelwan. fatboy-run-los-angeles-premiere-
arrivals-
233817&docid=9b1ynEeCjuVP
RM&imgurl=http://www.topnews
[http://www.google.com/im
[http://www.bing.com/images/search? .in/files/images/Harish-
gres?
Patel1.jpg&w=429&h=625&ei=
q=razak+khan&view=detail&id=AB53737BAE4AE047690D4A5548AC8601BF28B6CE&first=0&FORM=IDFRIR]
um=1&hl=en&safe=off&clie
Q8GmT7mkAoWZiQLj35XhAg&
nt=firefox- Mushtaq khan (Career span 1980 - ) zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=169&vp
a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en "Hum idiot ho sakta hoon, bewakoof ho sakta hoon, gadha bhi ho sakta hoon- lekin
y=175&dur=424&hovh=271&ho
- hum zoota nahin hoon!". This Japan returned employee vw=186&tx=100&ty=124&sig=1
in Hum hai raahi pyar ke is
US:official&biw=1366&bih=
one of my most beloved characters! Mushtaq khan has played several roles like this,
11401853532573824065&page=
648&tbm=isch&tbnid=NDJ
prominently appearing in most of 90's movies with his enthusiasm and slightly
1&tbnh=123&tbnw=84&start=0
ZPH_4CNUbIM:&imgrefurl=
idiosyncratic behavior. He's been a regular in Bhatt camp movies. I always felt he's
&ndsp=29&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0,i:
http://www.facebook.com/p
much more to offer than the typical comic character he's often
103] been cast into.
ages/Razak-Khan-AKA-
Pappu-
Kangi/61454702921&docid
[http://www.google.co
=V9UGlmbo35npMM&imgu
m/imgres?
rl=http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net
um=1&hl=en&safe=of
/hprofile-ak-
f&client=firefox-
snc4/41787_61454702921_
a&rls=org.mozilla:en-
2087004_n.jpg&w=200&h=
US:official&biw=1366
&bih=648&tbm=isch&
200&ei=zsWmT9i2EOvYiQ
tbnid=9zaRiyEwDx1J
LN6_ygAg&zoom=1&iact=
kM:&imgrefurl=http://
hc&vpx=214&vpy=170&dur
popcorn.oneindia.in/ar
=353&hovh=160&hovw=16
tist-upcoming-
0&tx=77&ty=67&sig=11140
movies/454/1/mushta
1853532573824065&page=
q-
1&tbnh=141&tbnw=147&st
khan.html&docid=0G
art=0&ndsp=21&ved=1t:42
w0kijdSTCEEM&imgu
9,r:0,s:0,i:75]
rl=http://popcorn.onei
[http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lDjyi0FXhG0/T6bN3YCZNbI/AAAAAAAAJA0/Bg-
ndia.in/profile_photos/
WgOup6eg/s1600/Chandrashekhar.png]
mushtaq-khan-
454.jpg&w=160&h=20(Career span 1951- 2001?)
Chandrashekher
0&ei=yMimT5GDM-
It's astonishing how soon we forget a commonly appearing face on the silver screen. Chandrashekhar has
nJiQK12uyUAg&zoo
been around for over 60 years now, he appeared in a lead role way back in 50's, tried his luck in directing
m=1&iact=hc&vpx=2
movies, appeared in a hell lot of films in 80's and 90's as police commissioner or an honest leader, and now
99&vpy=156&dur=24
he's almost forgotten. A strange appearance on IMDB shows his name credited as "Airlines Ground staff 2" in
04&hovh=160&hovw=
3 Idiots. I tried looking for him but couldn't see him on airport. I sincerely hope he's doing well financially since
128&tx=109&ty=108&
he's almost into 90s now!
sig=11140185353257
3824065&page=1&tbn
h=139&tbnw=110&sta
rt=0&ndsp=24&ved=1
t:429,r:1,s:0,i:75]

Mahavir Shah (Career span 1977 - )


I somehow felt that if you take out his grey eyes, this man would certainly seem a benevolent creature. His
eyes play the menacing Machiavellian role that he's perfected by now. In almost all of his movies he's been
the shrewd yet malevolent accountant, a lawyer, a businessmen with unethical habits - in short the smart
villain sidekick.
Mahavir Shah, I hate you! Perhaps that's the compliment he deserves.But I'd love to see him play a good
humble human just once.
Veerendra Saxena (Career span 1975 - )
I love this guy. Unfortunately his appearance limits the roles he gets, but he
always does justice. He's been around since 80s, but off late he's really getting
the roles which brings out the best in him. I vividly remember the havaldar in
Stoneman Murders, the frustrated gangster with tooth-ache in Ek chalis ki last
local, the less than vigilant inspector in A wednesday, Babaji in Sankat City and
many more. He can be used like a potent weapon in the new wave Hindi Cinema,
I hope he gets more meaty roles.

[http://www.google.com/im
gres?
um=1&hl=en&safe=off&clie
nt=firefox-
a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en
-
US:official&biw=1366&bih=
648&tbm=isch&tbnid=I_zdj
yHHZYG7NM:&imgrefurl=h
ttp://www.india-
forums.com/celebrity/2336/
virendra-
saxena/&docid=DY42beV6
WRWGjM&imgurl=http://w [http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-
ww.india- xO0Qi6cTEXQ/T6bcH1pTGiI/AAAAAAAAJBA/yUZG_FlOLdU/s1600/upasana+singh.png]
forums.com/images/celebri
Upasana Singh (Career span 1980 - )
ty/l_2336.jpg&w=200&h=20
Although her wiki page tells me that she's been a known face in Punjabi and Gujrati movies, I don't think
0&ei=0dOmT6S3Aa3ciQLa
many people know her in Hindi cinema by her name. She's truly a remarkable person in Industry- a female
tsmaAg&zoom=1&iact=hc
character actor who doesn't stereotype herself to one role. Wow! Does Bollywood really understand what that
&vpx=210&vpy=169&dur=7
means? Kudos to Upasana Singh! We've been mystified by her ever enigmatic chants of abba-dabba-jabba
98&hovh=160&hovw=160&
in Judai, she entertained the terrorists in Sarfarosh, her antiques kept the movie alive in Hungama and
tx=59&ty=81&sig=1114018
Hulchul. Keep up the good work Ma'am!
53532573824065&page=1&
tbnh=140&tbnw=139&start
=0&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:
0,s:0,i:75]
[http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-
QxN3JQSarmE/T6bi8WdSa5I/AAAAAAAAJBM/_TAOa4BqUoA/s1600/Rajesh+Vivek.png]

Rajesh Vivek (Career Span 1985 - )


Once a patent Tantrik and bandit of Hindi Cinema, Rajesh Vivek turned into a mini celebrity post Lagaan and
Swades. His Jogi Thakur in Joshilaay was a truly epic villain which perhaps was underrated as the film
bombed. His appearance in the 90s was limited. Ashutosh Gowarikar resurrected him with Guran and Nivaran
Singhji. Not a good actor perhaps, but he can play a lovable rascal like a few others can!

This bring me to the end of part 2.


But there's more! In part-3 we'll take a look at unnoticed names + mostly unnoticed faces in Bollywood. The
people in part 3 are like shape shifters and white noise- you didn't notice them when they were present; but
your eyes would notice the void when they're gone.

Posted 7th May 2012 by kaustubh prabhu


Labels: bollywood, Chandrashekhar, Harish Patel, Mahavir Shah, Mushtaq Khan, Rajesh Vivek, Razak Khan,
Upasana Singh, Veerandra Saxena

5 View comments

Ram May 6, 2012 at 3:09 PM


kau.. there is this guy who has appeared in tonnes of itsy-bitsy roles through the 70s-80s.. mostly as police
officer... (not iftikar)... Squarish face... thin moustache... I am racking my head thinking of any movie he
appeared in so I can look up his name.. dang!!

-Ram
Reply

Replies
11th May 2012 Unnoticed names in Bollywood - 3
Here we dig one layer deep into the world of Bollywood Character actors. This is a universe in itself. The more you
explore it, the deeper it goes.
This is the world of uncredited characters and performances - police commissioner, constable, judge, a college
principal, scientist in a tacky lab, goons and bandits, villains and secondary sidekicks.
It's a strange place for these guys- Usually people work in Cinema to earn name and fame. And here are these guys-
who've worked in loads of movies - only to appear uncredited.

Since there's nothing much to mention, I'll try to put them in different categories and note their
specialties. This list is just the beginning. I'm sure you'll remember more faces as you scroll down.

Character Actors -

[http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f99Yg2CJ3Q4/T6NckoKxCzI/AAAAAAAAI-
8/n2d0K48NU5k/s1600/subbiraj.png]
Subbiraj
Judge ,
a sincere dad who often gets killed

[http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1366&bih=648&tbm=isch&tbnid=tVEpwcP-M_htlM:
nagrath.html&docid=UkbpRhW5yylkkM&imgurl=http://popcorn.oneindia.in/profile_photos/anil-nagrath-
451.jpg&w=160&h=200&ei=JF2jT5POEeObiQLSyrDtAw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=493&vpy=19&dur=462&hovh=160&hovw=128&tx=108&ty=87&sig=111401853532573824065&page=1&tbnh=1
Anil Nagrath
Judge in A grade movies.
Goon,
villain in B grade movies.

[http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vx6oFCtPAOc/T6NehytizAI/AAAAAAAAI_E/rylc8efJ-
ps/s1600/rana+jung+bahadur.png]
Rana Jung Bahadur
Professional Rapist, Corrupt police man,
side villain, Gurkha.

[http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0NBRfD36aTs/T6NLVa0XPcI/AAAAAAAAI-
k/DSkp4cUiuLk/s1600/kamaldeep.png]
Kam aldeep

Doctor, Principal,
Police commissioner and Judge.

US:official&biw=1366&bih=648&tbm=isch&tbnid=1fB7mA9S3R59JM:&imgrefurl=http://www.showbusiness.co.in/fst129.html&docid=TlEdNnwi96vZ7M&imgurl=http://www.showbusiness.co.in/i

[http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XmYeZ0-rEvo/T6SKnkfVoJI/AAAAAAAAI_0/E_LpsSsOy-
Q/s1600/manmauji.png]
Manmauji
Comedy sidekick

Kishore Bhatt - Paanwala guy

[http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zVrQgNjP6EE/T6NZo-_jPOI/AAAAAAAAI-
w/BMGpWcq5cto/s1600/mahesh+raj.png]
Mahesh Raj
Multi role actor. From
police to Rapist.
Kedar Sehgal multipurpose actor

Akash Khurana- Helpless father

Harish Magan - Just another guy

Suresh Chatw al - drunkard father

Vikas Anand - judge, doctor etc.


Birbal - secondary Comedian

Charlie - secondary Comedian

Am rit Patel - comic character

[http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-
US:official&biw=1680&bih=960&tbm=isch&tbnid=taND6RDJbi6JrM:&imgrefurl=http://www.mumbaitheatreguide.com/dramas/artist
s/akash-
khurana/94/&docid=GtPzBElU5bZENM&imgurl=http://www.mumbaitheatreguide.com/dramas/artists/images/akash.jpg&w=150&h
=150&ei=csapT5qoO4aw2QXVwpWnAg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=1487&vpy=201&dur=914&hovh=120&hovw=120&tx=64&ty=35&
sig=112548080756898696658&page=1&tbnh=120&tbnw=120&start=0&ndsp=45&ved=1t:429,r:9,s:0,i:91]
[http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-
US:official&biw=1680&bih=960&tbm=isch&tbnid=taND6RDJbi6JrM:&imgrefurl=http://www.mumbaitheatreguide.com/dramas/artist
s/akash-
khurana/94/&docid=GtPzBElU5bZENM&imgurl=http://www.mumbaitheatreguide.com/dramas/artists/images/akash.jpg&w=150&h
=150&ei=csapT5qoO4aw2QXVwpWnAg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=1487&vpy=201&dur=914&hovh=120&hovw=120&tx=64&ty=35&
sig=112548080756898696658&page=1&tbnh=120&tbnw=120&start=0&ndsp=45&ved=1t:429,r:9,s:0,i:91]

Baddies

Let's look at some eternal henchmen of Hindi Cinema. All of these guys have the dubious distinction of -
a) Getting killed by the hero in a 1:1 fight scene, if they're lucky
b) Getting killed by the good guys in the ultimate or penultimate fight scene
c) getting killed, in general.
The privilege lies in above mentioned order. Saving Bob Christo, none of them have their own identity. I'll try to
categories them nonetheless.
Ram i Reddy - the southern evil

Deep Dhillon - From goon to Level A villain

Bob Christo- the Original Videshi

[http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_VkZwoHFStI/T6ca7kBddkI/AAAAAAAAJCE/N7z-
IAhTORI/s1600/gavin+packard.png]
Gavin Packard - Videshi No. 2

Gurbachan Singh - Level 2 villain

Jack Gaud - Level 2 villain


Dan Dhanoa - Level 2 villain

[http://www.google.com/imgres?
hl=en&safe=off&gbv=2&biw=1366&bih=648&noj=1&tbm=isch&tbnid=P7Mn5itcyBf6HM:&imgrefurl=http://inkakavala.blogspot.co
m/2011/04/rami-reddy-is-no-more.html&docid=TgwZ8ScXXQws5M&imgurl=http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-
AaRrIV2XJWs/Tacho9dzw5I/AAAAAAAACNQ/2HUFY-
VCTWs/s400/rami%252Breddy%252Bgaru.jpg&w=199&h=200&ei=vxinT60B5pqJAoW20ZYC&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=802&vpy=3
12&dur=678&hovh=160&hovw=159&tx=95&ty=92&sig=111401853532573824065&page=1&tbnh=139&tbnw=142&start=0&ndsp=
18&ved=1t:429,r:15,s:0,i:107]

[http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-02xb3-
eGpV0/T6ca8DqlHEI/AAAAAAAAJCM/18ExgiLBhr0/s1600/manik+irani.png]
Manek Irani - The price fighter or bodyguard

Ajay Agarw al - Single most feared ghost in Bollywood

[http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-
yEAtIBYC9wg/T6ca7bOabwI/AAAAAAAAJB8/Gs7DRooEl8E/s1600/Vishvajeet+pradhan.png]
Vishvajeet Pradhan - Villain Level 2

PS - Feel free to add anyone in the comments, I'll try to look for him/her and update the post!

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