Badruddin Jamaluddin Khan Kazi (1924 – 29 July 2003), professionally known as Johnny Walker, was an Indian actor and comedian who acted in around 300 films. He was best known for his humorous roles in Indian films, notably being typecast as a hapless drunkard.
Early life Badruddin Jamaluddin Khan Kazi was born in Indore, British India (present-day Madhya Pradesh, India), one of twelve children of a weaving teacher. Sources generally place his date of birth around 1924 or 1926, either in March or November.
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.
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.
Career 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.
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. 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. He was unwilling to adopt the cruder form of comedy and changed priorities that had become the vogue, saying that
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). 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). During the intervening period, he had a successful business dealing with precious and semi-precious stones.
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.
Personal life Johnny Walker married Noorjahan, sister of Indian actress Shakila, despite opposition from her family. They had three daughters and three sons. Regretting that he had been forced to leave school during 6th class, he sent his sons to the USA for schooling.
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.
Death Johnny Walker died on 29 July 2003 after a long period of illness. He was 79.
Legacy 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. 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."
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." In 2022, Walker was placed in Outlook Indias "75 Best Bollywood Actors" list.
Awards Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for his role in Madhumati Filmfare Best Comedian Award for his role in Shikar
Filmography
Johnny Walker acted in around 300 films.
1950–1959 Year Title Role Notes1950s1951 BaaziDebut film1952Jaal Tony Fernandes' associateAandhiyan Mastram 1953Baaz Court AstrologerAag Ka Dariya HumsafarThokar 1954Lal Pari Barati Shaheed-e-Azad Bhagat Singh Munna Aar Paar RustomTaxi Driver Mastana1955Bahu Chhora Chhori Marine Drive JohnnyChar PaiseDasuAlbeliDevdas One of Chandramukhi's patronsJashan Jawab ChanduJoru Ka BhaiMr. & Mrs. '55 JohnnyMilapKaluMast QalandarMiss Coca Cola Musafir Khana Shahi MehmaanRailway Platform Naseeb ChandShahzadaSociety1956Awara Shehzadi Bharti Anjaan - Somewhere in Delhi BadriC.I.D. MasterChhoo MantarBaijunath "Baiju"Chori Chori An aspiring Urdu poetChandrakantaGhulam Begum Badshah Insaaf JusticeNaya Andaz KarimShrimati 42026 January Samundari Daku RajdhaniBahadur Singh1957Changez Khan Tez KhanDo Roti AnokhelalJohnny Walker ManoharPyaasa Abdul SattarMr. XNaya Daur JournalistDuniya Rang Rangeeli ManoharMai Baap ParkerGateway of IndiaJohnny WalkerEk SaalJ. B. PintoQaidi A tramp1958Sitaron Se AageLattuNaya Paisa Mujrim PyarelalMr. Cartoon M. A.Madhumati CharandasLight HouseZindagi ya Toofan One of the two musicians-cum-servants-cum-general dogsbodiesKhota PaisaMotiGhar Sansar BankeDo MastaneChandanDetective John ButlerAji Bas Shukriya Aakhri Dao PopatAmar Deep Ustad12 O'Clock Motilal Sharma "Moti"1959Bhai BahenJohnnyPehli Raat Satta Bazaar Jawani Ki Hawa DhakoslaKaagaz Ke Phool Rakesh Verma "Rocky"PaighamNanduMr. JohnZara Bachke BholaBlack Cat
1960–1969 Year Title Role Notes1960s1960Chaudhvin Ka Chand Mirza Musarraddique ShaidaGhar Ki LaajKaala AadmiEk Phool Char Kante Uncle no. 2, a rock-n-roll fanaticMughal-E-Azam A tawaifRickshawalaBasantBilloo1961 Chhote NawabCaptainWalayat PassModern GirlSuhag Sindoor Wanted1962Girls Hostel Neeli Aankhen Sachche Moti Baat Ek Raat KiChunnilal Ishwarlal Dholakia "C.I.D."1963Ghar Basake Dekho Jaikishan Ram Agnihotri "Jackson"Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaaye Kaun Apna Kaun Paraya Mere MehboobBindadeen RastogiMulzim Phool Bane Angaare MohanPyar ka Bandhan Ustadon Ke Ustad Babu1964 Door Ki Awaz Motilal Rai "Moti"Shehnai Jan Mohammed1965 Bombay Race Course Zindagi Aur Maut 1966Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi ChunnilalDil Diya Dard Liya MurlidharPreet Na Jane ReetFernandesDillagi Pyarelal alias Professor B. N. R. ChaubeyInsaafPati Patni SurajBhola1967Jaal PrakashBahu Begum AchchanMilan Ki Raat Dulhan Ek Raat Ki BansiNawab Sirazuddaula Night in London Bahadur SinghNoor Jehan A servitorPalkiSultanTaqdeer JohnnyRajoo Wahan ke Log JohnnyShrimant Mehuna PahijeMarathi1968 Baazi JoeDil Aur Mohabbat SampatKahin Din Kahin Raat Duniya James BondHaseena Maan Jayegi Ghasitaram AashiqMere Huzoor PyarelalShikar Tej Bahadur "Teju"1969Aadmi Aur Insaan Ghulam RasoolPyar Ka Sapna GupteNannha Farishta Sachaai ChamanWilait PassAjitPunjabi Movie
1970–1979 Year Title Role Notes1970s1970GopiRamu1971 Anand Issabhai SuratwalaHungama Naseeb Chand alias ChhoteMemsaab RamkhilavanSanjog MansukhDushman PalmistSpecial Appearance1972 Ek Bechara GulluEk Hasina Do Diwane BrahmachariRaja Jani ImartilalYe Gulistan HamaraTuna's boyfriend1973Pyaar Ka Rishta Lachho1974 AaropDhondu DadaBadla Johny FerbandaImaanAmirchandDawat Jurm Aur Sazaa ArifMadhoshGorDukh Bhanjan Tera NaamHakimPunjabi Film1975 Dhoti Lota Aur Chowpatty Kaagaz Ki Nao Sewak Vandana JohnPratiggya Birju ThekedaarZakhmee JohnnyTeri Meri Ek JindriSadhuPunjabi Film1976 Bundalbaaz SuleimanSantan Udanchoo 1977 Farishta Ya Qatil Khel Khilari Ka KhairatilalMera Vachan Geeta Ki Qasam 1978Nawab Sahib HameedMiya Fuski 007Gujarati Film
1980–2000 Year Title Role Notes1980s1980Shaan Renu's UncleJaayen To Jaayen Kahan1981 Madine ki Galiyan1983MazdoorGovindaRishta Kagaz Ka Hanibhai1984Bindiya Chamkegi RahimMeraa Dost Meraa Dushman Mulayam Singh 1985 Hum DonoMichael1987 Mera Karam Mera Dharam Taraknath1988Sagar SangamInspector Shamsher SinghThe Perfect MurderJainEnglish Film1990s1991 Sapnon Ka Mandir1997 Chachi 420 JosephFinal film appearance
References
Further reading
External links
Dilip Kumar on Johnny Walker at Outlook magazine Why Johnny Walker left bollywood? at editorji magazine