Mumbai, July 29: Born to a milkman of Indore, `Johny` to his playmates, Johny Walker tickled the nation`s funny bone like no other actor for more than three decades after independence acting in over 300 films, including blockbusters like `CID`, `Chaudvi Ka Chand`,`Pyasa` and `Madhumati`. A favourite of noted director Guru Dutt, Johny Walker as a Tel Malish man stirred a sympathetic chord among his millions of fans in `Pyasa` and provided balm to the stressed-out urban common man with his `Yeh Hai Bombay Meri Jaan` in CID.

Born in 1924, Badruddin Jamaludding Kazi quit acting in the early 80s after doing 300 films in over 40 years. The Bollywood comedian returned to the film after 13 years of "voluntary retirement" to act in Kamal Hassan in `Chanchi 420`, the Hindi remake of Mrs Doubtfire in the role of a `Sharabi` minus a song.
"The films has brought comedy back into my sedate life," he had said after he made a comeback in the Bollywood.

At the age of 14, when he was in class vi, he had to quit school and feed the family since his father lost his job. His real life roles then included playing ice-candy man in Nashik vegetable vendor in Bombay and bus conductor with best until a family friend got him a bit role in `Akhri Paigham` as the Villian`s sidekick.

After K Asif`s `Hulchul`, he landed a role in 1952 in Navketan`s Baazi. During its filming he struck a lasting rapport with producer Dev Anand and actor-director Guru Dutt and was firmly on the path to fame.

Bureau Report