Chunky Pandey

Chunky Pandey  

Chunky Pandey at the success party of the filmThe Forest, 2012  
Born 26 September 1962 (age 52)
India  
Occupation Actor, model
Suyash 'Chunky' Pandey (born 26 September 1962) is an Indian film actor who has appeared in Bollywood films. He has been in over 80 movies in a career that has spanned over two decades. In 1989 he was nominated for a Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for his role in Tezaab. He was a lead hero in Hindi films from 1987 to 1994, but his movies were more successful in 1987–1992. He is best known for playing supporting "sidekick" roles for leads like Rajesh Khanna, Anil Kapoor, Sunny Deol and Govinda. After numerous flops as the lead hero since 1993, his demand in Bollywood began to fade. Chunky then worked in Bangladeshi cinema from 1995 and most of his movies in Bangladesh were successful. Chunky Pandey returned to Bollywood in 2003 as a character actor, being cast mainly in supporting comedic roles. Chunky says his real life inspirations are Pran and Rajesh Khanna.
Contents
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1 Career
1.1 1989–93: Debut and breakthrough
1.2 1994–2003: Career slump and hiatus
1.3 2003 to present: Return to Bollywood
2 Personal life
3 Filmography
4 Awards and nominations
5 References
6 External links
Career[edit]
1989–93: Debut and breakthrough[edit]
Pandey started out his Bollywood career in 1987, with the film Aag Hi Aag opposite Neelam Kothari. Pandey shot to the spotlight with his memorable supporting role as Munna's (Anil Kapoor) friend in the movie Tezaab in 1988 which was the biggest blockbuster of the year.[1] This was the first big break for Pandey as he received a Filmfare awardnomination for the Best Supporting Actor for his performance.
Pandey appeared in many successful multi-hero films from 1987 to 1993: with his peak period being 1987–1991. His pairing opposite actress Neelam was appreciated and the pair had a string of five hits: Aag Hi Aag (1987), Paap Ki Duniya (1988), Khatron Ke Khiladi (1988), Ghar Ka Chiraag (1989), and Mitti Aur Sona (1989). But after 1990 their next three films as a pair were failures.
Most of his films where he had the leading role did not fare well at the box office. Subsequently, Pandey starred alongside male lead actors such as Rajesh Khanna, Govinda,Sunny Deol, Sanjay Dutt and Jeetendra as the second lead hero. Some of the hit films of his are Paap Ki Duniya (1988), Khatron Ke Khiladi (1988), Ghar Ka Chiraag(1989),Zahreelay (1990), Rupaye Dus Karod, Vishwatma (1992), Lootere (1993) and Aankhen (1993).
In 1993, he starred as the second lead to Govinda in the David Dhawan directed blockbuster Aankhen. It was the biggest box-office movie of 1993. Unfortunately, the credit of its success went to Govinda and Kader Khan. Pandey could not capitalise on the mega-success. It was his last successful film with him as the hero.

Chunky Pandey (far right) withAankhen director David Dhawan and co-star Govinda at a birthday party for Bobby Deol in 2011.
1994–2003: Career slump and hiatus[edit]
The advent of the 90s saw a new wave of actors such as Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Rahul Roy and Shahrukh Khan taking on roles as "romantic heroes" while Akshay Kumar, Sunil Shetty and Ajay Devgan grabbed the "action hero" roles. Pandey found it difficult to slot himself in either category.
Chunky grew increasingly tired of playing second fiddle to more prominent actors but had difficulty being seen as marketable outside of supporting household names. "I was offered hero ke bhai ka (brother of the hero) role and some shit," Chunky said. "I (told them), 'Boss, not happening.'"[2]
Frustrated with the lack of meaningful roles and lack of faith from producers Pandey's career in Bollywood as lead hero began to fade. Pandey took an hiatus from Bollywood in the late 90s and then he moved to Bangladeshi cinema. Because he didn't speak Bengali, his voice were dubbed in most of his movies there. Notable films he acted in were Swami Keno Asami and Besh Korechi Prem Korechi.
2003 to present: Return to Bollywood[edit]
Chunky Pandey returned to Bollywood in 2003 playing minor supporting roles in Qayamat: City Under Threat, Elaan, and Don: The Chase Begins Again.
In 2005, Pandey was critically acclaimed for his dark role as a underworld gangster in the Ram Gopal Varma film D – Underworld Badshah. Director Ram Gopal Varma was so impressed with Chunky that he roped him in for Darwaza Bandh Rakho, a dark comedy thriller where he played one of four robbers who hold a family hostage.
Pandey has carved a niche in playing comic relief roles, usually as outlandish characters. This is most notable in his memorable role as the Indo-Italian "Aakhiri Pasta" in the 2010 comedy hit Housefull which was lauded by critics and fans. He reprised his role in the sequel Housefull 2 in 2012 which also was a blockbuster.
Though he has recently been starring a character actor, Chunky doesn't want to be pigeonholed into doing comic roles. "I don't think I am restricting myself to doing only comedy. I am hoping that someone offers me something else," Pandey said. "It requires a lot of guts for someone to cast me in something else. I am just hoping that someone sees something else in me other than comedy."[3]
Pandey has gained notoriety as either a celebrity judge or host on reality TV game shows like the dance competition Zara Nachke Dikha and comedy contest shows like Laugh India Laugh and the The Great Indian Laughter Challenge.
Personal life[edit]
Chunky married Bhavna Pandey in 1998 and has two daughters. He decided to make a comeback to Bollywood during 2002 and ended up appearing in over a dozen movies. Apart from appearing in movies, Chunky is involved in a business 'Bollywood Electric' which hosts stage shows. He and his wife Bhavna also run a health food restaurant in Mumbai, India.
Filmography[edit]

Year Film Role  
1981 Rocky Bell-ringer student (extra) in song 'Rocky Mera Naam'  
1987 Aag Hi Aag Vijay Singh  
1988 Tezaab Baban  
  Gunahon Ka Faisla Sheru  
  Paap Ki Duniya Inspector Vijay  
  Khatron Ke Khiladi Mahesh Avtar  
  Agnee Babla  
1989 Ustad  
  Paanch Papi  
  Mitti Aur Sona Vijay Bhushan  
  Kasam Vardi Ki  
  Ghar Ka Chiraag Ravi  
  Na-Insaafi Sonu  
  Gola Barood Vigat  
  Zakham  
1990 Zahreelay Raju Verma  
  Tadap  
  Nakabandi Raja 'Munna' D. Singh  
  Khilaaf Vikram 'Vicky' Veerpratap Singh  
  Atishbaaz  
  Aaj Ke Shahenshah  
1991 Kohraam  
  Do Matwale Amar  
  Rupaye Dus Karod Suraj  
  Jeevan Daata Guddu/Shankar  
1992 Parda Hai Parda  
  Naseebwaala Amar  
  Kasak  
  Vishwatma remake Akash Bhardwaj  
  Khule-Aam Surya  
  Apradhi Salim/Ravi  
1993 Aankhen Ranjeet (Munnu)  
  Lootere Ali  
  Police Wala Jimmy/CBI Officer Jagmohan Nath  
  Aakhri Chetawani  
1994 Gopalaa Major Anand/Gopal 'Gopala' Anand  
  Insaniyat Hariharan  
  Bollywood Ashok  
  Teesra Kaun? Vijay Verma  
1997 Kaun Rokega Mujhe  
  Bhoot Bhungla Amar  
1998 Tirchhi Topiwale Anand  
1999 Yeh Hai Mumbai Meri Jaan Chali D'Souza  
2001 Kasam Fugitive  
2003 Qayamat: City Under Threat Gopal, a scientist  
  Mumbai Se Aaya Mera Dost Sanjay  
2005 Elaan Salim  
  D Raghav  
  Ssukh Rakesh Verma  
2006 Apna Sapna Money Money Rana Jang Bahadur  
  Darwaza Bandh Rakho Raghu  
  Don: The Chase Begins Again T.J (Special Appearance)  
  I See You Akshay 'AK' Kapoor  
2007 Fool N Final Rocky  
  Om Shanti Om As himself – Special Appearance  
2008 Hello Darling Rocky  
2009 Ek: The Power of One Balli  
  Paying Guest  
  Sankat City Sikandar Khan (Dual role)  
  Daddy Cool Harry  
  Shortkut Guru Kapoor  
  De Dana Dan Nonny Chadda  
2010 Click Manu Sharma  
  Housefull Akhri Pasta  
2010 Tees Maar Khan Himself  
2011 Ready Special appearance  
2011 Rascals Bhagat Bhulabhai Chouhan(BBC)  
2012 Housefull 2 Akhri Pasta  
  Kyaa Super Kool Hai Hum Baba 3G  
  Hum Hai Raahi Car Ke  
2013 Bullett Raja Lallan Tiwari  
  Himmatwala Michael Jaikishan  
2014 Gang of Ghosts Gulab Chand  
  Humshakals Bijlani
Awards and nominations[edit]
1989: Nominated – Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award – Tezaab
2007: Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role – Apna Sapna Money Money
2012: Nominated – Zee Cine Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role – Hous