By: Vidya S M

He was the King of the comedy. Stirring laughter was his profession Popularly know as Johnny Walker his original name was Badruddin Qazi. This King of comedy's name was changed to a popular brand of Whiskey "You are the best man I can ever get," said the scriptwriter Balraj Sahani, who was penning down the film Baazi and was looking out for a comedian, when he saw Johnny Walker entertaining his passengers. Then he met Guru Dutt rest is clichéd History!

Johnny Walker is a son of a mill worker from Indore. He came to Bombay and worked as a bus conductor for some time. Guru Dutt and Johnny Walker pairs hit off right away from Baazi and it was him who changed his name "if it was not for Guru Dutt sahib I would remain a bus conductor" says this humorist. "I had a great understanding with him that made my career" he continues.

Baazi established his job in the industry and went on to do the immortal movies like Madhumati, Pyaasa, Naya Daur, CID, Mere Mehboob

From then on he became the most sort after personality in the industry, each and every director needed him in his movie. He has worked with some of the classic directors like Raj Khosla, B. R. Chopra, Vijay Anand, Bimal Roy and many more.

Songs were especially composed to have Johnny in their movie, some of the famous songs of S. D. Burman and O. P. Nayar are of Johnny walker. The famous songs of his "Yeh Hai Mumbai Meri Jaan...", and "Sar Jo Tera Chakhraye..." are tunes which will be remembered in the years to come.

The man who is a role model for so many comedians adored Charlie (of the Charlie Chaplin) and the comedian Noor Mohammad. This man resents vulgarity in comedy and doesn't like to hurt sentiment of a particular community, or people. "Those are the cheap tricks to gain attention, pure comedy is the result of hard work," words of advice from a true comedian.

Come 80's his kind if comedy got lost in the competitive Bollywood and when his best friend Guru Dutt died, he decided to call it a day. He finds most of the films these days contemptible, indecent and baseless which the reason why he does not appear much in them. But after almost 14 years of break he was seen in Kamala Hassan's movie Chachi 420.

He is now concentrating on his other passion horticulture and as an ardent sports fan watches lots of sports. His son, Nasir who also is an actor and host is keeping the spirit alive. Johnny today is a peaceful family man who loves his family. At 74 and lives peacefully in his bungalow at Mumbai.

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