Chunky Panday is one such actor, who is known for his perfect comic timing in Bollywood. He is the first name that comes to everyone’s mind, speaking about a personality with a jovial sense of humour and a frequent love for pranks. He made his acting debut in Hindi cinema in 1987 with the multi-starrer film, Aag Hi Aag. And since then, Chunky has proven his versatility as an actor. Be it 'Aakhri Pasta' from Housefull series or his negative role as ‘Kabir’ in Begum Jaan, Chunky has never shied away from experimental roles.
More than 33 years have passed since Chunky Panday first appeared in Bollywood. In a recent interview with Screen, the actor revealed that his fame began to decline when celebrities like Govinda, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, and Ajay Devgn were on the scene.
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In the same interview, Chunky looked back at his career and how he overcame challenges. When questioned about his efforts to make a name for himself in the 1990s, Chunky said he felt lost then. He clarified that he joined the profession at a time when it was teeming with up-and-coming talent, adding that Govinda made his debut in 1986, followed by Aamir and Salman in 1987 and 1989, respectively, and Ajay in 1990. Although Chunky acknowledged that these major celebrities overshadowed him, he did have a brief 'honeymoon' period in 1988, which he called 'fantastic', before things started to wane. In his words:
"I got lost. I came when the galaxy was exploding– 1986 was Govinda, I came in 87, the next year was Aamir, Salman came in 1989 and Ajay was in 1990. So, they just kept coming, these big superstars. I did get lost, and I enjoyed my honeymoon for exactly a year. That whole year of 1988 was fantastic for me, and then, everything just faded out."
The actor, Chunky Panday, believes that too many individuals entered at that time, but he only holds himself responsible for his journey. He claimed that he was excited and eager to work, seizing any chance to earn money. As his goals shifted, he admitted that this method made it challenging to define a clear career path. He also made the argument that a person's career is greatly influenced by their luck.
Looking back on his life, Chunky said he would choose to repeat the same process because he has relished the highs and lows. He underlined that going through bad circumstances might be good since you have more freedom to explore because no one observes or condemns you. He said:
"I was that young blood who always wanted to keep working and was taking on any kind of work, trying to make money. Then, you can’t chart your career very well because your priorities become very different. But then again, there is also a lot of luck involved. If I had to re-live my life, I will still go through the same process because I have also enjoyed my ups and downs. Let me tell you, downs are also great. Nobody is watching you; you are not being judged when you are down– you can do anything".
Over the course of his 33-year career in Hindi cinema, Chunky has seen both notable highs and lows. In the 1980s and 1990s, he was a solo hero before assuming second-lead parts. Even when he and Govinda produced the hit film, Aankhen in 1993, he discovered that rather than additional prospects, work started to dry up. When he starred in Housefull in the comedic role of 'Aakhri Pasta' in 2010, his career took a new turn. Resuming his role, the actor is presently filming the fifth part of the Housefull series.
What are your views on Chunky Panday's journey in the industry?
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