Celebrating Johnny Lever: Icon of Indian Comedy as he Turns 69: Johnny and Sri appeared in only 3 films! Shocking!

A Shared Spark that hit the funny bone: Johnny Lever and Sridevi’s On-Screen Connection

Few pairings brought as much effortless charm and laughter as the collaborations between comedy legend Johnny Lever and the iconic Sridevi. Though they shared screen space in only three films, their work left a memorable imprint on Hindi cinema audiences.

Johnny Lever, born John Prakash Rao Janumala on 14 August 1957 in Kanigiri, Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh, hails from a Telugu Christian family. His mother tongue is Telugu, and his roots in Andhra Pradesh shaped his early life before he rose to fame as Bollywood’s king of comedy. He shared a common language with Sridevi and they got along brilliantly - he stated that whenever they met on set, they only spoke their mother-tongue. After all... 

... Sridevi, was born in Meenampatti near Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu, and had a rich mixed heritage. Her father was Tamil, while her mother hailed from Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh. Telugu was her mother tongue, and she was fluent in both Telugu and Tamil - as was Johnny. 

Both stars thrived in the 1980s in Bollywood but oddly only appeared in three films. Their joint filmography is modest but notable, as they worked together in around 3 memorable Hindi films, including: Chaalbaaz (1989) Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja (1993) and Judaai (1997), where Johnny Lever famously played Sridevi’s on-screen brother!!! 

Johnny Lever often spoke fondly of Sridevi, recalling her grace and professionalism on sets. Both artists carried strong Telugu connections, were extremely close their respective families and climbed up the ladder through effort, experience and have enduring cinematic legacies as they bet the odds. In a nation of a billion, there are but a handful of stars. These two shine so brightly in their field, eclipsing others. 

When Sridevi passed so suddenly, he spoke often about what a professional she was and a delight to watch. Their comedy scenes in Roop ki Rani Choron ka Raja are amazing. Sadly, we don't have stills of it. Sridevi played the part of a glamorous thief and Johnny as a cop who aspired to be an actor. It is one of the best scenes in otherwise faulty film... 

Honouring the comic, stand-up, acting great, Johnny Lever. 

Golden still from Judaai: Upsana Singh, Sridevi and Johnny Lever on set

Stills from Judaai: Upsana Singh, Sridevi and Johnny Lever on set.

Sridevi's all gold ensemble was talked about in the 1990s. She looked so beautiful in the movie. 

When they filmed Judaai back in 1996, Sridevi was 33 years old, while Upasana Singh was 21. 

Upasana Singh has frequently cited her lifelong admiration for Sridevi as the primary reason she signed on for her breakthrough role in the hit comedy-drama which hit the screens in 1997. 

Despite being hesitant about playing a double role where the daughter character had no real spoken lines other than the repetitive phrase "Abba Dabba Jabba", she agreed instantly once she learned she would share the screen with Sridevi. 

"I said yes to the film without even reading the script as I was a huge fan of Sridevi. I grew up admiring Sridevi, and it was a big moment for me to work with her. I played the roles of a mother and a mute woman, who just says 'abba dabba jabba'. I was not convinced about it, but went with the director's conviction... And it clicked!" 

Source: Hindustan Times / The Times of India (ETimes Interview) 

"When I met director Raj Kanwar, he told me that it was a double role... I was a huge fan of Sridevi who was the lead in Judaai. I asked the director whether I would have any scenes with Sridevi. He said yes. So, I said okay." 

Source: The Times of India (ETimes Exclusive) 

"When Sridevi told me, 'You are a very good actress'...I was so happy!" 

Source: The Lallantop (Video Interview)

Rare Still: Upasana Singh, Sridevi and Johnny Lever in Judaai (1997)

Rare Still: Upasana Singh, Sridevi and Johnny Lever in Judaai (1997)

Upasana Singh, "I said yes to the film without even reading the script as I was a huge fan of Sridevi. I grew up admiring Sridevi, and it was a big moment for me to work with her. I played the roles of a mother and mute woman, who just says ‘abba dabba jabba’. I was not convinced about it, but went with the director’s conviction. I put all my effort into expressing those words with different variations and moods. And it clicked! It made me the ‘abba dabba jabba’ girl." 

-- From Hindustan Times

Made on the modest budget of about Rs 6.30 crores in a haze of publicity that had nothing to do with the film but the film's producer (Boney Kapoor) and leading lady (Sridevi!), the advance reports of Judaai in the early months of 1997 were not that great... 

Esp after a series of flops together with Anil Kapoor (Heer Ranjha, Mr Bechara, Roop Ki Rani Chorona Ka Raja and the under-performed classic Lamhe), through great word of mouth , Judaai steadily climbed the charts and was 'the' surprise smash hit of the year, raking in nearly 30 crore to become the eighth biggest hit of  '97. 

Judaai had a lot working for it. The undeniable talent of the leads, chart-topping music, and hot-off-the-success of Rangeela Urmila and a high gloss entertainment factor. A lot of ink was spilled about the husband-selling plot but Google away - it's a story straight out of newspaper headlines the world over.

A Chaalbaaz montage: Sridevi, Shakti Kapoor, Sunny Deol, Rajinikanth, Johnny Lever

A Chaalbaaz montage: Sridevi, Shakti Kapoor, Sunny Deol, Rajinikanth, Johnny Lever

PS: not sure about one of the pics (might be from a Telugu film) but theothers are all from the 1989 hit - and one of many career-defining films of Sridevi. 

Johnny Lever talks about Sridevi

"Srideviji was from Andhra Pradesh and even I'm from the same place. So, whenever we met she used to be very loving and caring. I remember once she came to meet me on sets and that was our first interaction. I was petrified with the fact that Sridevi is coming just to meet me. She came to ask me, how I imitated Michael Jackson and how could I mimic him exactly. That was her way to express gratitude," revealed Johnny Lever, who has acted alongside the actress in films like Chaalbaaz, Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja and Judaai.

In fact, for an inspired bit of casting, Johnny Lever was cast as Sridevi's brother in Judaai - though he didn't have many scenes with her! 

 

Rajinikanth and Sridevi's hysterical song in Chaalbaaz (1989): Oh bhoot raja: Johnny Lever adds to the comedic genius of this hysterical comedy

A series of stills of Rajinikanth and Sridevi's hysterical song from the film Chaalbaaz (1989), "Oh bhoot raja." Topped with the comedic genius of Johnny Lever thrown into the mix.  

Johnny Lever is a polarising figure as a comedian but we are MASSIVE fans of Johnny bhai. Every time he's on screen, we've cracked up - and he's the original OG of standup comedy in India. There's a bit he's done on Michel Jackson coming to India versus Pandu going to America that cracks us upppppp till date.

Sridevi is comedic genius in Chaalbaaz - with her perfect foil: superstar Rajinikanth. The two played off each other so exceptionally well. Every moment in the film where they shared the screen is hysterical. 

Meanwhile, magnificent Sridevi in a flaming red sari. She was a Goddess! 

One of her many award-winning performances. 

There's some dodgy editing near the end of the film, but that's a minor irk - watch the actress Sridevi CARRY a film on her mighty shoulders. 

Sridevi went on to win Best Actress and her performance in Chaalbaaz, and its is considered the touchstone for any leading lady - be it Kareena Kapoor, Shradhaa Kapoor or Katrina Kaif, many have said, Sridevi's performance in the movie is the definitive gold standard. 

The leading lads - Sunny Deol and Rajinikanth - were left in another lane altogether. 

Sunny Deol spoke out against Sridevi years later (sour grapes?) but the movie will forever be a feather on Sridevi's highly festooned cap. 

Sridevi is magnificent, an acting tour-de-force in her dual roles as Anju and Manju. You know what they say, Dying is easy, comedy is hard. The ease in which she slips in and out of the duality is incredible...