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Over the years, there have been cult classics like Andaaz Apna Apna and Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, mainstream box office successes in the ilk of Welcome and Pyaar Ka Punchanama, and even darker variants of funny that are uniquely desi, such as 2011’s Delhi Belly, and the Saif Ali Khan-starrer Kaalakandi. Bollywood has long been blessed with a great swathe of comedy films.
Malayalam cinema too boasts of some truly hilarious cinema, such as Priyadarshan’s iconic Ramji Rao Speaking (and its sequel Mannar Mathai Speaking), and In Harihar Nagar by the multifaceted Siddique. But then again, Kerala’s actors have also tended to be less burdened by genre-based labels.
As an audience, we have grown to develop eclectic preferences to various kinds of comedy that exist in the Indian subcontinent. And we lap it up roaringly.
Making people laugh is not an easy feat by any stretch of the imagination, mind you. Like all artists, comedians too are devoted to their craft. And it takes many more years of struggling after all the years spent polishing their trade, for their work to be appreciated by the public. So it’s understandable when humorists get comfortable with their standards after a point.
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However, there exists a certain breed of Indian comedy actors who have challenged not just themselves, but the inert standards of acting in India as well, by taking up off-beat non-comedic roles, making them all the more elusive to any type of typecast to which other actors may fall prey.
Here are nine such Indian comedy actors who have proved they’re a class apart with their off-beat, serious roles:
Sanjay Mishra - Now 58, Sanjay Mishra has been making us laugh for a while now. However, despite his difficult journey throughout his Bollywood career, he hasn’t shied away from taking risks. 2013’s Ankhon Dekhi had the thespian portray a man who followed the policy of ‘Ankhon Dekhi’; he only believes the things he sees with his own eyes, a doubting Thomas of sorts.
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Kader Khan - Kader ji was one of the pioneers of comedic acting in India. He made us laugh with classics like Coolie No. 1 and Sikka. But the wildly talented artist also showcased his immense range, playing a villain in Khoon Pasina. The late genius’ loss is still felt in the industry.
Jagathy Sreekumar - Few actors can hold a candle to Jagathy Sreekumar’s comedic timing. The Malayali actor needs very little to make the audience break into peals of laughter. Kilukkam and Yodha are two films you can watch to catch the master excel at his craft. However, Jagathy has proven over the years that he’s no one-trick-pony. Watch Urumi to see him as the sinister Chenicheri Kurup. Guaranteed to make you squirm.
Pankaj Kapoor - The veteran may be enjoying his time away from the limelight, but that doesn’t stop us from recalling how utterly brilliant an actor Pankaj Kapoor is. He became a household name nationwide, thanks to the evergreen television series, Office Office, a show that hilariously showed the ineptitude of bureaucracy. Want to see him captivate you in an off-beat role? Watch Maqbool.
Javed Jaffrey - Shaurya, a military-courtroom drama, based loosely on the Hollywood classic A Few Good Men, has the longtime funnyman dissolve into his character as Major Akash Kapoor, the prosecuting lawyer in a murder case involving two Army Officers.
Arshad Warsi - Even though his stint as Circuit in the Munnabhai MBBS franchise gave him widespread recognition as one of the country’s in-demand comedic actors, it also severely limited his talents. Arshad Warsi is capable of being so much more than the funny side-character. Just check him out in Kabul Express and Asur to see for yourself.
Kalabhavan Mani - The late Kalabhavan Mani made his way to the limelight as a top-notch mimicry artist, and later as a comedian. But limiting the Chalakudy native to comedy was impossible. He made us cry with his performance in Karumadikkuttan, while also winning a national award for his negative role in the star-studded classic, Chotta Mumbai.
Vijay Raaz - The lanky actor has been a mainstay of Indian films for a while now. His delivery remains unparalleled. Delhi Belly, Dhamaal, and Welcome are a few films that prove just how ridiculously funny Vijay Raaz can get. With Pataakha and Gully Boy, however, audiences got to witness the actor’s prowess in a non-funny role. And boy are we glad.
Rajpal Yadav - Watch the crime-drama Undertrial and you’ll get to see Rajpal Yadav deliver a spine-chilling performance, proving he can do other things than bringing comedic relief to a scene. Despite giving us moments of genuine laughter, his role as a supportive husband to Antara Mali’s protagonist in Main Madhuri Dixit Banna Chahti Hoon deserves an honorable mention, as it showed us a side to the actor that we don’t get to see too often.
Who else do you think should have made the list? Do let us know in the comments below!
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