12 Iconic Comedian Jodi’s Who Gave Bollywood A New Dimension
Posted On: 03 Oct 2022 | Last Updated : 03 Nov 2022 | Views : 2.3k
While Bollywood remains the fastest-growing industry in India, comedy remains the most preferred genre of the Bollywood audience. Earlier comedy was restricted just to movies or television, however, now people are choosing comedy as a career option, as stand-up comedian becomes one of the high-grossing careers. Moreover, we are blessed to have wonderful comedians in Bollywood who always succeed in tickling our funny bones and making us forget our worries. Some of our favourite Bollywood comedians of all time like Johnny Lever, I.S. Johar, and Yakub Khan made us laugh the hardest as soon as they come on-screen. When just one person has the ability to make a film a full package by adding a hint of comedy to it, imagine the level of magic that the presence of two or more comedians in a single movie might create. Here, we present to you the list of the most iconic popular Bollywood comedian pairs of all time. Stay tuned to check out more such Bollywood updates, articles, topics, and trivia related to movies and celebrities.
(Note: We have listed only supporting actors and not leads. In case we have missed out on any do let us know in the comment box below.)
1. Yakub - Gope
The Indian actor Yakub started his career in the 1920s, and mostly appeared in the role of extras, however, it was in the 1930s when he was offered lengthy or extended supporting roles. He played a comedic or villainous role in most of his films. On the other hand, Gope was another Bollywood actor, who started his career with a small role in the 1933 film Ya Shaitaan, and went on to act in over 140 films, and became one of the most popular comedians of his time. He is still remembered for lip-syncing the song, ‘Mere Piya Gaye Rangoon’. These two actors became one of the popular Bollywood comedian on-screen pairs by appearing in movies like Bazaar (1949), Patanga (1949), Beqasoor (1950), Sagai (1951), etc.
2. Dixit - Ghory
If you would ever checkout Indian cinema of the 30’s and 40’s, the comedian pair of Ghory and Dixit were a regular in many movies. The comedy duo comprising of Nazir Ahmed Ghory and Manohar Janardhan Dixit were popularly called the Indian Laurel and Hardy. Dixit was obese while Ghory was a lean man and their comic timing often contributed to the success of many hits starting from director Jayant Desai’s Char Chakram (1932) and followed by Bhola Shikar, Do Badmaash, Bhool Bhulaiyan and Vishivamohini, Do Badmaash, Sitamgarh, Toofani Toli and Bhola Raja. Most of their films were produced by Ranjit Studios. Dixit’s death in 1949 made Ghory move to Pakistan where he continued acting until he died in 1977 at the age of 76.
3. I. S. Johar - Mehmood
Born in British India, I.S. Johar was an Indian actor, director and producer, who was best known for his comic roles. He started his career as an actor with the 1949 film Ek Thi Ladki (1949). After acting in numerous Hindi films in the early 1950s, I.S. Johar went on to act in international films like Harry Black (1958), North West Frontier (1959), etc. Mehmood Ali, magnanimously known as Mehmood, was one of the best comedians of his time. His teaming up with I.S. Johar in several Bollywood movies left audiences in splits. The comedy duo pair mostly acted in movies with their names, like Johar-Mehmood in Goa (1965) and Johar-Mehmood in Hong Kong (1971). Other movies featuring this comedy duo include Nastik (1954), Miss India (1957), Aaj Ki Taaza Khabar (1973), Guru Suleman Chela Pahelwan (1981), Teesri Aankh (1982), and many more.
4. Pran - Ashok Kumar
Often regarded as one of the greatest villains of Indian film history, Pran acted in over 362 films in his career that spanned over six decades. The actor started his career as a lead actor with the 1940 Punjabi film Yamla Jat, and in Bollywood he made his debut with the 1941 film Khazanchi. He along with Ashok Kumar formed one of the most comic pairs as well as supporting actor pairs of the silver screen who went on to appear in more than twenty films. Some of the memorable comic roles they appeared together in were Victoria No. 203 (1972), Chori Mera Kaam (1975), Chor Ke Ghar Chor (1978), Apna Khoon (1978), Aapke Deewane (1980), Raja Aur Rana (1984), etc.
5. Jagdeep - Dhumal
Father of famous actor and comedian Javed Jaffrey, Syed Ishtiaq Ahmed Jaffrey, better known by his stage name, Jagdeep featured in over 400 films made a super comic pair with yesteryear actor Dhumal who is best remembered for his comedic characters in notable films, like Howrah Bridge (1958), Kashmir Ki Kali (1964), Love in Tokyo (1966) and many more. Together the comedic duo of Jagdeep and Dhumal have appeared in several movies, including Brahmachari (1968), Teen Bahuraniyan (1968), Karmayogi (1978), Jail Yatra (1981), etc.
6. Kader Khan - Shakti Kapoor
The pairing of Kader Khan and Shakti Kapoor was one of the best things to happen to Bollywood. The 80’s saw the pair mostly appear as father-son in many films making a scene hilarious with their pranks. Featuring together in over 700 films of which most of them were comic villainous roles but as the duo entered in the 90s, they diversified by playing positive comic roles. One of the popular comedian jodis in Bollywood, Kader Khan and Shakti Kapoor teamed up to act in popular movies, including Himmatwala (1983), Mawaali (1983), Justice Chowdhary (1983), Jaani Dost (1983), Geraftaar (1985), Hoshiyar (1985), ChaalBaaz (1989), Bol Radha Bol (1992), Raja Babu (1994), Eena Meena Deeka (1994), Main Khiladi Tu Anari (1994), Coolie No. 1 (1995), Saajan Chale Sasural (1996), Hero No. 1 (1997), Judwaa (1997), Akhiyon Se Goli Maare (2002), and many more.
7. Kader Khan - Sadashiv Amrapurkar
Kader Khan again makes it to the list and this time with his fellow actor Sadashiv Amrapurkar with whom he paired in several satire or comedy films. Like the Kader Khan – Shakti Kapoor pair, the pairing of Kader Khan and Sadashiv Amrapurkar happened much later with movies including Aankhen (1993), Hum Hain Kamaal Ke (1993), Aag (1994), Coolie No. 1 (1995), Aunty No. 1 (1998), Khullam Khulla Pyaar Karen (2005), and many more.
8. Kader Khan - Asrani
Talk about the top 10 comedian duos of Bollywood and what comes immediately to mind is the pair of Kader Khan and Asrani. Both veterans in comic roles, the pair of Kader Khan and Asrani often seen as boss and sidekick, most of the times left the audience in splits. The duo would have acted together in more than fifty films of which some of the memorable ones have been Himmatwala (1983), Hoshiyar (1985), Dharm Adhikari (1986), Swarag Se Sunder (1986), Biwi Ho To Aisi (1988), Baap Numbri Beta Dus Numbri (1990), Badi Bahen (1993), Taqdeerwala (1995), Dulhe Raja (1998), Akhiyon Se Goli Maare (2002) and others.
9. Kader Khan - Anupam Kher
The comedian duo of Kader Khan and Anupam Kher stands at par with other pairs in this list. The comic timing of both these seasoned actors on-screen was second to none. Most often pitted against each other as friends with different ideologies, watching them perform in tandem would just be fun. Their comic timing was evident in popular movies like Kanoon Apna Apna (1989), Hum (1991), Dil Tera Aashiq (1993), Hum Hain Kamaal Ke (1993), Eena Meena Deeka (1994), Taqdeerwala (1995), Judwaa (1997), Haseena Maan Jaayegi (1999), Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge (2000), etc.
10. Anupam Kher - Satish Kaushik
Former chairman of Film and Television Institute of India, Anupam Kher is one of the most admired actors of Hindi film industry who has spent more than four long decades in the Bollywood that includes over 500 films. His on-screen pairing with actor, director, producer and screenwriter, Satish Kaushik has been second to none. Anupam Kher and Satish Kaushik have teamed up and featured in many movies together, including Ram Lakhan (1989), Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (1998), Aunty No. 1 (1998), Haseena Maan Jayegi (1999), Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge (2000), God Tussi Great Ho (2008) and many more.
11. Paresh Rawal - Johnny Lever
Known for his villainous and comic roles in the Bollywood films, actor, comedian, producer and politician, Paresh Rawal’s career spans over four decades. He along with Johnny Lever are rated among the best comedians of the Indian film industry. Johnny Lever who happens to be an all-time favourite of many teamed up with Paresh Rawal to feature in several movies together, including Deewane Huye Paagal (2005), 36 China Town (2006), Phir Hera Pheri (2006), Fool N Final (2006), De Dana Dan (2009), Coolie No. 1 (2020) and many more.
12. Vinay Pathak - Ranvir Shorey
Indian actors, Vinay Pathak and Ranvir Shorey who started their career from the small screen and appeared in quite a few comedy serials and shows were a hit pair before they made their respective debut in Bollywood with the 1996 Indo-Canadian movie Fire, and Ranvir with the 2002 coming-of-age film Ek Chhotisi Love Story, co-starring Manisha Koirala. Vinay Pathak and Ranvir Shorey are best buddies and also one of the popular comic duos in Indian movies, who also shared the screen in a talk show ‘Ranvir Vinay Aur Kaun?’ They teamed up and featured in several movies, including Jism (2003), Khosla Ka Ghosla (2006), Aaja Nachle (2007), Bheja Fry (2007), Bheja Fry 2 (2013), Raat Gayi, Baat Gayi? (2009), Fatso! (2012) and many more.
