Chunky Panday

He made his acting debut in 1987 with the film Panday debuted his acting career with the 1987 multi-starer film Aag Hi Aag opposite Neelam Kothari and gained recognition for his supporting role as Babban in Tezaab (1988), which earned him a Filmfare nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Film producer Pahlaj Nihalani gave Panday his first break in 1987 by signing him up for two films, his debut film and Paap Ki Duniya. His second successful film was Paap Ki Duniya with Sunny Deol and Neelam Kothari. Subsequently, Panday appeared in many multi-hero films from 1987 to 1993. In 1988, Panday was appreciated for his supporting role in N. Chandra's film Tezaab featuring Anil Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit. Panday played the character of Babban, Munna's (Anil Kapoor) friend.^[14] For his performance in Tezaab, Panday was nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Since then he has appeared in many films with mixed success throughout the late 1980s and 1990s. Most of his films where he had the leading role did not fare well at the box office. In most films, he was cast in supporting roles to senior actors like Rajesh Khanna, Dharmendra, Jeetendra, Sunny Deol and Sanjay Dutt. Some of those hit films with him in second lead, are Paap Ki Duniya (1988), Khatron Ke Khiladi (1988), Ghar Ka Chiraag (1989), Nakabandi, Zahreelay (1990), Rupaye Dus Karod, Vishwatma (1992), Lootere (1993) and Aankhen (1993). His solo hit was Parda Hai Parda (1992).

Con la llegada de los años noventa, surgió una nueva ola de actores como Aamir Khan , Salman Khan y Shah Rukh Khan, quienes asumieron papeles de "héroes románticos". Akshay Kumar , Suniel Shetty y Ajay Devgan se hicieron con los papeles de "héroes de acción", mientras que Sunny Deol , Anil Kapoor , Jackie Shroff y Govinda continuaron como actores consagrados y más versátiles. A Panday le resultó difícil encajar en cualquiera de estas categorías. Además, a finales de los noventa, las películas protagonizadas por un solo héroe volvieron a estar de moda, en lugar de las películas con varios protagonistas en las que Panday solía participar, y este ya no era considerado un actor comercialmente viable para este tipo de películas.

Panday se cansó cada vez más de ser el segundo de a bordo de actores más prominentes, pero tenía dificultades para ser visto como comercializable, aparte de ser el apoyo de nombres conocidos. "Me ofrecieron papeles de hermano del actor principal", dijo. "Les dije: 'Jefe, no va a pasar'". ^{[ 15 ]} Debido a la falta de trabajo en Bollywood, se mudó para actuar como protagonista en películas de Bangladesh. En 1995, le ofrecieron sus primeras películas como protagonista en películas de Bangladesh. Actuó en seis películas entre 1995 y 1997 como protagonista en Bangladesh y todas fueron exitosas. ^{[ 16 ]} Entre 1997 y 2002, recibió poco trabajo en Bollywood, interpretando papeles secundarios en películas de bajo presupuesto como Tirchhi Topiwale , Yeh Hai Mumbai Meri Jaan , Kaun Rokega Mujhe y Jwalamukhi .

Panday regresó a Bollywood en 2003 interpretando papeles secundarios menores en Qayamat: City Under Threat , Elaan , Don: The Chase Begins Again , Mumbai Se Aaya Mera Dost y Apna Sapna Money Money .

En 2005, interpretó a un gánster del hampa en la película de Ram Gopal Varma, D – Underworld Badshah . Posteriormente, el director Ram Gopal Varma lo contrató para Darwaaza Bandh Rakho , un thriller de comedia negra en el que interpretó a uno de los cuatro ladrones que mantienen a una familia como rehén.

Between the years of 2006 to 2010, Panday would star in small comedic roles, settling into a reputation of being comic relief. The role that earned him the most success was playing the character of Indo-Italian "Aakhri Pasta" in the 2010 comedy hit Housefull. His catchphrase from the movie that is often quoted is an accented "I'm-a joking!" His role was so memorable that he reprised the role in the sequels Housefull 2 in 2012, Housefull 3 in 2016, Housefull 4 in 2019 and Housefull 5 in 2025.

In regards to his film selection since returning to acting in Bollywood, Panday has stated that he prefers not to play a hero nowadays because there is less pressure on him if the film fails and it's much more fun playing interesting characters and showing his range.^[17]

While Panday's second stint in Bollywood has mainly consisted of starring as a character actor, he doesn't want to be pigeonholed into only doing comic roles. "I don't think I am restricting myself to doing only comedy. I am hoping that someone offers me something else. It requires a lot of guts for someone to cast me in something else. I am just hoping that someone sees something else in me other than comedy."^[18]

This hope was realised with Panday starring as villains in the films Begum Jaan, Prassthanam, Saaho, Sardar and web series Abhay.