Many Bollywood stars have ventured into different industries searching for success, however few have managed to attain important recognition overseas. Among the many uncommon success tales are names like Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan, who’ve turn into world icons.
Nonetheless, one shocking identify that made waves exterior India is Chunky Panday, father of Bollywood actor Ananya Panday, who turned an enormous star in Bangladesh. At one level, he was even in comparison with Bollywood’s largest celebrity, Shah Rukh Khan.
Chunky Panday, greatest recognized at present for his comedic function as “Akhri Pasta” within the Housefull collection, as soon as dominated the Bangladeshi movie business. Panday’s journey to worldwide stardom, nonetheless, was not by selection.
Regardless of delivering a superhit movie in Bollywood with Aankhen in 1993, he struggled to seek out work within the business for six months after the movie’s launch. With the Bollywood panorama altering quickly as a result of rising stardom of actors like Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, and Aamir Khan, Chunky Panday discovered himself sidelined.
In 2018, Chunky Panday opened as much as IANS about this difficult part in his profession. He defined how he ended up working in Bangladesh: “The cash was good, and I used to be in dire want of cash at the moment, so I accepted the provide. It was a sort of gamble for me. However my first movie turned such an enormous hit that I by no means appeared again and labored there for 5 years till I bought married in 1998.”
His resolution to tackle a movie provide from Bangladesh would show to be a life-changing transfer. The movie turned a blockbuster, catapulting him to fame within the nation. Over the following 5 years, Panday established himself as certainly one of Bangladesh’s largest movie stars, at instances drawing comparisons to Shah Rukh Khan.
On the peak of his stardom in Bangladesh, Chunky Panday even moved his residence to the nation, as Bollywood supplied him little work. His reputation soared, and he turned a family identify. But, even together with his newfound fame, he remained grounded. After his marriage to Bhavna Panday in 1998, the couple went on their honeymoon to Bangladesh.
It was throughout this journey that Bhavna gave Chunky some precious recommendation, reminding him of the deep love the Bangladeshi individuals had for him. She additionally inspired him to not neglect his roots.
Reflecting on this, Chunky stated, “Once I got here again, I realized and appreciated the worth of success. I had a sport plan in my thoughts which was not there to start with. Perhaps I used to be too younger. One tends guilty others, however one shouldn’t do this. You’re the creator of your success and failure.”
Chunky Panday’s profession in Bangladesh was not with out its challenges. Whereas he thrived within the nation, Indian movies had been largely banned from launch there. This was to guard the native movie business from being overshadowed by Hindi movies.
In reality, it wasn’t till Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan was launched in 2023 {that a} Bollywood movie made its approach into Bangladeshi cinemas. By that point, the nation had been grappling with political turmoil, which solely intensified after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned following 50 years in energy and fled the nation.
Regardless of his success in Bangladesh, Chunky Panday longed to return to Bollywood. A yr after his marriage, he determined to make a comeback to the Indian movie business. Nonetheless, by the point he returned, Bollywood had largely forgotten him. With no important roles being supplied, Chunky discovered himself going from workplace to workplace, asking for work.
He refused to surrender and continued in his efforts, which ultimately paid off. Over time, Chunky Panday reinvented himself, taking over supporting roles that left a long-lasting impression. His comedic efficiency as “Akhri Pasta” within the Housefull franchise earned him a brand new fan base, and he has since turn into certainly one of Bollywood’s most beloved character actors.
Chunky Panday’s journey from being sidelined in Bollywood to changing into a celebrity in Bangladesh, and later reinventing himself again in India, is a testomony to his perseverance. At this time, his story serves as an inspiration to many aspiring actors, displaying that success usually comes from sudden locations and that resilience can result in a profession resurgence even after setbacks.
