Stories were written with him in mind: Johny Lever

Johnny Walker gave comedy a new dimension. He charmed people with his innocent face and entertained them with his excellent comic sense. His films like Chori Chori, Madhumati, Pyaasa, CID, Naya Daur and Mere Mehboob have become unforgettable classics and part of the credit definitely went to the ace comedian.

He died on July 29. Bollywood acknowledges this great loss to the film industry and pays tribute to the legend.

Dilip Kumar: "I've known him since a long, long time. But it was not until our association was nearly 40 years old that I learnt he never had even a drop of alcohol. How this man acted as a drunkard with such conviction in so many scenes remains a mystery to me. He was a great host. If he said, 'You have to come to my house today evening,' I would be there come what may. It's easy to say we all have to leave this world one day, I know that and you know that but when something like this actually happens, the despair one feels cannot be explained. I have lost a dear friend. He will never come back and I am feeling terribly sad about it. Unfortunately I could not go over and meet him in his last days since I too was not keeping good health."

Johny Lever: "Johnny Walker and I were very close. My house is just next to his, we were neighbours. Some time back, he came to my place with his children and we spent some lovely moments together. He was ailing since a few months and I could sense it.

"Mehmood considers him his guru. I am only a kid [in front of him], what can I say? Stories were written with him in mind. Today, which comedian can boast of that?"

Rishi Kapoor: "In the last two days, we have lost two comedians -- Hollywood's Bob Hope and Bollywood's Johnny Walker. Perhaps people in heaven were in dire need of laughs. Our loss is heaven's gain."

Govinda: "Johnny Walker was one of the best entertainers we ever had. I have learnt a lot by watching his films. My mother, too, was a great fan of his. His comedy was very neat and clean. His son, Nasir, is a great friend of mine. I am doing a film with him. He, too, is a great entertainer. Johnnysaab's death is a personal loss to me. He was a great human being. He was very generous; he helped his family members a lot. He also did a lot of charity and helped poor people."

Naushad: "He was a dear friend. It was amazing how he carried himself so naturally in a drunkard's role in so many films. Do you know he never drank alcohol nor smoked in his life? I remember him having personal problems once when he reported for shooting. Yet he could make anybody laugh in a minute. May he go to heaven."

Rani Mukerji: "We have lost a natural comedian. Unfortunately, most of the comedy today is buffoonery."

B R Chopra: "We have lost not only a great actor but a great human being as well. My association with him began with Naya Daur. He was fabulous job in it. We kept in touch. He had also worked in another film of mine, Mazdoor."

Sunil Dutt: "I worked with him in my first film Railway Platform and we've been great friends ever since. I knew him as a person who always kept his professional and personal lives far apart. That is the sole reason why his kids have grown up as good human beings. When I got the news, I could not control my emotions. I have lost a real friend."

Shakti Kapoor: "He was a very warm human being. I worked with him in a film called Pahunche Hue Log. He treated me like his son. I will always cherish those memories."

Saira Banu: "I had first worked with him in Devendra Goel's Door Ki Awaaz. I admired the way he conducted himself on the sets. He was always punctual and well-spoken. I never saw him fret and fume. I had also worked with him in Aadmi Aur Insaan. He had not changed even a wee bit. I know for a fact that he has helped his sons, brothers
and sisters in every possible way. He had a very happy marriage, which was unusual in the film industry even in those days. I especially admired the way he worked on a song. We actors do sing a bit as the lines roll along, but he always stuck to lip movement. He evoked spasms of laughter when he went in front of the camera. Surprisingly, he was a very sober man once the director called 'Cut.' I am sure he has gone to heaven.

Pay your tribite to the king of comedy!
Alvida...Johnny Saab

More tributes
'His work speaks for himself'

Johnny Walker on rediff.com
But where are the comedians: Johnny Walker
Chacha 420
'Marne ke pehle hisaab karo'