There are some actors who create a feel-good aura on screen through their light-hearted, comic and positive roles. They make audiences laugh out loud, lift the mood instantly and are widely appreciated for their impeccable comic timing. Many of them even build their entire identity around these lovable, humorous characters.However, as Govinda once said on a talk show, “Artists are living in a womb. We think we are born once, but we are fortunate to be born again and again.”And that is exactly why the same actors who once brought tears of laughter to audiences’ eyes can just as easily shock them with fiery, menacing negative roles.In today’s long-form feature, we explore actors who once tickled our funny bones but later traumatised audiences with their dark and deadly villainous portrayals.The most recent example is Rakesh Bedi, long cherished for his comic timing and memorable roles in films such as ‘Hero No. 1’, ‘Bade Miyan Chote Miyan’, ‘Chashme Buddoor’ and more. His iconic character Dilbura Uncle from the sitcom ‘Shrimaan Shrimati’ still lives fresh in the memories of every ’90s kid. But the actor has now stunned everyone with a terrifying avatar in Ranveer Singh’s ‘Dhurandhar’, which released on December 5. Another striking example is Archana Puran Singh. Known for her comic presence on television, she shocked audiences by playing a cunning step-mother to Karisma Kapoor in the Aamir Khan-starrer ‘Raja Hindustani’, a role she portrayed at just 34.Shakti Kapoor stands tall among such performers, an actor who could switch effortlessly from menacing on-screen brutality to laugh-out-loud madness. From Crime Master Gogo in ‘Andaaz Apna Apna’ to unforgettable negative roles in ‘Chaalbaaz’, ‘Hero’ and ‘Qurbani’, he has showcased outstanding versatility, making him iconic in both comedy and villainy.Govinda, celebrated as one of India’s finest comic performers, also surprised fans when he turned to darker shades, most notably in ‘Shikari’, revealing an intense side few had anticipated.See More: Akshaye Khanna’s Rs 167 crore net worth: Inside ‘Dhurandhar’ actor’s lavish properties and car collectionParesh Rawal further exemplifies this range. While adored for his comic brilliance, his filmography includes layered antagonists and morally complex characters that underline his tremendous depth. Similarly, Kader Khan, loved for his humour and impeccable dialogue delivery, maintained an equally impactful career as a villain, leaving a strong imprint with every performance. Supriya Pathak with her deadly portrayal as Dhankor ‘Baa’ sanera, stood tall as the villian of the story. She portrayed a fierce female villain who could easily give any Bollywood antagonist a run for their money and the character is one of few brilliantly written villain roles for a female.
Even Shah Rukh Khan, known for his romantic charm, delivered unforgettable negative roles in ‘Baazigar’ and ‘Darr’, proving his command over grey characters.
Last but not least is Chunky Panday. After entertaining audiences for decades with his charm, smile and comic timing, including unforgettable characters like ‘Aakhri Pasta’ he reintroduced himself as a chilling villain in films such as ‘Begum Jaan’ and ‘Saaho’. ETimes contacted the versatile actor to understand how he transitioned so effortlessly from a lover-boy image to locking horns with powerful protagonists.Chunky Panday says his journey into negative roles began unexpectedly, with filmmaker Srijit Mukherji. “The first person to approach me for a negative role was Srijit,” he recalls. “It was for Begum Jaan, and I was surprised. I asked him, ‘How did you think of me?’ I thought I looked so sweet long hair, a good-looking guy!” he laughs.But Srijit saw something entirely different.“He told me, ‘There’s something about you that can be extremely menacing.’ He said, ‘We’re going to ruin everything.’ The first thing he did was make my teeth black. He wanted people to forget Chunky Panday.”
Chunky believes the transformation began with the appearance.“Half the battle is won with the look,” he says. “Then you play with the voice. But honestly, villainy comes from within. We all have a little devil inside us.”He adds, “I’ve always been a fan of Kader Khan, and I admire actors like Paresh Rawal, Anupam Kher and Shakti Kapoor. They’ve played humorous roles, intense villains and everything in between. Even if I achieve 10% of what they have, it’ll be a big accomplishment. And yes! that darker side exists in all of us.”Chuckling, he adds, “My wife says I have a big devil in me. She pushed me into it! She said, ‘You’re such a villain at home, show it on screen, you’ll win awards!’ I think every wife believes her husband is a villain!”Chunky notes that each of his negative roles, ‘Begum Jaan’, ‘Saaho’, ‘Abhay 2′ and the Tamil hit Sardar, is completely distinct.’ “You can’t mix them up — each one is different.”He fondly recalls ‘Sardar’, in which he played a character aging from 30 to 60 opposite Karthi. “It did around Rs. 107 crores in Tamil. It’s a very dear character,” he says, adding that ‘Sardar’ and ‘Jawan’ ended up having surprisingly similar themes and were shot around the same time.Next up, Chunky is ready to surprise audiences again in January with ‘Rahu Ketu’, from the ‘Fukrey’ franchise.“I’m playing a total foreign character. After Aakhri Pasta, this is another foreign guy, but completely opposite. Very different, very menacing.”With audiences applauding this new avatar, Chunky Panday has proved that behind the smile and comic persona, a hidden villain was always waiting to step into the spotlight.When asked if he has kept any memorabilia from his villainous roles, he laughs:“From Begum Jaan, all I could’ve taken home was a lungi and a banyan!” Ultimately, their journeys reveal that every performer carries many lives within them. From lovable comedians to unforgettable villains, they’ve embraced every challenge with conviction. As they continue exploring new shades on screen, one thing is clear — their ability to surprise us remains their most powerful weapon. Go to Source
