Reflecting on his career, Chunky Panday said he debuted at a time when the ‘galaxy was exploding’ and many stars were emerging.
When actor Chunky Panday made his screen debut in 1987, he was an instant success. It was a great year for him, starting with Pahlaj Nihalani’s Aag Hi Aag, followed by several other hits. But it all started to “fade away” when other actors entered the film industry. Chunky Panday says he was “lost” when stars like Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Govinda and Ajay Devgn made their debut.
In an interview with Screen, Pandey recalled her early days, and said that she faced many rejections, including failing several TV and film auditions.
“I remember I went to the office of a very famous producer-director who makes romantic films, and I was wearing a tank top. I was going there after my workout. He looked at me and said, ‘I am not making Tarzan, you can go to B. Subhash’s office.’ So, I was thrown out of such offices. But after three years of trying, I got my first film in the toilet of a five-star hotel!”
The actor, who is currently awaiting the release of Netflix film Vijay 69 starring Anupam Kher, reflected on his initial career boom and eventual fall. By the mid-90s, all the stars were placed in different categories – while Ajay, Akshay Kumar and Sunny Deol were playing leads in action films, Shah Rukh Khan was the new romantic star, and Aamir was starring in minor dramas. Salman Khan, on the other hand, had found a blockbuster collaborator in Sooraj Barjatya.
The actor said, “Many people came at that time”, but he has “nobody else to blame but himself” for his career ending like this. He further added, “I was that young blood who always wanted to keep working and was doing any kind of work in an attempt to earn money. Then, you cannot make your career very well because your priorities become very different.
“But then, there’s a lot of luck involved. If I had to live my life again, I would still go through the same process because I have enjoyed my ups and downs. Let me tell you, the ups are great too. Nobody is watching you; you’re not judged when you’re down – you can do anything,” he said.
Chunky Panday’s career got a new boost in 2010 when he played the comedy role of Aakhri Pasta in Housefull. The actor is currently filming for the fifth installment of the franchise, in which he is reprising his role.
