Lever fever

Not many would believe that the man who has everyone in splits is in private, a serious, God-fearing person. John Rao, popularly known as Johnny Lever, makes it a point to read the Bible everyday, whether it is for 10 minutes in the car or two hours at home. “This is what keeps me in touch with reality,� he said.
“I don’t feel ashamed about my background.I am very open about it. I was born in Dharavi and then moved to King Circle, where I lived for seven years. I believe in miracles,� said Lever. “It’s just like how people wish while seeing movies that they could work in Hindi movies or have a beautiful house. And in my case, my wishes actually came true.� What better endorsement of his arrival in Bollywood than the scores of awards that have come his way, including two Filmfare awards, a Zee Cine Award and Screen award.
“It’s not easy to make people laugh,� he says very seriously. “Mimicry is the easiest form of comedy. But now, I have to create comedies and that is extremely difficult. If you watch Charlie Chaplin, there was so much of physical effort on his part – he had to keep falling, hurting himself – to make people laugh.�
His favourite comedians, from the Indian screen, are Kishore Kumar and Mehmood, while Charlie Chaplin remains his all time guru. Having stayed in King Circle, which is a cosmopolitan area, Lever picked up 10 languages, which he dabbles in with ease. Something that has stood him in good stead throughout his career.
The comedian is very focussed about the future. He reveals, “If I have the time I would like to become a producer.�
And what was his impression about Navi Mumbai? “I have performed quite a few times in Vashi, but am coming to Airoli for the first time. Zooming on the Airoli bridge is almost like travelling abroad.�