Bio/Wiki | |
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Other name | Chunky Pandey [1]The Times of India |
Real name | Suyash Sharad Pandey [2]YouTube- Zoom |
Profession(s) | Actor and Businessman |
Physical Stats & More | |
Height (approx.) | in centimeters- 180 cm in meters- 1.80 m in Feet Inches- 5’ 11” |
Eye Colour | Brown |
Hair Colour | Black |
Career | |
Debut | Film (Hindi): ‘Aag Hi Aag’ (1987) as Vijay Singh Web Series: ‘Abhay 2’ (2020) as Harsh Film (Gujarati): ‘Nayika Devi- The Warrior Queen’ (2022) as Muhammad Ghori Film (Tamil): ‘Sardar’ (2022) in a supporting role |
Awards & Honours | Filmfare Awards 1989: Nominated for Best Supporting Actor and Best Performance in a Comic Role for the film Tezaab IIFA Awards 2013: Nominated for Best Performance in a Comic Role for the film Apna Sapna Money Money Zee Cine Awards 2013: Nominated for Best Actor in a Comic Role for Housefull 2 Invertis University 2021: Honorary Doctorate IWM Buzz Digital Awards 2021: Won award for the Most Popular Negative Character in a Web Series (Male) for Abhay 2 |
Personal Life | |
Date of Birth | 26 September 1962 (Wednesday) |
Age (as of 2022) | 59 Years |
Birthplace | Mumbai |
Zodiac sign | Libra |
Autograph | |
Nationality | Indian |
Hometown | Mumbai |
College/University | • Madhumati Academy of Film Dancing & Acting, Mumbai |
Educational Qualification(s) | • Graduation in Acting and Dancing from Madhumati Academy of Film Dancing & Acting, Mumbai [3]Hindustan Times • A course in Acting at Daisy Irani Acting School, Mumbai |
Religion | Hinduism |
Caste | Brahmin [4]India E Info |
Political Inclination | In 2004, he campaigned for the candidates of BJP-NTC along with the veteran Indian actress Poonam Dhillon. [5]Hindustan Times |
Food Habit | Non-vegetarian [6]Mid-Day |
Relationships & More | |
Marital Status | Married |
Affairs/Girlfriends | • Anu Kutoor (MTV VJ) [7]India Today • Bhavana Pandey (costume designer) |
Marriage Date | 17 January 1998 |
Family | |
Wife/Spouse | Bhavana Pandey |
Children | Daughter(s)– Ananya Panday (actress) and Rysa Panday |
Parents | Father– Sharad Panday (heart surgeon, who was among the team of surgeons who performed the first-ever heart transplant in India) Mother– Snehlata Pandey (doctor) |
Siblings | Brother– Chikki Panday aka Aloke Sharad Pandey (businessman) |
Other Relative(s) | • His niece Seema Sachdev Khan is married to the Indian actor Sohail Khan. • His brother is married to the Indian fitness instructor Deanne Pandey. • His brother’s son Ahaan Panday is a social media celebrity. |
Favourites | |
Food | Vada Paav, Salmon |
Dessert(s) | Shahi Tukda, Fudge, Coconut Chikki, Modak, Bebinca |
Cuisine(s) | Gujarati, Kutchi, Mughlai |
Fruit(s) | Oranges, Litchis, Mangoes |
Indian Restaurant(s) | Sheetal for Indian, China Gate and China Garden for Chinese food, Olive & Cafe Basilico for Italian |
International Restaurant(s) | Carnivore in Nairobi, Tamarind in Kenya, Nobu in London, Jaya in New York |
Beverage(s) | Sugarcane Juice, Nimbu Paani |
Some Lesser Known Facts About Chunky Panday
- Chunky Panday, an experienced Indian actor and entrepreneur, is the proud father of Ananya Panday, a talented Indian film actress.
- Chunky Panday’s childhood picture showcases his birth and upbringing in Mumbai.
- Chunky Panday completed his acting training at the renowned Daisy Irani Acting School in Mumbai, alongside notable Indian celebrities Salman Khan and Sajid Khan. [8] News 18 recently shared a vintage picture showcasing Chunky Panday and Salman Khan together.
- During the interview, he discussed his educational background. He explained that when he began his professional journey, he felt significant pressure to pursue a medical career, particularly due to having two doctors in his family. Despite his sincere efforts, he was unable to thrive in this field and unfortunately obtained the MBBF (Matric Main Baar Baar Fail) degree.
- During his time at Madhumati Academy of Film Dancing & Acting in Mumbai, Chunky, an Indian actor, was a senior to Akshay Kumar. Chunky used to offer acting and dancing classes to Akshay. In an interview, reminiscing about those days, Chunky mentioned that when he was graduating, Akshay was much younger, around four to five years his junior. As per the norm, the senior students took on the responsibility of instructing the new students, rather than the teachers. Chunky took it upon himself to teach Akshay some dance moves and assist him with delivering dialogues. Even today, Akshay fondly recalls those moments and jokingly acknowledges their impact. He often credits his initial struggles and lack of recognition in his career to the acting skills Chunky imparted. Akshay had to unlearn what he had learned from Chunky and strive to improve as an actor, ultimately transforming into the Akshay Kumar we admire today.
- Prior to establishing himself as an actor, he was a part of the rock band ‘Crosswinds,’ which eventually joined forces with the Delhi rock band ‘Electric Plant.’
- Chunky Panday, an experienced model, has showcased his talent in multiple print advertisements and fashion shows. Recently, he was also featured in a captivating print advertisement.
- He decided to use his nickname as his screen name and shared the story behind it during an interview. According to him, his actual name is often mistaken for Chandrakant or Chandratma, so he chose to shorten it to Chunky. He finds it unfortunate that our names and nicknames, which stay with us for a lifetime, are not chosen by us. Personally, he prefers the name Chunky over Suyash. When he was being launched in the film “Aag Hi Aag” by Pahlaj Nihalani in 1987, there was a plan to give him a name from the Ramayana or Mahabharata, just like they did for Govinda the previous year. However, he felt that it wouldn’t suit him as his appearance is more modern. Surprisingly, Pahlaj didn’t even know the meaning of Chunky, but his children loved it because it was easy to pronounce. Luckily, he was able to keep his nickname.
- During an interview, he refuted the claim that he began his career as a bell-ringer student in the song “Rocky Mera Naam” from the movie ‘Rocky’ (1981). [9] Cinestaan
- During an interview, while discussing his debut film, he recounted an incident that occurred behind the scenes. He revealed that during the filming of a scene, he accidentally burned his co-star Neelam Kothari’s leg. Thankfully, his struggle period was relatively short, as he managed to break into the film industry within just two years. However, it wasn’t until after college, at the age of 23, that he finally received his first opportunity. It is common for individuals to face years of hardship before finding their big break, and he too experienced his fair share of rejection through auditions for both TV and film roles. But his first breakthrough came unexpectedly when he bumped into Pahlaj Nihalani in a luxurious five-star hotel restroom. After striking up a conversation and learning of his aspirations, Nihalani kindly invited him to visit his office, which ultimately led to his initial opportunity in the industry. <br><br>In the film ‘Aag Hi Aag’ (1987), there is a still featuring Chunky Panday and Neelam Kothari. He vividly remembers a particular scene where he had to ride a motorbike with Neelam and make a quick getaway from the wedding altar. Despite receiving some training, his skills were not up to par, resulting in him accidentally dropping her from the bike. Unfortunately, this caused her leg to get burned. He felt immense guilt and repeatedly apologized for his mistake. It was a terrible situation, as he had unintentionally harmed her during their first movie together. Despite the pain, Neelam showed incredible strength and determination by choosing to continue working after bandaging her badly burnt leg. It was truly a terrible experience, as her entire calf had peeled off, and he couldn’t help but blame himself for being responsible for the accident.
- His popularity skyrocketed with the release of the Hindi films ‘Paap Ki Duniya’ (1988), ‘Gunahon Ka Faisla’ (1988), ‘Tezaab’ (1988), and ‘Aankhen’ (1993). The film poster for ‘Tezaab’ (1988) is particularly memorable.
- After achieving success in a few films, his career took a downward turn, and he started receiving offers for minor roles or brief appearances in movies. There came a time when he had no acting projects and found himself idle at home. To make matters worse, he faced harsh criticism and trolling for the decline in his career. During an interview, he was asked how he managed to stay positive despite enduring multiple instances of online bullying. He responded by saying that he didn’t let such things affect him and shared an incident from an award ceremony to illustrate his point.<br><br>He began by reminiscing about his entry into Bollywood at the age of 23, driven by youthful enthusiasm and a burning desire to seize every opportunity and make his presence felt. The thirst for recognition and prestigious awards consumed him entirely. He then recounted his very first nomination for the Filmfare award, which was for his role in the movie Tezaab. Filled with unwavering confidence, he impulsively decided to abandon the ongoing shoot and quickly flew to Bombay for the award ceremony, convinced that victory was within his grasp.<br><br>However, his expectations were shattered when the winner for “Best Actor in a Supporting Role” was announced, and it wasn’t him but Anupam Kher for his performance in the film Vijay. Despite this unexpected outcome, he remained oblivious to the disappointment and continued walking towards the stage, fueled by his unshakeable self-assurance. Eventually, reality hit him, and he redirected his steps towards the restroom before finally leaving and returning home.
- After receiving an offer for a lead role in a Bangladeshi film, he accepted and went on to star in several successful movies in Bangladesh. As a result, he quickly gained a huge following and became one of the country’s top movie stars. Some of his notable works include ‘Meyerao Manush’ (1990), ‘Shami Keno Asami’ (1997), and ‘Prem Korechi Besh Korechi’ (2005). Here is the film poster for ‘Meyerao Manush’ (1990).
- In addition, he also appeared in minor roles in Hindi movies like ‘Tirchhi Topiwale’ (1998), ‘Yeh Hai Mumbai Meri Jaan’ (1999), ‘Kaun Rokega Mujhe’ (1997), and ‘Jwalamukhi’ (2000) simultaneously.
- During an interview in 2005, Shah Rukh Khan expressed his gratitude towards Chunky for his support during his struggling days. Chunky had provided him with accommodation and facilitated meetings with influential individuals in the Hindi film industry. The Times of India shared a vintage picture capturing Chunky Panday with Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan.
- Afterwards, Chunky Panday delved deeper into the world of Hindi cinema, making notable appearances in films such as ‘Elaan’ (2005), ‘Apna Sapna Money Money’ (2006), ‘Om Shanti Om’ (2007), and ‘De Dana Dan’ (2009). A still from the movie ‘Apna Sapna Money Money’ (2006) captures Chunky Panday in action.
- Chunky Panday gained immense popularity for his portrayal of “Aakhiri Pasta” in the Hindi films “Housefull” (2010), “Housefull 2” (2012), “Housefull 3” (2016), and “Housefull 4” (2019). He is widely recognized and celebrated as “Aakhiri Pasta”.
- In addition to ‘Saaho’ (2019) and ‘Vikun Tak’ (2020), Chunky Panday was also featured in the Hindi film ‘Jawaani Jaaneman’ (2020). Here is a still from the movie capturing a moment with him.
- Chunky Panday, known for his past affairs, revealed in an interview that he used to date multiple girlfriends simultaneously. To avoid conflicts at parties and events, he would bring his mother along as his companion, explaining to his girlfriends that he preferred her company. This approach helped alleviate any concerns or frustrations. <br><br>He also shared the story of how he met his wife Bhavana Pandey. Twenty-five years ago, while in Delhi for a Miss India event, he missed his flight to Mumbai and decided to go to a discotheque called Ghungroo. There, he unexpectedly ran into Bhavana, who had sneaked out of her house. Despite not having any writing materials, she shared her phone number with him, and he memorized it. A month later, when he was back in Delhi, he called Bhavana but was informed that she had left the country. However, he later found out that she was in Mumbai and managed to contact her at the Leela Hotel. They spent a lot of time together, along with her girlfriends from Lufthansa. <br><br>When asked about proposing to Bhavana, Chunky said that he asked for her hand in marriage while she was on a long flight to Germany. It was during this time that he realized he couldn’t imagine his life without her. As soon as she returned, he flew to Delhi and invited her to Bukhara, a famous restaurant in the Maurya hotel, where he finally gathered the courage to propose. She enthusiastically said “Yes.”
- Chunky is the proud owner of several businesses, one of which is a company called ‘Bollywood Electric’ specializing in stage show hosting.
- Chunky Panday, an avid animal enthusiast, proudly owns a pet dog whom he adores. Displaying his affection and admiration, he recently took to his Instagram account to share an absolutely adorable picture of his beloved furry friend.
- Chunky Panday firmly believes in the profound power of Lord Ganesha, as demonstrated by his unwavering faith, while holding an idol of the deity.
- According to the Mid-Day and Hindustan Times, he takes pleasure in consuming alcohol and occasionally indulges in smoking.
- Chunky Panday was spotted behind the wheel of his white Mercedes-Benz E-Class car. It was quite a contrast to his younger days when he owned a purple Fiat Premier Padmini, which he eventually sold.
- To keep his fitness level in check, he consistently engages in swimming and cycling activities.
- As of 2022, his current residence is a bungalow located in Pali Hill, Mumbai.
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