Chunky Pandey. Who among us wouldn’t know him? As a hero who started his film career, Chunky Pandey has seen many ups and downs. The film that became the most successful in his career also took away Chunky Pandey’s status as a hero.
Chunky Pandey’s life was compelled to take a turn towards Bangladesh. However, Chunky achieved success there as well. In his second innings in Bollywood, Chunky Pandey portrayed various characters and proved that he is a versatile actor.
Chunky was born on September 26, 1962, in Mumbai. His parents named him Suyash. However, since Chunky was chubby in childhood, his caretaker started calling him Chunky. From there, his nickname Chunky stuck.
Both of Chunky’s parents were doctors. His mother’s name was Dr. Snehlata Panday, and his father’s name was Dr. Sharad Panday. His father, Dr. Sharad Pandey, was a renowned heart specialist in Mumbai and was part of the team of doctors that performed the first heart transplant surgery in India.
Why Couldn’t Chunky Become a Doctor?
Chunky also has an elder brother named Alok Pandey, affectionately called Chikki Pandey by people. In his childhood, Chunky thought that since both his parents were doctors, he would also have to become a doctor when he grew up. But he struggled with studies. He failed several times in the tenth grade. So, at one point, he realized that becoming a doctor was not meant for him.
Towards the World of Films
The school where Suyash, aka Chunky, studied had children of some film stars as well. This is why the film industry fascinated him from a young age. Eventually, he decided to pursue a career in the film industry. In 1986, Chunky enrolled in an acting school to learn acting.
Some say he enrolled in the Madhumati Acting Academy, while others claim he took acting courses from Daisy Irani’s Acting School. Unfortunately, it’s not clear which is accurate.
Chunky Pandey Also Learned Acting
After completing his acting course, Chunky started working as an instructor at the same acting school. It is said that during this job, Chunky also provided acting and dance training to stars like Akshay Kumar and Salman Khan.
Then, in 1987, Chunky’s journey in the film industry began with the film “Aag Hi Aag”. But few people know that Chunky’s first project was a photoshoot featuring him alongside Meenakshi Sheshadri, Padmini Kolhapure, and Poonam Dhillon.
This photoshoot was done for a magazine named Cine Blitz’s cover. Because Chunky had a great personality, photographer Rakesh Shreshtha recommended him for this project.
First Film Came Through an Interesting Coincidence
Speaking of Chunky’s first film, the story of how he got it is quite interesting. In Sanjay Dutt’s debut film “Rocky,” Chunky Pandey appeared in a song. Because of “Rocky,” Chunky had gained recognition in the film industry. People started inviting Chunky to film parties.
One day at a party, Chunky drank a lot. Then he went to the restroom where he was seen struggling with the drawstring of his pajamas by the eminent producer Pahlaj Nihalani. Actually, Pahlaj had come to the party wearing a kurta-pajama, and now in the restroom, the drawstring of his pajamas was not working.
The Drawstring Untied and the First Film Offered
Chunky opened Pahlaj’s drawstring himself. Impressed, Pahlaj asked Chunky about himself. When Chunky told Pahlaj that he wanted to become an actor, Pahlaj immediately said that he was launching him in his film “Aag Hi Aag”.
Initially, Chunky didn’t believe it. But when Pahlaj told him that he had launched Govinda in his film “Ilzaam,” Chunky was convinced.
Chunky Pandey got the opportunity to work with big stars like Dharmendra and Shatrughan Sinha in his first film itself. His first heroine was Neelam, with whom he worked in several other films as well.
He excelled in multi-starrer films during the era when he began his career in Bollywood. After his debut film “Aag Hi Aag,” Pahlaj Nihalani offered him his second film “Paap Ki Duniya.” Chunky then went on to work in multi-starrer films like “Gunaahon Ka Faisla,” “Khatron Ke Khiladi,” “Agni,” “Kasam Vardi Ki,” and “Ghar Ka Chiraag.” However, this trend led to fewer solo lead roles for Chunky, mostly being offered roles as the hero’s brother or friend.
Chunky Pandey Supporting Role in Tezaab
However, one standout film in which Chunky Pandey delivered an excellent performance despite being in a supporting role was “Tezaab.” His character was well-received, and the song “So Gaya Yeh Jahan” became very popular. Chunky’s remarkable performance earned him a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at Filmfare.
Chunky appeared in several significant films by 1993, such as “Zahreelay,” “Aaj Ke Shahenshah,” “Kohraam,” “Do Matwale,” “Rupaye Dus Karod,” “Parda Hai Parda,” “Vishwatma,” “Khule Aam,” and “Apradhi.” These were considered major and successful films in Chunky’s career, although they were mostly multi-starrers.
His most successful film was “Aankhen” in 1993, starring alongside Govinda and Kader Khan. Chunky’s comic timing with Govinda was highly appreciated, making “Aankhen” a massive hit that year.
Chunky hoped to receive better solo lead roles, but unfortunately, he mostly received offers to play supporting roles or as the hero’s sidekick. Disheartened by this, Chunky gradually distanced himself from films.
During this time, a friend from Bangladesh suggested that Chunky should work in the Bangladeshi film industry since he was disheartened by the lack of opportunities in Bollywood. After much contemplation, Chunky decided to try his luck in Bangladesh.
Chunky Pandey Presence in Bangladeshi Films
Chunky’s presence in Bangladeshi films was well-received, and he became a superstar there, appearing in seven successful films. His popularity soared, and even his wife, Bhavana, was amazed by the immense love and adulation he received in Bangladesh.
However, Bhavana encouraged Chunky to return to Bollywood, stating that his rightful place was in the Indian film industry. Heeding her advice, Chunky decided to make a comeback to Bollywood.
Returning to India posed several challenges for Chunky, as restarting his career proved to be difficult. He struggled to find substantial roles and decided to focus on portraying impactful supporting characters instead.
In 2003, Chunky’s comeback film in Bollywood was “Qayamat,” where he received praise for his role as a scientist. He then starred in Ram Gopal Varma’s “D” as the gangster Raghav, which further revitalized his career.
In his second innings, Chunky appeared in films like “Apna Sapna Money Money,” “Darwaza,” “Don: The Chase Begins Again,” “Fool & Final,” “Heyy Babyy,” “Paying Guests,” “Sankat City,” “Daddy Cool,” “De Dana Dan,” “Rascals,” “Bullet Raja,” “Himmatwala,” “Begum Jaan,” and “Saaho.”
One of Chunky’s most notable projects in his second innings was the “Housefull” series, where he played the iconic character of Aakhri Pasta, gaining popularity in India and abroad.
Chunky Pandey is also a father to two daughters. His elder daughter, Ananya Pandey, is an actress who made her debut with “Student of the Year 2” and won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut. His younger daughter, Rysa, is currently pursuing her education.
Chunky, along with his wife Bhavana, runs a restaurant called “Elbo Room” in Mumbai. Additionally, they own a company called “Bollywood Electric,” which organizes live shows.
Chunky has also ventured into web series and continues to explore opportunities in acting.