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Bollywoods Animal Heroes... No, I am not talking about Sanjeev Kumar from Jaani Dushman or Rahul Roy in Junoon or a shirtless Anil Kapoor; I am talking about real animals who outshone their films leading actors in their award-winning performances. Sadly, no award categories exist for these actors par excellence and their contribution to their films success went largely un-rewarded.
This article is a tribute to some of the best performances by animals in leading roles.
This actor is probably the only one on this list who got the recognition he deserved. His likes became the most popular pets in the middle class and upper middle class Punjabi households. Naming ones pet after him was like a status symbol and he literally started the trend of pet-styling in India. He is none other than Indias most popular dog actor, Tuffy the Pomeranian from Sooraj Barjatyas 1994 blockbuster, Hum Aapke Hain Koun, also starring Madhuri Dixit and Salman Khan in supporting roles.
Tuffy was not only a pet in the film but the lead character; he dressed well in fancy Nerms scarves and Golce & Dabbana sunglasses and had elaborate dance sequences picturised around him. His emotional scene where he refuses food after his mother figure, Pooja (Renuka Shahane) dies was restrained and showcased mastery over his craft. His big moment in the film is the climax where Lord Krishna himself blesses him to resolve the big crisis. Tuffy saves the day by getting two lovers together and making the film one of the biggest blockbusters in the history of Indian cinema.
A dog is a mans best friend and Dobby (played to perfection by Brownie the dog) went a step further to prove that a dog is also a ghosts best friend in this 1992 film, Maa, co-starring Jaya Prada (Mamta) and Jeetendra (Ram). Dobby is Mamtas dog and once she marries the multi-millionaire businessman, Ram, he obviously moves in with them. He becomes godfather to their new-born son and takes care of him when Mamta dies. He talks to her ghost, breaks his enclosure and saves the little boys life by taking him away from the harsh ultra-violet sun rays and applying Burnol (ointment) on his burn wounds. He has many more crucial scenes in the film and shows more heroism than the films other lead actor, Jeetendra.
Another Sooraj Barjatya film and another blockbuster hit because of the lead animal character, Maine Pyar Kiya (1989). Salman Khan practically owes his career to these actors, Kabootar (pigeon) from this film and later Tuffy from Hum Aapke Hain Koun. The films biggest hit song was about the Kabootar taking Sumans (Bhagyashree) message of love to Prem (Salman).
He also highlighted the crucial message of loyalty and friendship in the film. In a scene from the films climax, the villain, Jeevan (Mohnish Behl) is hanging from a cliff and the Kabootar has a flashback, he is reminded of the time when Jeevan tried to kill him and Suman saved his life; he promptly attacks the villain with his sharp claws, throwing him down the cliff.
He also highlighted the crucial message of loyalty and friendship in the film. In a scene from the films climax, the villain, Jeevan (Mohnish Behl) is hanging from a cliff and the Kabootar has a flashback, he is reminded of the time when Jeevan tried to kill him and Suman saved his life; he promptly attacks the villain with his sharp claws, throwing him down the cliff.
There are times when your best isnt enough; which is what happened with this talented actor, Naagraj aka Snake. He played the lead in Ashok Gaekwads 1990 film, Doodh Ka Karz with Aroona Irani playing his foster mother; but the film did average business mainly because of the other actor, Jackie Shroff who was not very convincing as a Sapera (snake charmer).
Aroona Iranis character, Parvati is widowed after her snake-charmer husband is wrongly accused of theft and murdered by three evil Thakurs. She takes care of her new born child and the snake and breast feeds them both. Yes, I am not joking! Thats where the films title Doodh Ka Karz comes from; the snake repays her back by avenging her husbands death while the human son (Jackie) runs around the trees with the enemys daughter Reshma, (Neelam Kothari). Compared to the other snake films where snakes take human form, this film stayed true to the actors original form and was maybe much ahead of its time.
Aroona Iranis character, Parvati is widowed after her snake-charmer husband is wrongly accused of theft and murdered by three evil Thakurs. She takes care of her new born child and the snake and breast feeds them both. Yes, I am not joking! Thats where the films title Doodh Ka Karz comes from; the snake repays her back by avenging her husbands death while the human son (Jackie) runs around the trees with the enemys daughter Reshma, (Neelam Kothari). Compared to the other snake films where snakes take human form, this film stayed true to the actors original form and was maybe much ahead of its time.
While there are many other deserving animal actors, I am going to end this list with an ensemble cast. Khoon Bhari Maangs crocodiles who chewed Rekhas character Aarti like a chewing gum and spat her out to extract revenge from her evil second husband Sanjay (Kabir Bedi). Aarti returns the favour and feeds Sanjay to the same crocodiles in the end.
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
Cricket
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