From mouthing wackiest dialogues to giving craziest facial expressions, Johnny Lever has been making us laugh over the years. A day before India commemorates its 72nd Independence Day, country’s most celebrated funnyman is celebrating his 60th birthday. One of the first stand-up comedians and celebrated figure in Indian films, Lever was born on August 14, 1957 in Kanigiri, Andhra Pradesh. His filmography with over 350 movies boasts of memorable characters that simply lit the screens. In the age and time of social media craze, Johnny Lever’s best comedy scenes serve as funniest memes. How can you forget Lever as forgetful Babulal from Shah Rukh Khan’s Baazigar and his memorable scene with Dinesh Hingoo! WhatsApp and Facebook are flooded Johnny Lever’s hilarious comedy videos, and it does not surprise us at all. There are very few comedians-actors whose comic timing be are great as Johnny Lever. Sunny Deol, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan - 22 Times Stars Competed With Shah Rukh Khan as Romantic Rivals and How They Fared In The End.

Johnny Lever had a rags-to-riches journey just like a Bollywood movie. But unlike a three-hour script, the comedian had to work hard for years before he began scaling new heights. Born as John Rao to Prakash Rao Janumala, an operator in Hindustan Lever Ltd, the curly-haired funnyman had to leave his studies due to financial constraints. He did odd jobs like sell pens at traffic signals by mimicking Bollywood stars. In fact, it was his performance at Hindustan Lever Limited company function, which earned him the stage name ‘Johnny Lever’ that he chose to keep forever! Sunidhi Chauhan Birthday Special: 5 Songs That Will Make You Nostalgic If You’re a 90s Kid.

Legendary actor Sunil Dutt noticed Lever’s talent on one of his stand-up acts, and offered him his first Bollywood movie, Dard Ka Rishta. However, it was Baazigar, which provided Johnny Lever his breakthrough role. In fact, it was the only beginning for Johnny who went on to do numerous movies with Badshah of Bollywood. Shah Rukh Khan has huge respect for Johnny Lever, and lovingly had called him ‘his best co-star’ on Karan Johar’s Koffee With Karan chat show. SRK was not kidding as Johnny Lever has indeed been a part of his blockbuster films like Karan Arjun, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham..., Baadshah and Dilwale.

Watch Video: Best of Johnny Lever and Shah Rukh Khan's Comedy Scenes

While Shah Rukh has been a superstar, Johnny frequently collaborated, his jodi with Kader Khan is something true-blue Bollywood fan can never get bored of. Be it as father-son in late Sridevi and Anil Kapoor’s Judaai or boss and employee in Dulhe Raja, they were just mad. In Judaai, Lever was a nikamma beta (good for nothing) who aspired to be an actor, much to his father’s annoyance. As for Dulhe Raja, it was fun watching Lever always go against his master aka Kader Khan and support his rival Govinda. No one can bring back the magic created by this crazy jodi. Akshay Kumar Confirms Hera Pheri 3: Irreplaceable Characters From the Franchise We Would Love to See in the Third Installment.

Watch Video: Johnny Lever's Best Comedy Scenes from Bollywood

Like we mentioned before, Johnny has done more than 350 films! And all of his roles are etched in our memories. Be it, Galer Mehandi in Anari No.1, Pappi Bhai in Golmaal series, Chelaram Sukhwani of Koi Mil Gaya, Col. Almeida of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Haldiram in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham or Appu Khote of Aamdani Atthani Kharcha Rupaiyaa. There’s just so many, many of our favourite roles, which one and only Johnny Lever could play on screen. He is a true magician, who can bring a smile on our faces in matter of seconds. He is truly a legend and we wish Johnny Lever, a happy 60th birthday.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 14, 2018 01:16 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).