Chunky Panday and Govinda are still remembered for their chemistry in the cult comedy ‘Aankhen’. Recently the duo appeared together in the latest episode of Twinkle Khanna and Kajol’s show ‘Two Much’. Hosted by Kajol and Twinkle Khanna, Govinda and Chunky shared several anecdotes about their careers in the most funny way. The conversation kicked off with Chunky sharing how his unexpected journey into Bollywood began, in the most unlikely place imaginable – a bathroom!Recalling his early days, Chunky admitted that breaking into films wasn’t easy. He said, “I wanted to become an actor, but there was no actor in my family. My maternal uncle was into character roles. But I struggled for 4-5 years for my first movie. But if I have been able to come to the film line, it is because of him [Govinda],Chunky then narrated a hilarious incident that became a turning point in his career. “I happened to bump into Pahlaj Nihalani in a bathroom. My career started there! So Pahlaj did ‘Ilzaam’ with him, which was a superhit. But when I met him in the bathroom, I didn’t know him. There was no social media back in the day. People didn’t know who looked like what. So we were both in the bathroom, and my waistband was in a knot. I wanted someone to help me open it. He helped me open it. That is when I asked him what he does for a living, and he said he was a producer and his name was Pahlaj Nihalani. I was taken back. I introduced myself saying my name is Chunky Panday and he said what a strange name! I said yes but I want to be in films. He said next day come to my house and meet me. And the next day I bagged the role.”That chance encounter changed everything for Chunky, who went on to make his debut in 1987 with ‘Aag Hi Aag’ and later earned praise for his role as Babban in ‘Tezaab’. Decades later, the acting legacy continues in the family with his daughter, Ananya Panday making her mark in the industry. And recently, Chunky’s nephew (his brother Chikki Panday’s son) Ahaan Panday Made his debut at the movies with ‘Saiyaara’ and took the nation by storm.
