Danny Denzongpa


Danny Denzongpa is an Indian film actor, singer and film director. He has mainly worked in Bollywood films, though he has also appeared in several Nepali, Tamil, Bengali and Telugu films. He has acted in about 190 Hindi films since 1971. In 2003, Denzongpa was awarded the Padma Shree, India's fourth-highest civilian honour. His film career spans more than 4 decades.
He has also starred in some international films, the most famous being Seven Years in Tibet where he appeared alongside Brad Pitt. His best known villainous roles are in Dhund, 36 Ghante, Bandish, Jeeo Aur Jeene Do, Dharm Aur Qanoon and Agneepath whereas his best known positive roles were in Fakira, Chor Machaye Shor, Devata, Kalicharan, Bulundi and Adhikar. His directorial venture Phir Wahi Raat was considered among the top five best horror suspense films of Hindi Cinema.

Life and education

Denzongpa was born to a Buddhist family in Yuksam,West Sikkim and is of Bhutia and Nepalese descent. He did his schooling in Birla Vidya Mandir, Nainital and thereafter completed college coursework at St Joseph's College, Darjeeling, in 1964. Denzongpa's love of horses and horse-riding began at an early age, as his family was into horse breeding. He is also a painter, a writer and a sculptor.
He had an ambition to join the Indian Army and won the Best Cadet award from West Bengal and participated in the Republic Day parade. In an interview to The Times of India newspaper, he said that he had qualified for the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, but withdrew admission to join the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune. He decided to change his name to a simpler sounding "Danny", on recommendation from his then-classmate Jaya Bhaduri, as his original name of Tshering Phintso Denzongpa was considered difficult for some to pronounce. His son Rinzing Denzongpa is set to make his acting debut in the action film Squad.

Acting career

He started out with B.R. Ishara's Zaroorat in 1971, which was his debut film. He got his major break in Gulzar's Mere Apne , where he had a positive role. He had his first played an antagonist in B.R.Chopra's Dhundh, where he played the role of a crippled and frustrated husband.
He played the second lead hero and had more positive roles in commercially successful critically acclaimed films in the seventies, such as Chor Machaye Shor, 36 Ghante, Fakira, Sangram, Kalicharan, Kaala Sona and Devata. After his performance in the film Devata, he started getting more significant lengthy roles. He was simultaneously part of big budget films such as Aashiq Hoon Baharon Ka, Paapi, Bandish, The Burning Train and Chunoti in negative roles.
In the early 1980s period, he had thought of quitting films. He said in an interview, when asked why he decided to direct a film, "I remember in 80s I was so fed up of the films I was doing. Those days every villain was a dacoit and I remember going on the sets where an actor called Tiwari was my henchmen and my den was a cave with lanterns. Next day I went on another set and I saw Tiwari again as my henchman, and the same lanterns. I asked myself what was I doing? I left Mumbai. I did lot of trekking and did not do films for a couple of years. I told NN Sippy about a script that I had in mind. and he asked me to direct. I made Phir Wohi Raat with Rajesh Khanna and my then girlfriend Kim." After the success of his directorial debut, he received offers to act as the hero again in the films such as Bulundi and Hum Se Badkar Kaun in 1981, which became successful. He played a double role in the film Bulundi. However, most subsequent films between 1981 and 1983 were not successful. He was disappointed with the failure of his recently released film Abhi Toh Jee Ley, which had popular songs such as "Tu Laali Hai Saveriwali". Hence, Danny started accepting supporting roles, often playing a character quite older than his real age. He played Kumar Gaurav's father-in-law in Love Story and Mithun Chakraborty's father in Boxer.
He started getting more frequent offers to play the negative character in Hindi films, after the success of the films Phir Wahi Raat, Jeeo Aur Jeene Do and Dharm Aur Qanoon. He then went on to play the role of villain many times since 1984. From 1984 and through the 1990s, Danny mainly was featured as the lead negative character opposite all the leading actors of that time such as Rajesh Khanna, Dharmendra, Jeetendra, Mithun Chakraborty, Vinod Khanna, Anil Kapoor and Sunny Deol. He stated in an interview; "Had it not been that I had not done the four special negative roles – with Rajesh Khanna, in the lead – Phir Wohi Raat, Dharm Aur Qanoon, Bandish and Aashiq Hoon Baharon Ka, people would not have considered me for villainous roles. In Adhikar I had positive role. He holds special place in my heart as he recognized and stood by me in my tough times which was early eighties."
His most applauded negative characters are in Bandish as Kapil Kumar, Phir Wahi Raat as "Ashok", Dharm Aur Qanoon, as SP "Kader", Kanoon Kya Karega, as "Raghuvir Singh", Andar Baahar, as "Shera", Oonche Log, as "Thakur Maan Singh", Aandhi Toofan, as "Balbir" Bhagwaan Dada, as "Gangwaa", Agneepath, as "Kancha Cheena", Hum, as "Bakhtawar", , as "Kaatya", Krantiveer, as "Chatur Singh", Pukar, as "Abhrush" and Indian, as "Shankar Singhania". He was pitted against Pran in the film Sanam Bewafa, Paap Ki Duniya, Gurudev and. His command over the Urdu language came in handy in films such as Sawan Kumar's Sanam Bewafa and Mukul Anand's Khuda Gawah.
At one time, when he was increasingly doing negative lead roles, Rajkumar Santoshi cast him as the positive role in China Gate. In the early 2000s, Denzongpa appeared in films such as Asoka and 16 December. Some of the antihero roles he played included an unscrupulous politician, corrupt policeman, traitor, and stingy landlord. He has also starred in some international films, the most famous being Seven Years in Tibet, where he appeared. He did positive roles in Lahu Ke Do Rang, Bulundi, Boxer, Humse Badkar Kaun, Khudah Gawah, 16 December and China Gate.
In early 2003 Denzongpa decided to take a break from films as he wanted to do different but strong roles, even if it was a negative character. He appeared in only 10 films between 2003 and 2009.
He then made a strong comeback as the villain with his role in Enthiran. He made his debut in Tamil films with Enthiran, co-starring Rajinikanth and Aishwarya Rai in the leads. Denzongpa played the antagonist role of Bohra, a prominent scientist who transforms "Chitti", into an evil robot. He then started playing villains in big budget movies such as Jai Ho, co-starring Salman Khan and Bang Bang, co-starring Hrithik Roshan.
He has recently played the role of a coordinator, "Feroz Khan" in the 2015 hit Baby co-starring Akshay Kumar. He reprised his role of "Feroz Khan" in the film's spin-off prequel Naam Shabana

Singing and business career

He is an accomplished singer, having sung with Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi, Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhosle, the stalwarts of Indian music. He was first given a chance to sing by S.D. Burman in the film Yeh Gulistan Hamara in 1972. Denzongpa sang a duet with Lata Mangeshkar.
Danny Denzongpa has quoted on S.D. Burman, "My dream to be a playback singer in films came with the number, 'Mera Naam Aao' in 'Yeh Gulistan Hamara'. The maestro that he was, S.D. Burman recognised my singing abilities and conducted the daring experiment of making me sing my first duet with Lata Mangeshkar. He advised me to produce a comic effect yet maintain melody whilst singing. The song was a raging hit." This was told to Ranjan Das Gupta in 'The Hindu' on 8 January 2012.
He has released Nepalese songs, and has sung for Nepalese movies. His two most famous songs recorded in the 1970s but still popular are "Chiso Chiso Hawama" and "Manko kura lai bandhi narakha....
He sang the duet "Suno Suno Kasam Se" in Kaala Sona with Asha Bhosle and sang "Mujhe Doston Tum Gale Lagaa Lo" with Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle and the duet song "Botal Khaali Hone To Do" with Kishore Kumar in the 1978 film Naya Daur – all of which were composed by R.D. Burman.
"Hiun vanda chiso, Aago vanda taato...", "Naachana hoi maichyan hau nachana",, "Jhimkai deu pareli manma bajchha mitho murali...",, "Raatko rani phulay jhain sanjhama", "Pani Hai Paryo Jhyaure" etc. are some of his few hit numbers. He gained popularity as a singer in the period 1975–1990 especially in Nepal and parts of India like Darjeeling, Sikkim and Assam.
He has sung a Nepali duet with Asha Bhosle, "Aage aage topai ko gola pachhi pachhi machinegun barara" in 1976. This song was shown by Danny to Rajesh Khanna who liked the song tremendously. Then Rajesh Khanna requested R.D. Burman to compose the song – "Sang Mere Nikle The Sajan" from the 1981 film Phir Wohi Raat, which was directed by Danny himself – after getting inspired by the melody of the Nepali folk song sung by Danny – "Aage Aage Topaiko Gola". R. D. Burman changed the interludes and tunes of stanzas but retained the tune at the beginning.
Danny wrote and acted in the Nepali film Saino. His nephew Ugyen Chhopel directed it. He has sung its title song and a duet with Deepa Narayan, wife of Udit Narayan. Later, this film was made in Hindi as Ajnabi as a telefilm for Doordarshan.

Honours

Awards

As director

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1971Mere ApneSanju
1972ZarooratMohinder
1972MilapRaju
1972Rakhi Aur HathkadiRaja
1972Yeh Gulistan Hamara
1973Nai Duniya Naye Log
1973DhundThakur Ranjit Singh
1973Naya NashaNarratorUncredited
1973Khoon KhoonRaghavremake of Dirty Harry
1973ChalaakManoj
1974Ghatna
1974Khote SikkayDanny
1974Chor Machaye ShorRaju Ustad
1974Ek Ladki Badnaam Si
1974Vada Tera VadaDanny
197436 GhanteDilawar Khan
1975Apne Rang Hazaar
1975ZorroSher 'Sheroo' Singh
1975DharmatmaJangoora
1975Kala SonaShera
1975RaftaarPramod Kumar
1975Ponga PanditRocky
1975Mounto
1975Aakhri DaoRobert
1975Rani Aur LalpariHimself
1976KalicharanShaaka
1976FakiraMunna / Ajay / Toofan
1976Laila MajnuPrince Bahksh
1976SangramSalim / Altaf
1976GumrahRamesh
1977Abhi To Jee LeinDanny
1977Aashiq Hoon Baharon KaVikram
1977PaapiAbdul
1977Chandi SonaBikram
1977Khel Khilari Ka
1977Mit Jayenge Mitane Wale
1978Naya DaurMark
1978DevataInspector Lawrence
1978Lal KuthiBengali film
1979Pehredaar
1979Griha PraveshDanny
1979Lahu Ke Do RangSuraj
1979Heera-MotiAjay / Moti
1979Aaj Ki DharaDanny
1980Kali GhataKishore
1980ChunaotiThakur Ajay Singh
1980The Burning TrainRandhir
1980Choron Ki BaraatHeera
1980Phir Wahi RaatAshok
1980AbdullahKhaleel
1980BandishKapil Kumar
1981BulundiLobo
1981Love StoryRam Dogra
1981Hum Se Badkar KaunRaju / Johny
1982PrahariBengali film
1982Kachche HeereArjun
1982Dial 100Sangeet Samrat Shambhu Sen
1982LakshmiJagdishchandra Mathur
1982Raj Mahal
1982Jeeo Aur Jeene Do
1982Do UstadDaku Badal Singh
1983Siskiyan
1983Kanku Ni Kimat
1983Ganga Meri MaaMalan
1983Andha KanoonAkhbar Ali
1983LoversDavid
1983Mujhe Insaaf ChahiyeDayashankar Ray
1983Mujhe Vachan DoJabbar Khan
1983Hum Se Hai ZamanaKaran Kalicharan
1983Naukar Biwi KaHimself
1984BoxerDharma
1984FarishtaUstad
1984Dharm Aur QanoonSuperintendent of Police Kader
1984Andar BaaharShera
1984JagirDanny
1984Manzil ManzilGautam
1984KarishmaaRaja Saab
1984Meraa Dost Meraa DushmanShaitan Singh
1984Kanoon Kya KaregaRaghuvir Singh
1984Dilawar
1984Farishta
1985PaththarMajor Balwant Rai
1985Pyar Jhukta NahinBhanu Pratap
1985AitbaarInspector Barua
1985Aandhi ToofanBalbir
1985JawaabSeth. Jagmohan
1985YudhGama Maating / Mr. Chinoy
1985Bayen Hath Ka Khel
1985Maha ShaktimanMaharudraaka Maharudra
1985Oonche LogThakur Maan Singh
1985Zulm Ka BadlaShambhu / Bunty
1985Patthar DilJung Bahadur
1985Ram Tere Kitne NamHimself, Uncredited
1986Bhagwaan DadaShambu Dada
1986Chambal Ka BadshahSultan
1986AdhikarVishal's lawyer
1986Allah Rakha
1987SainoNepali Film
1987ItihaasAlexander
1987Aag Hi AagDaulat Singh / Choudhury
1987Mit Jayenge Mitane Wale
1987DiljalaaRatanmuni Gupta
1987Kaun Kitney Pani Mein
1987Faqir BadshahVijay and Raja
1987Deewana Tere Naam KaShambhu
1988Anjaam khuda jaane
1988Mardon Wali BaatRaja Sunder Singh
1988Paap Ki DuniyaPasha
1988Ek Hi MaqsadInspector. Deepak
1988ShoorveerShankar
1988CommandoNinja
1988Soorma Bhopali
1988Janam JanamMukhiya
1988YateemGirivar Prasad Mathur
1988ZalzalaSona Singh
1988Mera ShikarChangez
1988Jeete Hain Shaan SeJ.P.
1988Gunahon Ka FaislaDacoit
1988SainoNepali film
1989UstadShamSher Singh / DK
1989Sau Saal Baad
1989SaayaRakesh
1989Kasam Suhaag KiLohari - Sultan's goon
1989Do Yaar
1989Jung BaazMahakal
1989KhojFather Anthony
1989ShehzaadeThakur Roshan SinghUncredited
1989Paanch Papi
1989Galiyon Ka BadshahInspector Vijay
1990Pyar Ke Naam QurbaanPrince Yeshwant Singh
1990AgneepathKancha Cheena
1990ShandaarDhaga
1990Gunahon Ka DevtaRaghuvir
1990Sheshnaag
1990Jagira
1990Chingariyan
1990Shesh Naag
1991Woh Subah Kabhie To Aayegi
1991Sanam BewafaSher Khan
1991HumBakhtawar
1991Vishnu-DevaaThakur Shamsher Singh / Samppat
1991YodhaDaaga / Justice Dharmesh Agnihotri
1991LakshmanrekhaBirju
1991First Love LetterThakur Ajit Singh
1991BahadurBahadurBengali film
1992Khule-AamInsp. Uday Singh / Insp. Ranvir Singh Rathod
1992Khuda GawahKhuda Baksh
1992BandhuBandhu
1992BalwaanBhaiji
1992AnthamJ.P.Sethi
1992Drohi
Antham
J.P. Sethi
1992Kisme Kitna Hai Dum
1993SangramMadhu's father
1993DhartiputraKripal Singh
1993GurudevKhakan
1993TahqiqaatBhanu Pratap
1993PrateekshaDinesh Khanna
1993Jai Devaa
1993Bulund
1994AjnabiCaptainEpisode: "Introductory"
1994ChaurahaBaba Bhatti
1994Mohabbat Ki ArzooJagpal Singh alias Jaggu dada
1994'Major Bisht
1994KrantiveerChatursingh
1994VijaypathDilawar Singh
1995Faisla Main KarungiInspector Nadeem
1995'Kundecha
1995BarsaatACP Neghi
1996Muthi Bhar ZameenThakur Raghuvir Singh
1996RajkumarAli
1996ArmyNaagraj
1996ShastraBabu
1996'Katya
1996Ram Aur ShyamTatar
1997Seven Years in TibetRegent
1997UdaanMr. Rana
1997Himalay PutraNarsingh Rana
1997Dhaal: The Battle of Law Against LawAdvocate Diwan
1998Vinashak – DestroyerJailer Lankeshwar
1998Zulm O SitumSikander
1998China GateMaj. Ranjir Singh Gurung
1999Silsila Hai Pyar KaJabbar Khargoshi
1999KohramMinister Virbhadra Singh
1999Dahek: A Burning PassionJabbar Bahkshi
2000PukarAbhrush
2000Tune Mera Dil Le LiyaRaja Sahab
2001Jagira
2001OfficerPratap Rai/Dushyant Singh-
2001LajjaGajendra
2001AśokaVirat
2001IndianShankar Singhania
2001MokshaBachelor Simon
2002Yeh Mohabbat HaiAman Khan
200216 DecemberMajor General Vir Vijay Singh
2002Ab Ke BarasCBI Officer Sikander Baksh
2002SochNautiyal
2003Sandhya
2003Ek HindustaniSpecial Appearance
2004ShikaarDarshan Damania
2004Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan SaathiyoColonel Ashfaque Khan
2005Dil Jo Bhi Kahey...Narrator
2007HattrickDavid Anna
2007Big BrotherPolice Commissioner Kulkarni-
2007FrozenKarma
2008ChamkuBaba
2008KarzzzzKabira
2009LuckLakhan Tamang
2009Acid FactoryJ.D. / Om / Sultan / Sarthak Sanghv / Inspector Balwant
2010EnthiranProfessor Bohra
2013BossBig Boss
2014Jai HoHome Minister Dashrath Singh
2014Bang Bang!Omar Zafar
2015BabyFeroz Ali Khan
2017Naam ShabanaFeroz Ali Khan
2018BioscopewalaRehmat Khan
2019'Ghulam Ghaus Khan