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Rana Jung Bahadur

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  • Born: 23 November 1952 (Pathankot, Punjab)
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Actor and production manager Rana Jung Bahadur works in the Hindi and Punjabi language film industries. He is known for films such as Heera Lal Panna Lal (1999), Nayak: The Real Hero (2001) and Gunda (1998). Over the course of his career, he has acted in supporting roles in close to 200 films. He also served as the head of production of the comedy romance film Pata Nahi Rabb Kehdeyan Rangan Ch Raazi (2012). 

Born on 23 November 1952 in Pathankot, Punjab, he first appeared onscreen in Dream Girl (1977), directed by Pramod Chakravarty. The film starred Ashok Kumar, Dharmendra and Hema Malini. The plot revolved around a young girl, Sapna, who works under a number of aliases. A modern day female Robin Hood, she steals from whoever she can, so that she can maintain a home for orphans.

Next, he featured in Sardara Kartara (1980) a Punjabi action-crime-drama film directed by Harbux Latta. In 1981, he acted in the hit Punjabi film, Chann Pardesee (1981). Directed by Chitraarth and written by Baldev Gill, Harjit Gill and Pawan Sharma Jagraon, the film starred Raj Babbar, Rama Vij and Kulbhushan Kharbanda. It told the story of Nek, who gets married to the girl of his dreams, Kammo, and has a son. Later, he finds out that the child isn't his but that of Joginder, who had raped Kammo. The film won India's National film award and went on to become a big commercial success when it eventually found distribution in 1981. 

Over the subsequent decades he would feature in minor roles in numerous films including Roti Kee Keemat (1990), Maula Jatt (1990), Phool Aur Kaante (1991), Kal Ki Awaz (1992), Dhartiputra (1993), Betaaj Badshah (1994), Naaraaz (1994), Bewafa Sanam (1995), Tarazu (1997), Daud: Fun on the Run (1997), Gunda (1998), Duplicate (1998), Dulhe Raja (1998), Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai (2000), Nayak: The Real Hero (2001), Deewangee (2002), Mitter Pyare Nu Haal Mureedan Da Kehna (2004), Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani (2009), Pure Punjabi (2012), Singh vs. Kaur (2013), Jatt & Juliet 2 (2013), Ambarsariya (2016), Kaptaan (2016), Hameer (2017), Thug Life (2017), Sardar Mohammad (2017), Aasud (2019), Yaara Ve (2019) and Family 420 Once Again (2019), and Veeraana The Ghost (2021).

Among some of his memorable characters, he played inspector Kale in Gunda (1998), starring Mithun Chakraborty, revolving around a coolie, who swears revenge when his family is murdered by a group of gangsters and politicians. 

The action-comedy Heera Lal Panna Lal (1999) saw him cast as Natwar, in the cKawal Sharma directorial that starred Mithun Chakraborty and Johny Lever in the lead. It revolved around two sets of twins, both named Heeralal and Pannalal, who set out in search of love and adventure, quite unaware of the presence of the other set. 

He played a supporter of the chief minister Balraj Chauhan (Amrish Puri) in Nayak: The Real Hero (2001). Directed by S Shankar and written by Anurag Kashyap and S Shankar, the film starred Anil Kapoor and Rani Mukerji. The plot revolved around a man who accepts a challenge by the chief minister of Maharashtra to run the state for one day, and makes such a success of it that soon he is embroiled in political intrigue.

In Different (2006), he played the assistant of Dr Richard Dyer (Tom Alter) in this Asshu Trikha directorial that revolved around an odd orphan boy who is forced to use his secret super powers when his new classmates bully him. A scientist abducts him to use the boy's powers for his own evil gains. The film starred Akshay Kapoor, Dia Mirza and Yatin Karyekar. 

He has essayed a variety of roles such as a Calcutta gangman in Paapi Pet Ka Sawaal Hai (1984), a ruffian in Khooni Murdaa (1989), a security guard Sher Singh Pedro in Qaid Mein Hai Bulbul (1992), a hotel-owner in Beqabu (1996), a colonel in Jai Hind (1999), a wrestler in Ab Ke Baras (2002), a watchman in Kya Kool Hai Hum (2005), a terrorist in Sarhad Paar (2006), an advocate in Yaariyan (2008), a doctor in Desh Drohi (2008), a villager in Phata Poster Nikla Hero (2013), and the village head in Chaarfutiya Chhokare (2014). 

More recently, he acted in the Rana Ranbir-director comedy drama Posti (2022), Rabba Rabba Meeh Varsa (2022), the Sanjay Niranjan-directed thriller Uttejana - The Fire (2022), the action-comedy Nishana (2022) directed by Sukhminder Dhanjal, and Chor Dil (2022) directed by Jangvir Singh.

He has also featured in TV series such as Hasmukh (2020), Aandhi (2003), Rahat (1995), The Zee Horror Show (1994), Kanoon (1994), and Mahabharat (1998).

The 2012 release Pata Nahi Rabb Kehdeyan Rangan Ch Raazi, of which he was the production head, was directed by Ravindra Peepat and written by Harman. It starred Neeru Bajwa, Tarun Khanna, and Gurpreet Ghuggi. The plot revolved around Harman, who hails from a poor family, who falls for rich girl Simran. He goes to Bangkok and returns to his land after earning wealth and success. He meets up with Simran and hopes to confess his love.

In 2022, he was arrested for hurting religious sentiments with his alleged objectionable remarks against Lord Valmiki. As per a news report, he later apologised, saying, “I wholeheartedly want to apologize to people who are outraged by my remarks. Society is big but I am small - I am not associated with any political party, I am just an actor. Please forgive me.”

References

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1021129/

https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/rana-jung-bahadur/16299

https://www.timesnownews.com/entertainment-news/punjabi-actor-rana-jung-bahadur-arrested-for-making-objectionable-remarks-about-lord-valmiki-article-92712025

 

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