If people remember characters more than my name, it’s my success: Pavan Malhotra

Effortless performer Pavan Malhotra on playing Tiger Memon and doing the tiger dance for Bagh Bahadur.

You may have met some of these characters over the last 25 years. The simpleton cycle repair guy of Nukkad; a seething Tiger Memon in Black Friday; a tragic foot soldier caught at the wrong end of the mafia in Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro, an exploited dancer in rural Bengal in Bagh Bahadur, Farhan Akhtar’s coach in Bhag Milkha Bhaag, a rapist Pakistani officer in Children of War and Kareena’s over-the-top Punjabi uncle in Jab Me Met.

Photo: Dinesh Krishnan; Location courtesy: SodaBottleOpenerWala, Khan Market.

The real deal: Pavan Malhotra as Salim Pasha in Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro, his debut film (above).

The real deal: Pavan Malhotra as Tiger Memon in Black Friday.

Dancing tiger, hidden actor: For his role in the award-winning Bagh Bahadur (1990), Malhotra wore enamel paint.