Actor Johnny Walker's Untold Struggle Before Stardom

The life of legendary actor Johnny Walker, born Badruddin Jamaluddin Kazi, was marked by profound challenges before he brought laughter to audiences. His early years were defined by poverty and frequent family relocations as his father struggled to find stable employment. Walker left school around age 12 or 13 and took on various jobs to support his family. His early work included selling ice cream and fruits from a bicycle, working at a bicycle shop, and even shouting slogans at fairs. Tragically, at about 14 or 15, Walker suffered permanent vision loss in his left eye due to an accidental administration of ear drops instead of eye drops by a compounder. Despite seeing only 30-40% with that eye, he was determined. When applying for a BEST bus conductor position, Walker memorized the eye chart to pass the mandatory physical examination. His tenure as a conductor eventually led to an introduction to filmmaker Guru Dutt through actor Balraj Sahni. This connection opened the door to his acting debut in 'Baazi,' launching a career where he became one of Hindi cinema's most beloved comic performers, starring in iconic films like 'Pyaasa' and 'CID'.