On his birthday, let’s revisit his most memorable performances that established him as a villain in Bollywood.

For over four decades, Gulshan Grover has remained the quintessential Bollywood villain. Nicknamed the “Bad Man” of Indian cinema, his film career is often defined by his chilling performances on screen, which offer theatrical style with a variety of roles. Nonetheless, he remains one of the most bankable antagonists of the 1980s and 1990s. On his birthday, it is worth revisiting his most memorable performances that established him as a villain that could command fear, and even admiration on screen.

The Making of a Screen Villain

He began his career with small roles in the late 1970s but rose to prominence in the 1980s when Bollywood started focusing more on the larger-than-life villains. While contemporaries like Amrish Puri and Pran had made their space, he too managed to carve his own niche. Thanks to its flamboyant costumes, memorable dialogues, and a style of dark humor. His ability to merge menace with theatrical drama made him one of the most loved and recognizable faces of Bollywood antagonism.

His Most Iconic Roles

“Bad Man” in Ram Lakhan (1989)

The nickname that has stayed with him for life came from his role in Subhash Ghai’s Ram Lakhan. His portrayal of the scheming henchman who delivered the iconic dialogue “Bad Man” made him into a pop culture phenomenon, and showed how a single phrase could redefine an actor’s image.

Kesariya Vilayati in Mohra (1994)

In Mohra, he played Kesariya Vilayati, a drug dealer with eccentric mannerisms. Despite the film being packed with big names like Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, and Naseeruddin Shah, his menace and comic energy made this character unforgettable.

Villainous Roles in Karan Arjun (1995) and Yes Boss (1997)

In Karan Arjun, Grover joined the film’s roster of villains, embodying greed and ruthlessness. In Yes Boss, opposite Shah Rukh Khan, he gave a sinister performance and showed how he can play a corporate villain just as effectively as a street-level thug.

Khan in Hera Pheri (2000)

Though primarily a comic role, Hera Pheri portrayed him as Khan, a gangster whose menacing presence added to the comedy.

The International Leap with Monsoon Wedding (2001)

In Mira Nair’s Monsoon Wedding, he played a restrained yet pivotal role. The film’s critical acclaim and his subtle performance added to his film résumé that had been dominated by villainous caricatures.

Nonetheless, Gulshan Grover’s ability to blend evil with entertainment is unlike other villains, who relied solely on menace. Moreover, his adaptability makes him stay relevant across decades. Albeit, most remembered for his villainous roles, his career has some positive and character-driven performances as well in films like I Am Kalam (2010).

On his birthday, his Bollywood journey reminds us of an era when villains were as important as heroes. From Ram Lakhan’s “Bad Man” to Mohra’s Kesariya, he is a symbol of an age when villains could steal the spotlight.