Bollywood's infamous villain's henchman, body double to Amitabh Bachchan, met an untimely end at just 37

Indian Express

3 hours ago

Long before stunt performers were credited or celebrated, Bollywood's high-octane action scenes were shaped by unsung heroes behind the camera. Among them was Manik Irani, a dedicated stuntman and character actor who spent much of his career doubling for Amitabh Bachchan and supporting villains in classic Hindi cinema. Born on October 23, 1953 into a Parsi family in Mumbai, Manik Irani was fascinated by physical strength from an early age. Inspired by wrestling icon Dara Singh, he was drawn more to bodybuilding and physical training than to academics. But unlike most young men dreaming of stardom, Manik had a different ambition: he wanted to be a stuntman.
That dream began to take shape when he started boxing on the streets and came into contact with MB Shetty, a prominent action director and stunt coordinator of the time, and father of filmmaker Rohit Shetty. Impressed by Manik's skills and physique, Shetty invited him to join his stunt team. It was a turning point Irani had long waited for, and he joined without hesitation. It was as if his story was already being written by fate. Manik Irani entered the film industry at a time when romantic heroes were fading from the spotlight. Rajesh Khanna, Hindi cinema's first superstar, was losing his hold on audiences, while a new, brooding force named Amitabh Bachchan was rising rapidly with his portrayal of gritty, simmering anger.
For years, Manik Irani's roles remained small, often uncredited. But that changed with Mr. Natwarlal (1979), where he played a mute villager secretly working for the villain, essayed by Amjad Khan. It was a modest role, but one that gave Manik visibility. From the 1980s onward, he began receiving roles with dialogues and distinct screen presence. Manik adopted a more fearsome look in the early '80s, growing a full beard, bulking up, and sporting an intimidating smile that left an impression. He then appeared in major big budget films of that decade, including Shaan (1980), Naseeb (1981), and Silsila (1981).
After collaborating with Don filmmaker Chandra Barot, Manik Irani was set to appear in his next project, Boss, alongside Vinod Khanna. However, the film was eventually shelved. It was finally Subhash Ghai's Hero (1983) that gave Manik the screen identity that stuck for life. He played a menacing goon named Billa, and though Jackie Shroff was the film's breakout star, the name of Manik's character became so popular that it became his off-screen identity too. From then on, he was known as 'Billa' — both in the industry and among audiences. Among his notable roles in the 1980s were his portrayal of Zebisko in Manmohan Desai's Mard (1985) and the monster in the Ramsay Brothers' Purani Haveli (1989).
Although Purani Haveli didn't make a major mark at the box office, it marked a departure for Manik Irani. Playing the monster in the horror film allowed him to break away from the stereotypical villainous characters he was known for. He had already begun moving away from his established image, exploring different shades on screen over the years, occasionally taking on positive roles, most notably in Vishwanath (1978) and Aamne Samne (1982). He also made a rare appearance in Marathi cinema with Maal Masala (1992), where he was credited as 'Black Belt Champion Manik Irani' in a comedic karate instructor role alongside Ashok Saraf.
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Manik remained active in films well into the early '90s, starring in films such as Chor Pe Mor (1990), Baap Numbri Beta Dus Numbri (1990), Farishtay (1991), Saugandh (1991) and Deedar (1992), the latter two featuring a young Akshay Kumar. But fame brought with it a personal struggle. Manik reportedly became a heavy drinker, and despite being warned after a jaundice diagnosis, he continued to consume alcohol. His fitness declined, and he began to appear visibly heavier in his later roles. Tragically, he passed away on June 16, 1991, at the age of 37.
News of his death remained relatively unknown at the time. Films featuring him continued to release posthumously, including Talaashi (1996) and Badla Aurat Ka (2001), leading some to mistakenly believe he was still alive. Though never a leading man, Manik Irani lived the life he aspired to. In an industry dominated by stars, he managed to carve out a unique space for himself.