5 must-watch comedy films of Sharmaji Namkeen actor Paresh Rawal

Love him or hate him; there is no ignoring Paresh Rawal when he's in a movie frame. The intense and versatile actor has wowed us with his villainous and comedic acts alike. His most recent film is Sharmaji Namkeen (Amazon Prime Video), in which he took over the role from the late Rishi Kapoor after his untimely demise. And while there’s a lot of laughter on offer from both the stalwarts, here's a gentle reminder of the many times Paresh Rawal had us rolling on the floor, laughing.

Andaz Apna Apna (Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube, Apple iTunes)

Few Indian comedy films come close to the masterpiece that is Andaz Apna Apna. This 1994 comedy of errors gave us the loveable duo Amar (Aamir Khan) and Prem (Salman Khan) and Paresh Rawal, as twin brothers Ram and Shyam Gopal Bajaj, a.k.a. Teja. When Teja kidnaps Ram Gopal, the goofy Amar and Prem set out to rescue him, and hilarity ensues. In a film filled with iconic lines and witty banter, Paresh Rawal's "Teja Main Hoon, Mark Idhar Hain", is perhaps the most memorable.

Hera Pheri (Amazon Prime Video, Voot, YouTube)

Hera Pheri (co-starring Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, and Tabu) catapulted Paresh Rawal to the stature of the comedic genius we know and love. The film, a remake of the Malayalam hit Ramji Rao Speaking, acquired cult status, with Paresh's portrayal of Baburao Ganpatrao Apte dubbed legendary. He reprised his role in the sequel, Phir Hera Pheri, and although the second film failed to make a mark, Paresh's Baburao was still lauded as iconic.

Awara Paagal Deewana (Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Voot, ShemarooMe, Google Play Movies, YouTube)

If slapstick is your jam, do yourself a favour and watch Awara Paagal Deewana. In this amusing action-comedy, Paresh Rawal plays Manilal Patel, a hen-pecked house-husband who forgets names. He speaks in a hard Gujarati accent and causes chaos unwittingly. The film marked the reunion of the Hera Pheri trio and was an out-and-out laugh riot.

Hungama (Disney+ Hotstar, Hungama Play)

The Priyadarshan-directed Hungama, a remake of the filmmaker’s 1984 Malayalam film Poochakkoru Mookkuthi, stars Paresh Rawal as a successful businessman who loves his village life. At his wife's (Shoma Anand) insistence, he reluctantly moves to the city and soon finds himself in a sticky situation. While Aftab Shivdasani, Akshaye Khanna, and Rimi Sen are credited as the lead actors, there is no denying that Paresh Rawal steals the show.

OMG: Oh My God! (Netflix, Voot, Jio Cinema, Google Play, YouTube, Apple TV)

What do you do when your business gets destroyed by an earthquake and your insurance company doesn't cover the damages? Sue God! That's precisely what Kanji Lalji Mehta (Paresh) does, with help from Lord Krishna (Akshay Kumar) himself. He embarks on a crusade against God's middlemen – the gatekeepers of faith ((led by the brilliant Mithun Chakraborty), albeit in the courtroom.

They don't make comedians like Paresh Rawal anymore!