Behrupiya

A behrupiya or bahrupiya (Hindustani: बहरूपिया or بہروپیا) is an impressionist in the traditional performing arts of India, Nepal and Bangladesh.

[2] It was once common for behrupiyas to make a dramatic entrance at wedding or other festivities dressed as a policeman, priest, or other figure and create a commotion.

However, if he was able to successfully convince his audience of his fake identity, he would then reveal it and be awarded a baksheesh for having entertained the group.

Due to their expertise with disguise and impersonation, good behrupiyas were recruited as spies by medieval Indian kings.

[4] Sometimes, behrupiyas are also simply called maskharas (मसख़रा or مسخره, an Arabic loanword in Hindustani, and a more general term for jester or buffoon) or bhands, who are the traditional actors, dancers, storytellers and entertainers of the Indian subcontinent.