John Prakash Rao Janumala[1], better known by his stage name Johnny Lever (born on 14 August 1957[2]) is an Indian actor and comedian who is known for his works in Hindi cinema.

His mother tongue is Telugu but he is also fluent in Punjabi, Urdu, Hindi, English, Marathi and Tulu.

He also spent his early years in Yakutpura, an old city of Hyderabad, where he learnt the unique style of comedy acting.

[10] During a Hindustan Unilever company function, he mimicked a few senior officers, and from that day on, the workers said he is Johnny Lever.

At one of his shows, actor Sunil Dutt noticed his talent and potential and offered him his first movie Dard Ka Rishta.

He recorded a comedy cassette called Hasi Ke Hangame which gave him recognition at homes via the audio mode.

In 1986, he performed in a charity show Hope 86 in front of members of the Hindi film industry as a filler.

His talent was recognized, which resulted in producer Gul Anand offering him the film Jalwa, alongside Naseeruddin Shah.

[14][15] Lever got his first break in Tum Par Hum Qurban, in which the famous TV and stage compère and yesteryears actress Baby Tabassum launched her son Hoshang Govil as the leading man, and then with the film Dard Ka Rishta, thanks to Tabassum and the late Sunil Dutt.

[23] He is the president of MAAM (Mimicry Artist Association Mumbai), and has done thousands of live shows all over the world.