Bollywood actor Chunky Panday recently shared a humorous yet surprising anecdote from his early acting days during an appearance on The Great Indian Kapil Show. Reflecting on his struggle to earn extra income as a budding actor, Chunky revealed he once unknowingly attended a funeral as part of an event gig—and was even offered additional money to cry at the ceremony.
Chunky Panday explained that in his early career, he relied on attending events for supplemental income. He described how he would accept any opportunity, from weddings and birthdays to more unconventional ceremonies.
“One morning, I got a call from an organiser who asked, ‘What are you doing today?’ I told him I was heading to a shoot, and he said, ‘There’s a small event on the way. Just stop by for 10 minutes, the pay is good.’ He specifically told me to wear white clothes, which I thought was odd but didn’t question.”
Chunky followed the instructions, only to realize upon arrival that he was at a funeral. He recalled,
“I saw people wearing white clothes and staring at me. Then I noticed the dead body and realized it was a funeral! For a moment, I thought the organiser had died, but then I spotted him alive and well. He calmly told me, ‘Don’t worry, your packet (money) is with me. But the family says if you cry, they’ll pay you extra.’”
Chunky’s candid storytelling had the audience and host Kapil Sharma in splits. This story is a testament to the lengths many actors go to in their early careers. From his debut in the 1987 film Aag Hi Aag, Chunky went on to star in many movies like Tezaab, Aankhen, Tirchhi Topiwale, De Dana Dan, etc.
