"There`s no life without humour. It can make the wonderful moments of life truly glorious, and it can make tragic moments bearable."

Comic Relief is an essential part of Indian cinema. A talented group of Bollywood comedians have portrayed memorable in the Hindi films. While humour was only used as a relief in the Hindi films with changing it developed as a separate genre. In the contemporary film industry the films of comic genre are attracting audience in large numbers. Moreover it is said that to make a person laugh is a challenge and the Bollywood comedians have always took up the challenge and emerged victorious.

One of the greatest Bollywood comedians of all times would be Johnny Walker. He was introduced to the silver screen by Guru Dutt. Johnny Walker was born as Badruddin Jamaluddin Kazi. Most of the films of Guru Dutt featured him. But two of his most memorable films were CID (1956) and Pyaasa (1957). His facial gimmicks and antics won him applause from the audience as well as from his directors. His first film was Guru Dutt`s Baazi. Some of his others films are Aar Paar (1954), Mr and Mrs 55 (1955), Naya Daur (1957), Madhumati (1958), Amar Deep (1958), Kaagaz ke Phool (1959), Satta Bazaar (1959), Basant (1960), Chaudhvin ka Chand (1960), Mere Mehboob (1963), Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi (1966), Shaan (1980), Bindiya Chamkegi (1984) and others.

Mehmood was in every way the king of comedy in the 1960s. His first major break came with the film Parvarish in 1958. His comic timing, inimitable style and the flair to bring versatility made popular with the audience. He has also starred in movies like Gumnam, Pyar Kiye Jaa, Saanjh aur Savera, Pyar Hi Pyar, Love in Tokyo, Dil Tera Diwana, Bhoot Bangla, Sangharsh, Ziddi, Bombay to Goa, Humjoli, and others. Biut oen film for which Mehmood will always be remembered is Padosan. The film also starred Kishore Kumar, Sunil Dutt and Saira Banu. This rib tickling comic film was a hit. By 1970s Mehmood was ruling the comic arena of Bollywood.

Another Bollywood comedian who was also the contemporary of Mehmmod, is IS Johar. Together they also starred in films, such as, Namasteji, Johar Mehmood in Goa and Johar Mehmood in Hong Kong. His other films include Teesri Aankh (1982), Gopichand Jasoos (1982), Raaz (1981), Trimurti (1980), Death on the Nile (1978), Mazdoor Zindabaad (1976), Banarasi Babu, Ganga Ki Saugandh, Johny Mera Naam (1970), Pavitra Paapi, Chhoti Bahu, Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya (1966), Harry Black (1958) and others.

Rajendranath was also famous for his comic roles. He was a regular in the films of Raj Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor. His funny gimmicks always made the audience break into peels of laughter. He was seen in films, such as, Dil Deke Dekho, Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai, Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon, Teesri Manzil, Baharon Ke Sapne, Pyar Ka Mausam, An Evening in Paris and others.

The 1980s saw a number of comic stars on the horizon. One of them was Asrani and the other was Jagdeep. Govardhan Asrani is still active today and has starred in comic flicks, such as, Malamaal Weekly, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, Garam Masala, Dhamaal and others. He was a popular comedian but he has also been seen in supporting roles as well in films like Abhimaan, Chupke Chupke, Khushboo, Musafir and others. His small role in Sholay as the jailor is still fresh in people`s minds. He has also been felicitated with Filmfare Award for best comedian for the films Aaj Ki Taaza Khabar (1973) and Balika Badhu (1976). Other Bollywood comedians were Mukri. He is well known for his roles in Aan, Mangu, Loafer, Humjoli, Heera, Fakira, Darpan, Chraag, Amar Akbar Anthony and others.

Besides them actors like Kishore Kumar, Utpal Dutt and Deven Verma have successfully made the audience laugh with their gimmicks. The latter two were a regular in the comic flicks of Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Basu Chatterjee. Keshto Mukherjee became famous for his roles as the drunken man. He is so famous that people emulate him today.

The contemporary Bollywood has also been gifted with several talented comedians. Actors like Kadar Khan and Johnny Lever rocked the silver screen with their ability to entertain people. Laxmikant Berde is also a popular Bollywood comedian. As a director David Dhawan films were trendsetters. It saw the mainstream heroes portraying comic characters. One sucv actor is Govinda. Teaming up with Dhawan he deliverded some of the biggest comic flicks in the 1990s and 2000. Some of these films have also been termed as slapstick. However the masses loved them. Films, such as, Dulhe Raja, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, Haseena Maan Jayeegi, Jodi No.1, Partner and others were runaway hits. Such movies also featured Kadar Khan and Johnny Lever.

It is said that comedy is all about timing. Al these actors have an amazing sense of comic timing. The one actor is mind-blowing in comic roles is Paresh Rawal. Apart from being a part of the crew in David Dhawan`s films, he has become a regular face in Priyadarshan`s Hindi comedy films. Hera Pheri, Awara Paagal Deewana, Phir Hera Pheri, Malamaal Weekly, Garam Masala, Fool n Final, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, Mere Baap Pehle Aap, Welcome and several other films. Although he has starred in various films but it was his role as the crazy Baburao in Hera Pheri that earned him all the applause as a comic actor.

Arshad Warsi, another Bollywood actor, is famous for his comic roles. In Priyadarshan`s Hulchul; Golmal; Rajkumar Hirani`s Munnabhai MBBS and Lage Raho Munnabhai he is outstanding. Boman Irani and Anupam Kher also deserve special mention for their contribution in the comic genre of Indian cinema. In films like Khosla ka Ghosla both these actors come together and put up an unforgettable performance. Offbeat actors, such as, Vinay Pathak, Ranvirr Shorey and Rajat Kapoor have also explored this genre. One of film that needs to be mentioned here is Bheja Fry.

Gauging the trend of the contemporary film industry the lead actors have also made their foray into the comic genre. Sunjay Dutt, Akshay Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Salman Khan, Suniel Shetty, Bobby Deol, Akshaye Khanna, Rahul Bose, Ajay Devgan, Riteish Deshmukh and others from time to time tried their hands in the comedy films. It is amazing to notice how these leading men, who fight and win the heroine, can play the roles of simpletons and make the audience roar with laughter.

It has been noted more than often that the so called Bollywood comedians are versatile actors. While some of them got stereotyped some of them kept on experimenting with other roles as well. Asrani, Paresh Rawal, Anupam Kher, Ranvir Shorey, Rajat Kapoor have portrayed negative characters as well other character roles. It is a real treat to watch these actors perform on the silver screen.

The female actors are in no way lagging behind the male actors as afar as comedy is concerned. Shobha Khote teamed up with Mehmood to entertain the audience. She was also part of some of the Hrishikesh Mukherjee films like Golmaal with Utpal Dutt, Amol Palekar and Bindiya Goswami. The later cinema witnessed leading actresses like Juhi Chawla, Kajol, Karisma Kapoor, Rani Mukherji, Katrina Kaif, Kareena Kapoor, Tabu and other actresses in comic roles.