Celebrities lead a dual existence.
In real life, they're loaded with money and zoom about the city in chauffeur-driven luxury cars. On reel, as per the demands of the script, they slip into the role of an ordinary public transport driver to make an on-screen living.
Salman Khan is the latest star to join the 'driver' bandwagon. In his underproduction entertainer, Ready co-starring Asin, the actor has performed some heavy-duty stunts inside Bangkok's famous tuk tuk or auto rickshaw.
There's quite a list of memorable cabbies and autowallahs on celluloid. Browse through this compilation and pick your favourite.
Dev Anand, Taxi Driver
Image: Dev Anand in Taxi DriverHema Malini, Sholay
Image: Hema Malini, Dharmendra and Amitabh Bachchan in SholayAmitabh Bachchan, Khuddar
Image: Amitabh Bachchan in KhuddarShammi Kapoor, Vidhaata
Image: Movie poster of VidhaataThere's no dearth of innovative professions in Bollywood's brand of creativity.
Erstwhile showman Subhash Ghai casts Shammi Kapoor as a burly engine driver with a philosophical train song to boot -- Haathon ki chand lakeeron ka in the Dilip Kumar-Sanjay Dutt face-off flick, Vidhaata.
Naseeruddin Shah, Hero Hiralal
Image: Naseeruddin Shah in Hero HiralalOm Puri, Dharavi
Image: Om Puri and Shabana Azmi in DharaviSanjay Dutt, Sadak
Image: Movie poster of SadakLoosely inspired by Hollywood's Taxi Driver, Mahesh Bhatt's Sadak proved to be a turning point in Sanjay Dutt's otherwise ho-hum career.
Sanjay Dutt's aggressive, angst-ridden performance and rippling muscles as a troubled cabbie won him tremendous accolades and a big box-office hit.
Aamir Khan, Raja Hindustani
Image: Aamir Khan, Kunal Khemu and Karisma Kapoor in Raja HindustaniIt's not every day you bump into hill-station taxi guy as cute as Aamir Khan. So much that Karisma Kapoor falls for Raja Hindustani's extrovert, talkative charms and decides to marry him in Dharmesh Darshan's over-the-top rehash of Jab Jab Phool Khile.
Sunny Deol, Gadar: Ek Prem Katha
Image: Sunny Deol in Gadar: Ek Prem KathaThanks to Sunny Deol's enthusiastic jig, Main nikla gadi lekar turned into every truck driver's anthem for the longest time. That's hardly a mean feat for the muscular Jat who single-handedly demolishes an entire nation's army in Anil Sharma's excessively jingoistic blockbuster, Gadar: Ek Prem Katha.
Nana Patekar, Taxi No 9211
Image: Nana Patekar in Taxi No 9211Playing every day, common man characters is widely regarded as a Nana specialty. The edgy actor doesn't disappoint with his depiction of a stressed out, taxi driver-on-the-edge struggling to get on the better side of a bad day in Milan Luthria's Taxi No 9211.
Govinda, Salaam-e-Ishq
Image: Govinda in Salaam-e-IshqEveryone runs into a kind-hearted cab driver once in a while but nothing quite like the overtly magnanimous Govinda of Nikhil Advani's crammed answer to Love Actually.
As the poetic philanthropist, Chi Chi takes his phoren passenger on a ride, of the beneficial kind, in a bid to reunite her with the absconding boyfriend but falls in love instead.
Deepika Padukone, Bachna Ae Haseeno
Image: Deepika Padukone in Bachna Ae HaseenoFed up of pot-bellied, coarsely-talking taxi guys? Dial Deepika for relief.
As an MBA student in Australia trying to make a few extra bucks, the leggy Haseena effortlessly juggles as grocery store accountant by day and cabbie by night. She's glamorous, feisty and game to go on a no-strings date with her admittedly dishy fare.
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