Playing a villain on-screen isn't easy; it takes exceptional acting skills to scare the audience. When actors do well, everyone praises them. But if they face problems or their performance falters, it becomes hard for them to find work in the industry.
Today, we will talk about one such exceptional actor Mukesh Rishi, who is known to be one of the best villains from the 90s and 2000s. However, he's not as visible in movies these days.
Mukesh Rishi was born on April 17, 1956, in Jammu, where his father was a businessman. His father wanted Mukesh to join the family business. However, Mukesh was more inclined towards playing cricket during school days. He was even the captain at Punjab University during his college years.
During this time, his family shifted to Mumbai. His father set up a business there and partnered with Mukesh's elder brother. After completing his education, Mukesh was also brought into the family business. However, Mukesh wasn't passionate about the family business.
One day, Mukesh told his father that he wasn't interested in the family business. He expressed a desire to travel abroad, so his father sent him to Fiji through a friend. There, he started working as a manager in a departmental store. Alongside his job, Mukesh also did some modeling. During his modeling days, people began suggesting that he should consider entering the film industry.
When Mukesh's father passed away, he returned to Mumbai. Later, when his brother asked him to take over the family business, Mukesh expressed his desire to become a villain in films instead. His brother approved, and Mukesh then met Roshan Taneja. He enrolled in acting school and told Taneja that he would seek work when he felt ready.
Six months later, Mukesh felt prepared for the film industry. Roshan Taneja directed him to Yash Chopra, but when Mukesh arrived, Chopra explained that his films were typically romantic and familial, and didn't typically require a villain.
Disappointed, Mukesh returned home. However, a year later, he received a call from Yash Chopra's office and was cast in a film that was released in 1993, marking Mukesh Rishi's hard-won entry into the industry. Sanjay Khan offered Mukesh Rishi the role of a fierce villain in his superhit TV serial Tipu Sultan.
According to reports, Sanjay was impressed by Mukesh's physique, which was perfect for the role. Following this, Mukesh landed Priyadarshan's film Gardish, where he played the main antagonist and gained significant acclaim.
These were Mukesh Rishi's initial successful ventures as a villain. After this film, Mukesh starred in films like Sarfarosh, Suryavansham, Loafer, Indian, Gunda, Koi Mil Gaya, Dam, and others during the 90s, establishing himself as one of the top villains. Mukesh Rishi not only worked in Hindi films but also in Tamil, Telugu, and Punjabi cinema.
As the year 2000 approached, there was a noticeable change in the portrayal of villains and their styles in Bollywood films. Mukesh Rishi's image also began to evolve, and consequently, he started receiving fewer film offers in Bollywood. However, there was a surge in South Indian films where intense villainous roles continued to be appreciated by audiences.
Seeing this trend, Mukesh gradually shifted his focus towards South Indian films around the year 2000. There, he worked with many prominent actors and received much love from audiences, especially in Telugu films.
