Paresh Rawal Says Only 11 of His 250-Plus Films Are Good

Veteran actor Paresh Rawal has spent nearly four decades in front of the camera, but he is not sentimental about most of the work. At the Jagran Film Festival premiere of his upcoming film Pastt Tense, Rawal said that out of roughly 250 films, only 11 make his personal list of good movies.

During the Q&A, the host put his filmography at around 250 titles. Rawal laughed and suggested the real number could be higher. The count he cared about, though, was much smaller. “Jo acchi films hain, woh mujhe pata hain kitni hain,” he said, roughly translating to “I only remember the good films.” His son Aditya Rawal, also at the festival, said he had counted that shortlist.

The shortlist he is willing to defend

Rawal did not list all 11, but he named several favourites from the stage. Sardar (1993), the biopic of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, came first in his memory. He called it a role he worked hard on and one that stayed closest to him.

He also mentioned Tamanna (1997), another part drawn from a real-life character, but admitted the film’s second half lost its way. Then came Oye Lucky Lucky Oye (2008), Mumbai Meri Jaan (2008), The Storyteller (2025), Hera Pheri (2000) and Dacait (1987), among others. “I can’t list all 11, but I can assure you there are 11 such films,” he said.

• Sardar (1993): the biopic Rawal calls closest to his heart.
• Tamanna (1997): a real-life-inspired role, despite a shaky second half.
• Hera Pheri (2000): the comedy that turned him into Baburao for a generation.
• Oye Lucky Lucky Oye and Mumbai Meri Jaan (2008): two 2008 films he still treasures.
• The Storyteller (2025): a recent role he says he thoroughly enjoyed.

Serious start, comic second act

Rawal made his debut with Holi in 1984 and first made a name in negative and serious roles. Films such as Naam (1986), Kabzaa (1988) and Sir (1993) built that reputation. He won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for Sir and Woh Chokri.

The comedy turn came later, and it changed how audiences remember him. As Baburao Ganpatrao Apte in Hera Pheri, he created a character that still gets quoted. Comedies such as Hungama, Garam Masala, Chup Chup Ke, Bhagam Bhag and Welcome followed. He was also seen in OMG – Oh My God! and Table No. 21, and received the Padma Shri in 2014.

Why his honesty is the real story

It is rare for a star to openly separate the assignments that paid the bills from the films that satisfied him. Rawal’s shortlist is not a put-down of his own filmography; it is a quality filter. For fans, it doubles as a rewatch starter pack drawn from a long career.

The lesson is simple: more work does not always mean more good work. Sometimes the strongest filmography is the short one an artist would defend years later.

Source: The Times of India