An Indian actor played 45 different characters in one film, a world record.
When Sanjeev Kumar played nine roles depicting the navarasa in Naya Din Nayi Raat, it created a furore in the country. While many actors have played double or even triple roles, few have gone beyond that. One Indian actor did the unthinkable a few years ago, playing not five, ten, or fifteen, but 45 roles in one single movie.
Indian actor with world record for most roles in a single film
The man is Johnson George and the record stands for his performance in the Malayalam film Aaranu Njan, where the comedian played 45 different characters in one film. The Guinness Book of World Records recognises George’s feat. Its citation reads: “The most characters played by one actor in a single film is 45, achieved by Johnson George (India) in the film Aaranu Njan, in Kerala, India, verified on 12 September 2018. Johnson George played such roles as Gandhi, Jesus and Leonardo Da Vinci.”
Johnson Geroge’s 45 roles in Aaranu Njan
Aaranu Njan is a Malayalam film directed by PR Unnikrishnan, which released in theatres in March 2018. The fantasy film stars Jayachandran Thagazhikaran and Muhammed Nilamboor in the lead roles. Johnson George appeared in short roles as various historical figures like Mahatma Gandhi, Jesus Christ, APJ Abdul Kalam and others in the film, totalling 45 different roles throughout the film’s 1 hour 47 minute duration.
Other Indian actors to play multiple roles
Like mentioned earlier, Sanjeev Kumar famously played nine different roles in Naya Din Nai Raat, a 1974 film. The film was a remake of the 1964 Tamil film Navarathri, where Sivaji Ganesan had played the same nine roles. In 1966, a Telugu remake starred Akkineni Nageshwara Rao. In the 2000 film Hadh Kar Di Aapne, Govinda played six roles, including the hero and five members of his family. In 2008, Kamal Haasan played ten characters in the Tamil hit Dasavathaaram, ranging from a 10th century priest to US President George W Bush and a Japanese martial artiste.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Johnson George in Aaranu Njan")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}