Jamie Lever says, ‘I'm an actor's kid, not nepo kid', recalls father Johnny Lever's warning about film industry
Jamie Lever says she is not a nepo kid
Jamie explained, 'I'm seeing this very closely now. There's a difference between being a nepo kid and being an actor's kid. I feel like I'm an actor's kid. I'm the daughter of an actor, but my journey has been very different. Nepo kids have a different path. They often enjoy a lot of privileges and are given opportunities, sometimes even without proving their talent or ability. I've been observing this up close, my journey has been quite different. And there's a clear distinction. Even though I'm a child of the industry, I can see how big the difference is.'
Jamie Lever on her father's advice about surviving in the industry
She went on to recall her father's advice, adding, 'There are people who get roles served to them on a silver platter, being handed lead parts in films without much effort. And then there are people like us who've had to go through countless auditions, face rejection, and still keep going. If you're handed an opportunity on a silver platter, you must give it your all. Take all the training you can to become the best version of yourself. My father once warned me: 'If you want to enter this industry, be the best, or don't bother at all.''
Johnny Lever is one of India's most iconic and beloved comedians, known for his impeccable comic timing, and expressive face. He began his career as a stand-up performer and rose to fame in the 1990s with memorable roles in films like Baazigar, Deewana Mastana, Dulhe Raja, and Baadshah. Over the years, he has acted in over 300 films, often stealing scenes with his comic genius regardless of screen time.
Jamie has appeared in several Bollywood films, including Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon, Housefull 4, Bhoot Police, Yaatris, and Crakk. She is also known for her viral mimicry videos, where she impersonates celebrities like Sara Ali Khan and Farah Khan. Jamie is now all set to embark on her comedy tour, The Jamie Lever Show, across the United States. The tour kicks off in Seattle on August 1 and will cover 15 cities, concluding on August 31 in Boston.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Related To Arun Jaitley & Ex-J&K FinMin, She Co-Starred With Shah Rukh Khan. The Actress Is...
Last Updated: Ridhi Dogra initially began her career in dance with Shiamak Davar's institute and later worked as a co-producer at Zoom. In the wake of Shah Rukh Khan winning his first-ever National Film Award for Jawan, actress Ridhi Dogra who played his on-screen godmother shared a heartwarming reaction. Calling herself the 'fake mother" of the actor's Jawan character, Dogra said she felt 'real joy" for what she called a long-overdue moment in his career. 'The best news. The best film. This fake mother of her Jawan son is over the moon with real joy @iamsrk congratulations bigeesssttt love to you and @Atlee_dir and entire team !!!" Dogra wrote on X (formerly Twitter) as she reacted to SRK's win for Best Actor in a Leading Role at the 71st National Film Awards. Not Just An Actress, Also Arun Jaitley's Niece While her fans know her from her performances on screen, few may know that Dogra is also related to one of India's most prominent political figures: Arun Jaitley. Her paternal aunt, Sangeeta Jaitley, was married to the late BJP leader which makes Dogra his niece. 'I have grown up around him and buji, played innumerable times with Sonali and Rohan, in his office when he was a lawyer," she wrote in a post on Instagram. In her post, Dogra also highlighted Jaitley's intellect and his ability to make anyone feel heard. ''How's your work going beta? What's new in your industry these days?' He would always ask me. And I would always feel short of words because I knew I would not know a patch of what he did about my industry but still he had this great quality to make everyone he spoke to, feel important to his time," she said. Ridhi Dogra's Journey Dogra is a well-known name in television and OTT circles. After completing her education at Apeejay School, Sheikh Sarai, and graduating in Psychology from Kamala Nehru College, Dogra initially began her career in dance with Shiamak Davar's institute and later worked as a co-producer at Zoom. She gained popularity through roles in shows like Maryada: Lekin Kab Tak?, Savitri and Woh Apna Sa for which she even won Best Actor in a Negative Role at the 2017 Gold Awards. On the web, she was seen in The Married Woman, Asur and TVF Pitchers Season 2. In 2023, she made her Bollywood debut with Lakadbaggha followed by significant roles in Jawan and Salman Khan's Tiger 3. She also appeared in The Sabarmati Report where she shared screen space with Vikrant Massey and Raashii Khanna. On the personal front, Dogra was earlier married to actor Raqesh Bapat. The two parted ways in 2019. Rahul Gandhi Alleges Threat By Arun Jaitley As Dogra's connection with Jaitley comes into focus, a recent remark by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has also brought the late BJP leader back into political discourse. During a recent event in New Delhi, Gandhi claimed that the government sent Jaitley to 'threaten" him during the farm law protests in 2020. 'I remember when I was fighting the farm laws, Arun Jaitley ji was sent to me to threaten me. He told me 'if you carry on opposing the govt, fighting the farm laws, we will have to act against you." I looked at him and said 'I don't think you have an idea who you are talking to"," he said. Notably, the late BJP leader had passed away in August 2019, almost a year before the three controversial farm laws were brought in as ordinances in June 2020. Arun Jaitley's Legacy Jaitley was a towering figure in Indian politics. He served as Finance Minister from 2014 to 2019 and also briefly held the Defence portfolio. As a key member of the Modi government, Jaitley was involved in several major reforms including the implementation of GST, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code and banking sector overhauls. Earlier, he had served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha (2009–2014) and was the Minister for Law & Justice as well as Commerce & Industry under the Vajpayee government. About the Author Buzz Staff A team of writers at bring you stories on what's creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture. News18's viral page features trending stories, videos, and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : arun jaitley ridhi dogra viral news view comments Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: August 02, 2025, 16:37 IST News viral Related To Arun Jaitley & Ex-J&K FinMin, She Co-Starred With Shah Rukh Khan. The Actress Is... Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
16 hours ago
- Time of India
Jamie Lever recalls Farah Khan's hilarious reaction to her videos: 'My husband is showing them to our kids'
During the pandemic lockdown, while the entertainment industry was at a standstill, Jamie Lever , the daughter of legendary comedian Johnny Lever, found her moment to shine. Using social media as her stage, she captivated audiences with a series of brilliant and pitch-perfect impersonations of famous personalities like Asha Bhosle, Lata Mangeshkar , and Farah Khan . These viral videos not only established her as a breakout comedian in the digital space but also earned her direct praise from the very celebrities she was impersonating. Here's a closer look at what Jamie Lever said. Jamie Lever on the call changed the game During an open chat on Sapan Verma's YouTube show, Jamie Lever looked back on her rapid journey into viral fame and the surprisingly sweet responses that planned with it. One moment that stands out was, choreographer-filmmaker Farah Khan called Jamie personally during lockdown. Jamie recalled the encounter with infectious laughter as she said that she had just started making videos when she got a morning call from Farah Khan. She said, 'Hello Jamie! Listen, what are you doing yaar? Please send me those videos!' Jamie didn't even recognize her voice at first and asked, 'Who is this?' Then Farah said, 'My husband is showing my kids your videos and telling them, this is exactly how your mother talks!' She went on to compliment Jamie. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like TV providers are furious: this gadget gives you access to all channels Techno Mag Learn More Undo The episode not only served as validation from an industry insider but also marked a surreal checkpoint in Jamie's career, a reminder that even light-hearted mimicry can open doors to genuine admiration. Jamie Lever on the voice that she will never forget One of the most treasured moments in Jamie Lever's comedic journey was receiving an earnest phone call from none other than Lata Mangeshkar; a moment that Jamie reflects on with great honour and emotion. Jamie remembers Lena praising her mimicry, saying, "The way you mimic your father, it is just too good. And Asha is my sister; you imitate her very well too." Jamie closed the call with blessings by Lata; words that Jamie cherishes, a wonderful moment of artistic acknowledgement across generations. Jamie Lever on swapping corporate cubicles for a spotlight in comedy Before stepping into the world of entertainment full-time, Jamie Lever walked a more conventional path which was working as a Marketing Executive at a market research firm based in London, but the pull of performance proved stronger than spreadsheets. In 2012, she took the best step into comedy at 'The Comedy Store' where she could very much embrace the uncertainty of doing live stand-up. That allowed her to step into consistent and numerous opportunities as well as become a part of projects such as 'Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon,' 'Housefull 4,' 'Bhoot Police,' and 'Pop Kaun?,' making the full transition between corporate calm and comic chaos.
Time of India
18 hours ago
- Time of India
Rs 2 crore debt and only Rs 2,500 bank balance; yet he recently acted in a Rs 400 crore movie
Leaving Acting for Farming Emotional Toll and Family Support Veteran television actor Rajesh Kumar , known for his role as Rosesh in Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, has made a remarkable return to the spotlight with Saiyaara, a romantic drama directed by Mohit Suri. Featuring newcomers Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, the film has not only received strong reviews but has also crossed Rs 400 crore globally, marking it as one of the year's biggest commercial Rajesh, however, the film's success goes far beyond box office numbers. In several recent interviews, the actor opened up about facing severe financial distress over the past few years, revealing that he was once buried under a Rs 2 crore debt and had just Rs 2,500 left in his bank 2019, Rajesh made a bold choice to quit acting and pursue farming. His aim was to challenge the perception that farming is a fallback option. He told Meri Saheli that he wanted to break the notion that farming is not aspirational, especially among urban youth. However, his transition was anything but smooth. A combination of bad weather, crop failures, and the COVID-19 pandemic led to devastating financial said, 'Bankruptcy, yes. The incoming and outgoing flow had gone for a toss. There was no incoming, and I had exhausted all my reserves because of the outgoing. I went under debt of Rs 2 crore. (Bankruptcy) is a big word, but definitely, I had that feeling with me for a long Rajesh told Rajshri Unplugged, by the time lockdowns were imposed, he had used up all his savings. The steady outflow of funds with no income left him financially drained. He described feeling bankrupt in every sense—unable even to afford chocolates for his kids because of Rs 2,500 bank balance, Rajesh shared in an interview with Dainik emotional impact of this period was equally significant. In an interview with Zoom, Rajesh shared how personal experiences influenced his performance in Saiyaara, particularly as he portrayed the father of a character suffering from early-onset Alzheimer's. His mother suffers from the same illness, and the emotions required for the role came naturally to him. He also spoke about how farming deepened his ability to connect emotionally on screen, citing moments from his time in the fields that now help him emote in front of the the financial strain, Rajesh said that his family's unwavering support gave him strength during his lowest points. 'They were my anchor,' he said, emphasizing how their encouragement helped him survive one of the toughest phases of his Saiyaara, Rajesh Kumar finds himself back in the public eye. His role in the film has been praised for its quiet intensity, adding depth to the emotional storyline. The film, produced by Yash Raj Films, follows the journey of a young singer and a journalist navigating love and loss, with Rajesh's character playing a key emotional anchor in the narrative.
