Danny Denzongpa
Born	Tshering Phintso Denzongpa (1948-02-25) February 25, 1948 (age 64) Gangtok, Sikkim, India
Residence	Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1963–present

Tshering Phintso Denzongpa^[1] born 25 February 1948, widely known by his acting name "Danny" Denzongpa, is an Indian actor of Sikkimese ancestry working in Bollywood films. He has acted in numerous Hindi films such as Asoka and 16 December. He has also starred in some international projects, the most famous being Seven Years in Tibet where he acted alongside Hollywood actor Brad Pitt. In 2003, Denzongpa was awarded the Padma Shree, India's fourth highest civilian honour. Denzongpa is noted for his villainous and character roles.

He started dabbling in the brewing industry after 1982 and, in 2009, his company Yuksom Breweries, which has three breweries in Sikkim, Orissa and Assam and sells over three million cases, acquired Rhino Breweries in Assam, to thwart industry leader United Breweries' (UB) plans to take over the North East market.^[2]

Early life and education[link]

Danny had his early schooling in the erstwhile kingdom of Sikkim (the 22nd state of India since 1975), thereafter completed his schooling from Birla Vidya Mandir, Nainital, Uttarakhand in 1964. Denzongpa's love of horses and horse riding began at an early age, as his family was into horse breeding.

He nursed an ambition to join the Indian Army and won the Best Cadet award from West Bengal and participated in the Republic Day parade. In an interview to The Times of India newspaper, he said that he had qualified for prestigious Armed Forces Medical College, Pune but withdrew admission to join Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune. Actress Jaya Bhaduri, his classmate at FTII, Pune decided to change his name to a simpler sounding "Danny" as his original name was tough to be pronounced by other students. The name has stuck since.^[3]

Film and singing career[link]

During his early film career, Danny used to practice learning Hindi by talking to the ocean. The Urdu came in handy in films such as Sawan Kumar's Sanam Bewafa and Mukul Anand's Khuda Gawah.

He started out with B-grade movies such as B.R. Ishara's Zaroorat in 1971,^[4] and later moved on to Mere Apne and Kala Sona where he played more positive roles. He then went on to play the roles of the villain numerous times. Some of the antihero roles he played were an unscrupulous politician, corrupt policeman, traitor, and mingy landlord. He got his major break in Gulzar's Mere Apne and later in B R Chopra's Dhund where he played a crippled and frustrated husband. The iconic role of Gabbar Singh from the film Sholay, was originally offered to him, but it went to Amjad Khan. He appeared in a character role against Amitabh Bachhchan in HUM as "bakhtawaar" which is critically acclaimed.

He is an accomplished singer having sung with Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi and Asha Bhonsle, three stalwarts of Indian music. He has released Nepalese songs and has sung for Nepalese movies. His two most famous songs recorded in 70s but still hit are "Chiso Chiso Hawama" ("In the cool air") and "Manko kura lai bandhi narakha..."("Do not keep the words of the heart tied").

He wrote and acted in the Nepali film Saino which was super hit. His nephew Ugyen Chhopel directed it. He has sung its title song and a duet with Deepa Narayan, wife of Udit Narayan. Later, this film was made in Hindi as Ajnabi as a telefilm for Doordarshan. He has sung a Nepali duet with Asha Bhosle, "Aage aage topai ko golaa, pachhi pachhi machinegun bhararara." His all-Nepali songs are hits and audience like them even today: "Hinu vanda chiso, Aago vanda taato..." ("Colder than snow, hotter than fire.."), "Naachana hoi chamaichyan hau nachana" ("Dance o lovely girl"), "Jhimkai deu pareli manma bajjha mitho murali..." ("Please blink your eyes and sweet sound of flute plays in the heart), etc. are his few hit numbers.

He is also a painter, a writer and a sculptor. Denzongpa owns two breweries, one in South Sikkim, and the other in the state of Orissa.

He then went on to appear in the successful Tamil film, Enthiran, co-starring Rajinikanth Gaekwad and Aishwarya Rai in the leads. Denzongpa played the antagonist role of Bohra, a prominent scientist who transforms Chitti (played by Rajinikanth) into an evil robot. Upon release, the film won critical and commercial acclaim.

Personal life[link]

Danny, who married Gawa Denzongpa, a Sikkimese princess and niece of the last chogyal from her hometown of Gangtok, currently resides in Juhu in Mumbai. He likes to listen to Nepali folk music, especially Nepali flutes. In recent times he has become more selective of the roles he plays.In the movies he chooses, he works on his own terms. He has a son named Rinzing and a daughter named Pema. His brother owns a bouj and beer factory in Melli, Sikkim.

Awards and honours[link]

• 2003: Padma Shree, India's fourth highest civilian honour.

Filmfare Awards

• Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award
  1992 Sanam Bewafa
  1993 Khuda Gawah – Khuda Baksh
  

• Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award – Nominated
  1979 Devtaa – Inspector Lawrence
  1985 Kanoon Kya Karega – Raghuvir Singh
  1990 Agneepath – Kancha Chinna
  

• Filmfare Best Villain Award – Nominated
  1992 Hum – Bakhtawar
  1995 Krantiveer – Chatur Singh Chitah
  1995 Vijaypath – Dilawar Ujagar Singh
  1996 Barsaat – ACP Negi
  1997 Ghatak – Katya
  

Filmography[link]

As director

• Phir Wohi Raat (1980)
• Ram (RoneM).

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Danny Denzongpa

• Danny Denzongpa at the Internet Movie Database

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Danny Denzongpa

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