Dalip Tahil Recalls Iconic 'Champ' Role as Cult Film 'Jalwa' Hits 39 Years

Marking the occasion, the actor revisited his days from the film, calling his iconic menacing character named Champ a "phase". The character gained the spotlight for its attitude and became one of the defining performances of Tahil's career in the late 1980s.

"It was a phase... #39YearsOfJalwa," he wrote as the caption.

Dalip's character 'Champ' was a flashy, confident and street-smart character who embodied the swagger of the era.

Jalwa was directed by Pankuj Parashar and produced by Gul Anand. The film stars Naseeruddin Shah and Archana Puran Singh. It is an unofficial remake of the 1984 American film Beverly Hills Cop. It was remade in Telugu as Trinetrudu in 1988 by A. Kodandarami Reddy, starring Chiranjeevi.

The film followed the story of Kapil, whose brother dies from drugs, prompting him to join the police. His friend Albert is killed in Goa. Kapil travels there, faces local police opposition. He goes rogue, evading authorities and goons, to uncover the truth behind Albert's death.

Born in 1952, Dalip is best known for his work in films such as Baazigar, Raja, Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke and Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, Pyaar Ki Miss Call along with actor Gaurav Prateek. In the UK, he appeared in the BBC soap opera EastEnders as Dan Ferreira, the head of the Ferreira family, from June to December 2003.

On the film front, he was most recently seen in Kuberaa directed by Sekhar Kammula. It stars Nagarjuna, Dhanush, Rashmika Mandanna and Jim Sarbh.

- IANS