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Mukesh Rishi Praises Kanti Shah's Mastery in B-Grade Cinema

Mukesh Rishi praised director Kanti Shah for his mastery over B-grade films. He spoke about their recent conversation and Shah's absence from cinema since 2015. Rishi's character Bulla from "Gunda" has become a pop culture phenomenon. The film also featured Mithun Chakraborty and Shakti Kapoor in lead roles.

Key Points: Mukesh Rishi on Kanti Shah's B-Grade Film Mastery

  • Mukesh Rishi praises Kanti Shah's filmmaking
  • Bulla from "Gunda" remains a pop culture icon
  • Kanti Shah specialized in B-grade cinema
  • "Gunda" also stars Mithun Chakraborty and Shakti Kapoor
  • Director has been away from cinema since 2015
2 min read

Mukesh Rishi says Kanti Shah had mastery in his kind of films

Actor Mukesh Rishi hails director Kanti Shah's mastery in B-grade films, discussing the cult classic "Gunda" and his iconic character Bulla.

"Kanti Shah had a mastery in that - Mukesh Rishi"

Mumbai, May 2

Actor Mukesh Rishi, who played the outrageous antagonist Bulla in the 1998 movie "Gunda", has spoken about the film's director, Kanti Shah, and heaped praise on the director saying that he had "mastery" over the cinema he made.

Talking to IANS about "Gunda" and Kanti Shah, Mukesh said he had recently spoken to the director, who has been away from the world of cinema since 2015.

"I spoke to him a few months ago. He wanted to do something about 'Gunda'. I said, 'It's available online. You can get whatever you want.' But Kanti Shah had made his own place in those days," Mukesh told IANS.

The actor, whose character Bulla has made a place in pop culture and memeverse, said that Kanti Shah's B-grade movies back in the 1990s had a mastery over it.

"He used to make a particular kind of films. At that time, in our place, there were two classes, what we call the balcony and the lower class, where different films were made. So, Kanti Shah had a mastery in that," the actor said.

Mukesh added: "He made a lot of such films, but out of them, this Bulla always stood out. It's a good thing that today's generation likes it. This is a good thing for us."

Asked if he is still in touch with him and if he has any clue what he's doing?

"I have no idea what form he will be in now because he has worked in the industry for so many years, maybe he has joined someone else. Maybe he is making films; a lot can happen. I don't know. But if I say that I have met him recently and know what he is doing these days, then I have no idea."

Talking about Gunda, it also stars Mithun Chakraborty and Shakti Kapoor. The narrative revolves around a coolie who vows to exact revenge upon a crime lord and his cronies after they kill his loved ones.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
Honestly, "Gunda" was a cultural phenomenon. The over-the-top dialogues, the ridiculous action scenes, and Bulla's iconic look... it's pure nostalgia. Happy to see it getting love from the younger generation on the internet. But let's not romanticize the exploitation of lower-class cinema too much; it was a different time.
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Aryan P
Kanti Shah was a man of the masses. He understood what the chawls and small towns wanted. These films had no logic but full entertainment. Mukesh Rishi's Bulla is now immortal in meme culture. Totally deserved recognition! "Bulla ki jana main kaun?" 😂
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Suresh O
I remember those days. You'd go to a theater with low expectations and come out with a smile. Kanti Shah's films were unapologetically trashy, but that was the charm. Mukesh Rishi's Bulla stole the show with his one-liners. Sad that the director seems lost now. Hope he makes a comeback.
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Divya L
Respect to Mukesh Rishi for still keeping in touch with Kanti Shah. In an industry where old directors and actors are often forgotten, this is heartwarming. Gunda was a guilty pleasure of many. Also, those dialogues are pure gold for WhatsApp forwards even today. 😄
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Abhishek O
I'm glad Mukesh Rishi acknowledged the class divide in cinema - balcony vs lower class. Kanti Shah actually mastered that niche. Films like Gunda weren't high art, but they had an audience and they delivered what that audience wanted. That's a skill. Respect to both the actor and the director for their contribution. 🙌

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