Mukesh Rishi on 28 years of 'Gunda': doubts during shoot, cult status now
Synopsis
Mukesh Rishi's candid reflection on 'Gunda' reveals the gap between intent and legacy. What felt like a career misstep in 1998 — a film so absurd it seemed unmarketable — became a generational touchstone through sheer comedic excess. The actor now credits writer Bashir Babbar's distinctive vision and the ensemble's commitment to the bit for transforming a would-be disaster into enduring pop-culture gold.
Key Takeaways
Mukesh Rishi played villain Bulla in 'Gunda' , which turned 28 in 2026 .
The actor harboured doubts during filming under director Kanti Shah , feeling he shouldn't have been cast. 'Gunda' achieved cult status decades later, driven by younger audiences who embraced its unintentional humour.
Rishi credited writer Bashir Babbar for crafting distinct characters with memorable rhyming dialogues.
The film reportedly sold over 2,000 VCD copies at a single outlet and received a theatrical re-release in 2018 .
Mukesh Rishi has opened up about his reservations during the making of the 1998 cult classic 'Gunda', which marked its 28th anniversary in 2026. The actor, who played the unforgettable villain Bulla — known for his rhyming dialogues including the iconic line "Mera naam hai Bulla, rakhta hoon khulla" — revealed that he harboured doubts about the film while shooting under director Kanti Shah.
From self-doubt to cult phenomenon
"When we were doing it, I felt like it was not going well, or I shouldn't have been in this film," Rishi recalled. However, what seemed like a misstep at the time transformed into an unexpected cultural artifact. The film, which also starred Mithun Chakraborty, Mohan Joshi, Shakti Kapoor, and Harish Patel, eventually found its audience — particularly among younger generations who embraced its unintentional humour.
The writer's vision behind the madness
Rishi credited writer Bashir Babbar for the film's distinctive comedic texture. "It was the writer's game," he explained. "Whenever I think of Gunda, I think of him, because he didn't make a character just for me. All the characters — Mohan Joshi, Shakti Kapoor, Harish Patel — they all had their own characters." He noted that while the cast added their own interpretations, the foundation was Babbar's creation. "I have never seen six or seven people speaking differently about their lines," Rishi observed.
Why audiences connected decades later
The actor acknowledged that the film's longevity stems from its humour. "After a few years, the new generation liked Gunda a lot. The biggest thing is that they see the humour, all the lines and everything," Rishi said. The film's plot — centring on a coolie seeking revenge against a crime lord and his associates — provided the skeleton, but it was the over-the-top dialogue delivery and campy characterisations that became the draw.
Cultural footprint and re-release success
'Gunda' achieved remarkable commercial traction for an unintentionally comic film, reportedly selling over 2,000 VCD copies at a single retail outlet. The film's cult status was further validated when it received a limited theatrical re-release in 2018, introducing 'Gunda' to cinema halls nearly two decades after its original run. The resurgence underscores how internet culture and meme-driven nostalgia have rehabilitated films once dismissed as failures.
Point of View
And a new generation's willingness to celebrate artifice as art. Bashir Babbar's contribution deserves equal billing with the cast; the writing was the skeleton that held the camp together.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What role did Mukesh Rishi play in 'Gunda'?
Mukesh Rishi played the villain Bulla, a campy character known for speaking in rhyming limericks. His most iconic line — 'Mera naam hai Bulla, rakhta hoon khulla' — remains etched in pop culture and is frequently referenced in memes and social media.
When was 'Gunda' originally released and when did it achieve cult status?
'Gunda' was released in 1998. It initially struggled but gradually achieved cult status over the following decades, particularly among younger audiences who discovered it through internet culture. The film received a limited theatrical re-release in 2018.
Did Mukesh Rishi anticipate the film's cult following?
No. Rishi revealed that during filming, he felt uncertain about the project and believed he shouldn't have been cast. It was only after several years, when new generations began appreciating the film's humour, that its cultural value became apparent.
Who wrote 'Gunda' and what was his role in the film's success?
Writer Bashir Babbar crafted the distinctive dialogue and character framework for 'Gunda'. Rishi credited Babbar for creating unique characters for each actor — Mohan Joshi, Shakti Kapoor, Harish Patel, and himself — rather than designing roles around individual stars. Babbar reportedly worked closely with the cast during production to refine the delivery of lines.
How commercially successful was 'Gunda' in its original run?
While 'Gunda' was not a theatrical blockbuster, it achieved remarkable home-video penetration, reportedly selling over 2,000 VCD copies at a single retail outlet — an unusually high figure for a cult film of that era.
