Deepak Tijori, Shakti Kapoor: The Anatomy of a Bollywood Sidekick

Understanding the Beta to the Bollywood Alpha.

Deepak Tijori turned 54 this year, which is telling of a larger timeline. Growing up in the 90s meant shoulder pads, questionable mullets, Anna Singh couture as witnessed in that mustard yellow double breasted suit Salman wore/ frothy red lace dress with bell sleeves ala Madhuri in Hum Aapke Hai Kaun.

It also meant having to sit through Deepak Tijori as the universal sidekick to a rather large and hairy Akshay and Rahul Roy, the real inspiration behind Sallu’s Tere Naam bob. Also from the days when stalking was cool, he was the spaghetti to Madhuri Dixit’s marinara in Anjaam which meant sharing ham scenes with Shahrukh Khan.

The point is that Deepak is largely remembered as the guy who put the bro in the code. Morale booster, wearer of tight pants and general ass licker, he’d be there every time the hero needed validation, even if that meant dressing in drag to lift his bro’s spirits. If that isn’t the true test of friendship, I don’t know what is.

Or the bit about matching steps with the choreographically challenged.

Or the one in which he lends a shoulder and other parts of his anatomy.

Almost as dependable and quick on the uptake as Shakti Kapoor’s ‘naadas’ in Raja Babu. Speaking of whom, Shakti as Nandu was the stuff that happens when a mid life crisis and career stagnation converge.

It leads to things so bad they’re good. Who else but Shakti to capture that reinvent or die theory better? These days I’m told Shakti can be found taking a walk in the park facing his housing society sporting a pollution mask which he removes to light up a post performance cigarette. Go figure.

Before you smirk your head off and I know who you are, being the Beta to the Alpha is a job not for the faint hearted. Among the lengthy list of desired skills could include doing the math and facing the music in the eventuality of not being able to do the math.

The ability to get hero into medical college by any means necessary…

And being a handyman, Cupid and doormat rolled into one.

Even if that meant being the bigger man and letting a mildly annoying canine steal your thunder from time to time.

Asrani to Annu, the greatest sidekicks all had one thing in common- meme worthiness. Pity though that being one only stretches a career by a decade at most. Judging by Deepak Tijori’s stint on Bigg Boss, it’s safe to assume his has reached a new nadir.