Deepak Tijori

Deepak Tijori (born 28 August 1961) is an Indian film director and actor who works in Bollywood and Gujarati films and is well known for his supporting roles in Aashiqui (1990), Khiladi (1992), Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992), Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (1994), Ghulam (1998) and Baadshah (1999).

The latter film was loosely based on Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver (1976) and Tijori played a man who is killed by a pimp after he runs away with one of the prostitutes.

Tijori's first important role came when Mahesh Bhatt cast him to play the role of protagonist's friend in his romantic drama Aashiqui (1990).

The film was a commercial success and his hand gestures in the film were widely copied by the youth of that time.

He played minor roles in Afsana Pyar Ka (1991) and Kaun Kare Kurbanie (1991).

In the same year, he was cast again by Bhatt to play supporting roles in two of his films; romantic drama Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin and romantic thriller Sadak.

In 1992, he featured in Abbas–Mustan's suspense thriller Khiladi alongside Akshay Kumar, Ayesha Jhulka and Sabeeha.

Tijori played Boney and was paired with Sabeeha.

Khiladi was a commercial success.

Tijori's next important role came with the Mansoor Khan-directed coming-of-age sports drama Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar alongside Aamir Khan, in which Tijori played the role of Shekhar Malhotra, a successful and arrogant cyclist, who wins the Inter-School Championship every year.

Akshay Kumar had auditioned and Milind Soman was signed for Malhotra's role before Tijori played it.

Rediff.com ranked Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, ninth in its Bollywood's top 10 college movies list.

He also starred as a lead actor in Pehla Nasha (1993).

Tijori produced and played his only lead role in Gowariker-directed murder mystery Pehla Nasha (1993), alongside Pooja Bhatt and Raveena Tandon.

Upon release, the film received poor reviews and failed at the box office.

In the same year, he appeared as the antagonist in D. Rama Naidu-directed Santaan.

Tijori starred alongside Shah Rukh Khan in Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa and Anjaam (both 1994).

The latter one is considered one of the most violent films in Bollywood.

In 1995, he starred in another Mahesh Bhatt-directed film Naajayaz.

Tijori played a supporting role in action drama Mrityudata (1997) which did not receive favourable reviews from critics.

He portrayed supporting characters in Aamir Khan-starrer Ghulam (1998) and the Abbas–Mustan-directed comedy thriller Baadshah.

In the latter, he featured as the titular undercover CBI agent.

In the same year, Tijori acted in Mahesh Manjrekar-directed crime drama Vaastav: The Reality (1999) and the Gujarati language film Hu Tu Ne Ramtudi.

He played supporting roles in the romantic comedy Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge (2000), Vaastav: The Reality's sequel Hathyar (2002) and Kabir Sadanand-directed comedy Popcorn Khao! Mast Ho Jao (2004).

Thriller at 10 – Fareb, a TV mini-series produced by Tijori won the 2001 Indian Television Academy Awards in the category best mini-series.

Tijori started his directing career with Oops! (2003), a film about male strippers.

This was followed by Fareb (2005), Khamoshh... Khauff Ki Raat (2005), Tom, Dick, and Harry (2006) and Fox (2009).

In 2012, he played a police officer in Ram Gopal Varma's action film Department.

Tijori had approached Varma for the villain's role but he felt that Tijori's image did not match the character's and refused to give him the role.

Tijori changed his look in one month's time and was eventually cast by Varma.

The following year, he was cast to play the antagonist in Devang Dholakia-directed Tina and Lolo.

He had to lose weight for his role.

Tijori stated that he himself "was looking for a change" while referring to his salt-and-pepper look in the film.

Dholakia said that he was "looking for a new suave villain" and Tijori suited the role.

His recent directorial, Do Lafzon Ki Kahani, was released in the year 2016.

Tijori received his college education from Narsee Monjee College in his hometown Mumbai.

While in college, Tijori joined an amateur theatre group whose members included Aamir Khan, Ashutosh Gowariker, Paresh Rawal and Vipul Shah.

His friends influenced him to pursue a career in film acting, in which during his early career he struggled.

He said in an interview with Rediff.com "For three years, I sat outside offices trying to get a word with producers [...] I managed to do some tiny roles, which were very pathetic."

He had worked for Cine Blitz magazine and also as a hotel manager.