10 Ridiculous Indian Celeb Names

Mimoh Chakraborty: He's now called Mahaakshay but we're never going to forget that Mithunda's son began life named Mimoh. That's a combination of Michael Jackson and Mohammad Ali. Yes, really. Sadly, he was no Thriller, nor did he sting like a bee – his first movie Jimmy was a super flop. Incidentally, Jimmy was the name on which his dad rode to the box office invincibility in Disco Dancer. Clearly, Chakraborty Junior's luck is really out in the name game.

Sakshi Khanna: Vinod Khanna's strapping young son rejoices in the very feminine name of Sakshi. Just why, nobody knows. He has a penchant for rave parties and is now being groomed for a movie debut.

Johnny Lever: This funny man's real name is John Prakasa Rao Janumala. That certainly wouldn't have looked good on the marquee. In his life before Bollywood, the young Johnny was a factory worker with Hindustan Lever and kept his co-workers entertained with his comedic talent. Soon, he was known as Johnny Lever. Urban legend or not, the name certainly served him well.

Johnny Walker: There was no way Badruddin Jamaluddin Kazi was going to make it big in Bollywood with that mouthful. Discovered by Balraj Sahni, he screen tested as a drunkard and did it so well that Guru Dutt promptly bestowed on him the name Johnny Walker, after the famous brand of Scotch whisky. The irony was that Johnny Walker remained teetotal all his life.

The Southern Sirens: Silk Smitha's stardom inspired a whole generation of material girls. Nylon Nalini, Polyester Padmini and Cotton Kamini make up the pantheon. Sadly, none of them could repeat Silk's success story.

Innocent Vincent: Believe it or not, Innocent is this well known Malayalam comedian's real name. He is a hot favourite with leading directors down South, including Priyadarshan, has also dabbled in politics and is a published author.

Bobby Darling: Born male, Bobby Darling discarded her given name of Pankaj Sharma as quickly as she did her masculine identity. Having done so, she chose to leave herself open to ridicule with the moniker Bobby Darling. Ribald comments followed, but India's best known transgendered face hasn't been cowed.

Dimpy Mahajan: Mrs Rahul Mahajan has taken many stabs at stardom, first as a contestant in the Gladrags model hunt and then on various reality shows. She met and married Rahul Mahajan, himself a dubious celebrity of sorts, on one of these – Rahul Dulhaniya Le Jayega. She remains married to him and also retains the name Dimpy, which is her pet name at home, because her other name of Soumasri does not bear thinking of.

Tun Tun: Arguably Bollywood's first comedienne, Uma Devi Khatri started out as a playback singer. She was fairly successful but couldn't compete with the rise of Lata and Asha. She switched to acting and was cast in a comic role in Babul by Dilip Kumar. He renamed her Tun Tun, a funny name to go with her funny persona, and it stuck.

Cezanne Khan: Kasautii Zindagii Kay star Cezanne's parents named him after famous French artist Paul Cezanne. That may have been more than a little misguided because he is now regularly mistaken for Mrs Hrithik Roshan, Sussanne Khan. At least he has small screen stardom to console him.