Johny Lever recalls discovering Michael Jackson; 'When no one knew MJ in India, I bought his audio cassette'

Veteran comedian Johny Lever recently looked back at his long-standing admiration for the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. Known for recreating MJ’s signature dance moves in films like ‘Mahakaal’ and ‘Barood’, Lever’s performances have once again grabbed attention amid the buzz surrounding the newly released biopic ‘Michael’.In a candid chat with Variety India, the veteran star shared a fascinating memory from the early days when Michael Jackson wasn’t widely known in India. He said, “When no one knew Michael Jackson in India, I bought his audio cassette. Even I didn't know Michael. We were on a tour in a bus, and there was this song playing that I liked. I asked, ‘Who sang the song? I want to buy this cassette.’ A person in the bus replied, ‘You like it? Take it, keep it with you.’ He gave it to me.”Recounting the moment with humour, Johny Lever admitted he initially thought the voice belonged to a female singer. “I thought it was a female singer. I kept listening to the tape. Later, I came to know that it was a boy and not a girl (laughs). Later, his ‘Thriller’ album came out. His songs came out. His first song was ‘Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’’. At that time, we didn't even have a video player.”He further revealed how he watched Jackson for the first time, saying he visited a friend’s house in Versova just to see him on screen. Lever added with a smile, “So, even before anyone copied Michael Jackson in America, Johny Lever copied him for the first time.”Meanwhile, the biographical drama ‘Michael’ has opened to strong response globally and is performing well in India too. The film features Jaafar Jackson in the lead role, alongside actors like Nia Long, Miles Teller, and Colman Domingo.Interestingly, while the film is gaining popularity, Lever revealed that although his children have already watched and enjoyed it, he is yet to see the biopic himself.