Arshad Warsi

He followed this by roles in films such as Betaabi (1997), Mere Do Anmol Ratan and Hero Hindustani (both 1998). His performance in P Vasu's Hogi Pyaar Ki Jeet (1999) was praised by Rediff.com's Suparn Verma. Warsi's next release was Madhur Bhandarkar 's directorial debut Trishakti (1999). Completed in 3 years, the film performed poorly at the box office. His only film appearances of 2001 were in Ghaath , followed by Mujhe Meri Biwi Se Bachaao (2001) and Jaani Dushman: Ek Anokhi Kahani (2002).

Most of these failed to do well at the box office. In Shashanka Ghosh's Waisa Bhi Hota Hai Part II , he played a common man who saves the life of a goon who is fatally shot. Ronjita Kulkarni wrote that he gave a "winning performance". In 2003, he rose to fame when he starred as Circuit to Munna Bhai ( Sanjay Dutt ) in Rajkumar Hirani 's comedy Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.

which turned out to be a huge box office success and gained him much critical acclaim and a nomination at the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor . He won the Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Comic Role for the same. Warsi said in an interview that had the film not worked, his career would have finished.

His only release in 2004 was the comedy Hulchul which earned him the GIFA Best Comedian Award and nominations for the Screen Award for Best Actor , Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role and IIFA Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role . Warsi played an airport manager opposite Mahima Chaudhry in Samar Khan's Kuchh Meetha Ho Jaye (2005).

His performance in Sehar was positively received by critics and Sanhita Paradkar of Rediff.com wrote that: "finally [he is] in a much-deserved lead role". In the same year he appeared as a supporting actor in the romantic comedies Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya? and Salaam Namaste . For the latter, he was nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor . He played a computer hacker in the Vivek Agnihotri-directed suspense thriller film Chocolate .

Indrani Roy Mitra of Rediff.com said that Warsi gave a "commendable [performance]" in Vaah! Life Ho Toh Aisi! (2005). Warsi collaborated with Rohit Shetty for Golmaal: Fun Unlimited (2006), which was the first installment of the Golmaal series. His next release was the comic thriller Anthony Kaun Hai? , directed by Raj Kaushal. The film drew from many Hollywood and Bollywood films and Warsi won praise from critics for his role of a conman.

Raj Lalwani opined that the film "belongs to [him]" and that he was "one of the most underrated actors around". He once again teamed up with Rajkumar Hirani and Sanjay Dutt for Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006), which won him his first Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role, IIFA Award for Best Supporting Actor , Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Comic Role and Screen Award for Best Supporting Actor .

His portrayal of a cameraman kidnapped by the Taliban in the counter-terrorism drama Kabul Express (2006), from Kabir Khan, won appreciation. H S Bunty wrote that Warsi "steals the show". Warsi appeared in the box office success comedy Dhamaal (2007). He played the role of a Pakistani footballer living in London in the sports drama Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal (2007). In director Jaideep Sen's comedy Krazzy 4 , Warsi a person suffering from intermittent explosive disorder .

The film failed to generate favourable reviews. Ameeta Gupta praised Warsi's performance in Deepak Shivdasani's comedy Mr. Black Mr. White (2008). He reteamed with Rohit Shetty for the comedy Golmaal Returns (2008). His first release of 2009 was Kisse Pyaar Karoon , followed by Ek Se Bure Do . He played lead role in Neeraj Vora-directed comedy Shortkut , a remake of the Malayalam film Udayananu Tharam (2005).