Cameo appearances by Vasan Bala

I was re-watching Anurag Kashyap’s No Smoking (2007) last night and found a blink-and-miss cameo of the Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota director, Vasan Bala. Bala has assisted Kashyap on films like Dev.D (2009), Gulaal (2009), Bombay Velvet (2015) and Raman Raghav 2.0 (2016) besides co-writing the last two and also appeared in cameos in these movies. Anurag Kashyap’s films always have interesting cameos by filmmakers, music directors, singers, co-producers, assistant directors and casting directors (more on that in a separate post). Here’s a list of cameo appearances by Bala:

No Smoking (2007) – The man at the launch party of Alex’s cigars

Aamir (2008) – The man outside the airport who tells Aamir to pick up the call

Dev.D (2009) – The trumpeter in the song Emosanal Attyachaar

Gulaal (2009) – The paan seller

Gangs of Wasseypur (2012) – Singer at the jail (Bhoos Ke Dher Mein)

Ugly (2014) – Complainer outside the police station

Bombay Velvet (2015) – Khambatta’s man who asks for chocolate from Santa 'Clock'

The Best and Worst Films of 2014

Best Films 2014:

10. Finding Fanny

9. Hasee Toh Phasee

8. Sulemani Keeda

7. pk

6. Queen

5. Highway

4. Ankhon Dekhi

3. Haider

2. Dedh Ishqiya

1. Ugly

Not bad at all:

Miss Lovely, Shaadi Ke Side Effects, Lakshmi, Dekh Tamasha Dekh, Kya Dilli Kya Lahore, Hawaa Hawaai, Mastram, Filmistaan, Bobby Jasoos, Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania, Mary Kom, Daawat-E-Ishq, Rang Rasiya, Happy Ending

Worst Films 2014:

10. Jai Ho

9. One By Two/Lekar Hum Deewana Dil

8. Ragini MMS 2

7. Kick

6. Gunday

5. Gulaab Gang

4. Bang Bang

3. Humshakals

2. Entertainment

1. Action Jackson

Dishonourable mentions:

Main Tera Hero, Jal, The Xpose, Ek Villain, Happy New Year, The Shaukeens, Ungli

Cult Classic of The Year: Dear vs Bear