Hemant Birje: The Rise and Career of Bollywood’s ‘Tarzan’

Bollywood has seen numerous actors whose lives transformed by a single opportunity. Hemant Birje, celebrated as ‘Bollywood’s Tarzan,’ is one such figure. Birje’s entry into acting was accidental. His first break came when film director Babbar Subhash spotted him, initially employed as a security guard. Subhash, who was planning his movie, decided to cast Birje in the lead role in his film, ‘Adventures of Tarzan.’ This film, released in 1985, marked the beginning of Birje’s career and quickly established his public persona. The movie, which included intimate scenes, helped in popularizing him. Although his Hindi film career didn’t reach its peak, he continued to work in other films, including ventures in the South Indian film industry.