Mumbai: Legendary actor Govardhan Asrani, better known as simply Asrani, passed away at the age of 84 on Monday, his nephew Ashok Asrani confirmed.
One of Bollywood’s most versatile actors, Asrani breathed his last around 3.30 pm after a prolonged illness. He had been admitted to a Mumbai hospital last week.
“Asrani sahab was admitted to Bharatiya Arogya Nidhi Hospital in Juhu four days ago. From what the doctors told us, there was fluid (water) accumulation in his lungs. He passed away today, October 20 around 3.30 pm. The last rites have already been completed,” Asrani’s PA Babubhai told India Today.
Asked why the family decided to perform his last rites so soon, Babubhai revealed that the actor wanted to go in peace, and had told his wife Manju not to make his death an event.
“This is why the family only spoke about his passing away after the funeral was conducted,” he said, even as a family statement is awaited.
Known as the ‘comedy king’, Asrani’s contribution to Indian cinema is invaluable. He carved a special place among the audience’s hearts with innumerable memorable performances, creating unforgettable and legendary characters on screen.
In a career spanning five-and-a-half decades, Asrani acted in over 350 Hindi films.
Despite mainly portraying comic roles and supporting characters, he was the backbone of many films he featured in.
Peak period
The 1970s saw him reach his peak, with popular movies like ‘Mere Apne’, ‘Koshish’, ‘Bawarchi’, ‘Parichay’, ‘Abhimaan’, ‘Chupke Chupke’, ‘Chhoti Si Baat’, ‘Rafoo Chakkar’, etc.
His most memorable role was as the eccentric jail warden in Ramesh Sippy’s all-time blockbuster hit ‘Sholay’, which was released in 1975.
Born on January 1, 1941, in a Sindhi middle-class family in Jaipur, Asrani did his matriculation from St Xavier’s School and his graduation from Rajasthan College, Jaipur. He simultaneously worked as a voice artist at All India Radio, Jaipur, and paid for his education.
First break
Asrani joined the Film Institute in Pune in 1964, and completed the course in 1966. His first break in films came in 1967, when he played Biswajeet’s friend in ‘Hare Kaanch Ki Choodiyan’.
He also tried his hand at direction in films like ‘Salaam Memsaab’ (1979) and some others.
He fell in love with actress Manju Bansal while working together in films like ‘Aaj Ki Taaza Khabar’ and ‘Namak Haram’. After they got married, Asrani and Manju acted in several films like ‘Tapasya’, ‘Chandi Sona’, ‘Jaan-E-Bahaar’, ‘Jurmana’, ‘Nalayak’, ‘Sarkari Mehmaan’, and ‘Chor Sipahee’.
Asrani won the Filmfare Award for Best Comedian for his performance in ‘Aaj Ki Taaza Khabar’.
His last released films were ‘Non Stop Dhamaal’ and ‘Dream Girl 2’, in 2023.
He played the lead hero in a few films, including the critically-acclaimed 1977 Hindi movie ‘Chala Murari Hero Banne’, which he wrote and directed.
