Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai
Mumbai, Oct 20: Veteran actor-director Govardhan Asrani, popularly known as Asrani, passed away in Mumbai on Sunday following a prolonged illness. He was 84. His final rites were conducted at the Santacruz Crematorium the same evening.
Asrani, known for his versatile contributions to Hindi cinema, died around 3.30 pm at Bharatiya Arogya Nidhi Hospital in Juhu, where he had been admitted four days earlier due to fluid accumulation in his lungs.
Confirming the news, his personal assistant Babubhai told India Today, “Asrani sahab was admitted 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.”
Explaining the swift funeral, Babubhai added that the actor had expressed a desire to leave in peace, requesting his wife Manju not to turn his passing into a public spectacle. “This is why the family only spoke about his passing away after the funeral was conducted,” he said. A family statement is expected soon, and a prayer meet is reportedly being planned.
Born in Jaipur, Rajasthan, Asrani studied at St Xavier’s School, Jaipur. Over a career spanning more than five decades, he appeared in over 350 films, winning the hearts of audiences with his impeccable comic timing and supporting roles that became staples in classic Hindi cinema.
Asrani's peak came in the 1970s, when he became one of Bollywood’s most sought-after character actors. His roles in films such as Mere Apne, Koshish, Bawarchi, Parichay, Abhimaan, Chupke Chupke, Chhoti Si Baat, and Rafoo Chakkar remain etched in the memory of film lovers. His portrayal of the eccentric and bumbling jail warden in the 1975 blockbuster Sholay is considered one of Hindi cinema’s most iconic comedic performances.
In addition to acting, Asrani found success behind the camera. He played the lead role in the 1977 Hindi film Chala Murari Hero Banne, which he also wrote and directed. He further ventured into direction with films such as Salaam Memsaab (1979), and remained creatively active across various genres and languages, including Gujarati cinema, where he enjoyed success as a lead actor in the 1970s and 1980s.
Despite his age, Asrani continued to appear in films into the 2000s and 2010s, with notable roles in recent comedies like the Dhamaal franchise. His performance as Ashish Chaudhary’s father in the series was met with appreciation from a newer generation of viewers.
While Asrani played numerous memorable characters across genres, he will forever be remembered for bringing humour and depth to his roles, bridging the gap between slapstick and subtlety in comedy. His enduring legacy lies in his ability to make audiences laugh while anchoring films with sincerity and charm.
The film industry and countless fans across the country are mourning the loss of a true artiste who helped define an era of Hindi cinema.