Bella Jaisinghani (THE TIMES OF INDIA; October 21, 2025)

Mumbai: Even as his most iconic film ‘Sholay’ was playing as a Diwali highlight on television, legendary comedian and character actor Asrani passed away at the age of 84 Monday, reports Bella Jaisinghani. His familiar face and nasal twang brought smiles to generations of film audiences through 300 films over a career spanning 50 years.

“He was feeling weak for the past 15 days and had respiratory difficulty four days ago. He was hospitalized in Juhu. The final rites were performed in Santacruz crematorium with wife Manju (Bansal) and friends in attendance,” said secretary Babubhai Thiba. Manju was an actress who featured as Asrani’s wife in his famous Champak Bhoomiya avatar in ‘Aaj Ki Taaza Khabar’.

The death of the actor known for his iconic line, ‘Angrezon ke zamane ke jailor’, evoked a wave of sorrow nationwide. Born Govardhan Asrani to a carpet dealer in Jaipur in Jan 1941, he completed his school and college education in his native state before heading to FTII Pune to make a career in cinema.

After being advised to try his luck in cinema by Kishore Sahu and Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Asrani was first noticed in ‘Satyakam’ then ‘Mere Apne’ (1971) followed by Abhimaan. He accompanied Rajesh Khanna in nearly 25 films from 1972 onwards, including ‘Namak Haram’ and ‘Bawarchi’. He lent able support to Amitabh Bachchan especially as his Sindhi secretary in ‘Abhimaan’ and P K Shrivastav in ‘Chupke Chupke’.

Asrani’s memorable roles include Roti, Prem Nagar, Chhoti Si Baat, Rafoo Chakkar, Sholay, Balika Badhu, Fakira and Anurodh. He got to express more nuanced performances in Koshish and shades of grey in Nikaah and Ab Kya Hoga.

The multifaceted artist also experimented with singing as a horse cart driver in Alaap. Asrani later wrote and directed ‘Chala Murari Hero Banne’ which along with ‘Salaam Memsaab’ cast him as hero.

A diverse range of directors from Hrishikesh Mukherjee to Basu Chatterji, onward to David Dhawan and Priyadarshan, exploited his talent well. Asrani also enacted scores of Gujarati films as hero, and directed a few.

He won the Filmfare Award for Best Comedian for Aaj Ki Taaza Khabar and Balika Badhu. The audience of the 2000s became familiar with him through Hera Pheri, Chup Chup Ke, Hulchul, Deewane Huye Paagal, Garam Masala, Dhamaal, Malamaal Weekly, Bhagam Bhag and Bhool Bhulaiyaa.

Akshay Kumar mourned his loss saying, “Speechless with grief at the passing of Asrani ji. We had just shared the warmest of hugs just a week back at the shoot of Haiwaan. Bahot pyare insaan the. He had the most legendary comic timing. From all my cult films Hera Pheri to Bhagam Bhag to De Dana Dan, Welcome and now our unreleased Bhoot Bangla and Haiwaan.. I had learned so much from him.. thank you for giving us a million reasons to laugh.”

NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule to his alma mater FTII, people and institutions mourned Asrani’s death. One fan wrote a beautiful epitaph on social media. Quoting his dialogue from Sholay, he said, “Aadhe idhar jao, aadhe udhar jao. Baaqi mere peechhe aao! Truly no one can follow your footsteps, Asrani Sahab.”
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Komal RJ Panchal, Upala KBR (MID-DAY; October 20, 2025)

It’s heartbreaking that on Monday, as the country was in a jubilant mood celebrating Diwali, the man who made us chuckle and laugh over the years, through his comic acts, was no longer with us. Veteran actor Govardhan Asrani, better known by his mononym Asrani, passed away on October 20 in Mumbai. 

Confirming the news to mid-day on late Monday evening, his personal assistant Babubhai said, “Asrani sahab was admitted to Bharatiya Arogya Nidhi Hospital in Juhu four days ago. He passed away between 3.00 and 3.30 pm today. His funeral is done.”

In a career spanning over five decades, Asrani gave Hindi cinema many memorable characters, most iconic among them being his quirky jailor act in Sholay (1975). 

As mid-day reached out to Javed Akhtar, who had written the action drama along with Salim Khan, the veteran screenwriter shared, “He was an extremely versatile actor. He achieved tremendous fame for the jailor’s role in Sholay, but at the same time, it harmed his acting career too. That became his image. Asrani had such a range of acting; I can never forget his dialogues in Bawarchi.”

Asrani’s command over his craft implied that he shone in supporting roles — as the able manager in Abhimaan (1973), or the street-smart guy in Chhoti Si Baat (1975).

Sholay director Ramesh Sippy remembered Asrani as someone who was “very easy to direct”. “He became the character so naturally. He had worked with me earlier in Seeta Aur Geeta for a cameo, and we thought he deserved another chance because he did that scene so well. He was 10 times better [in Sholay]. We will miss a great human being and a fine talent,” he said.