MUMBAI — Veteran Bollywood actor and comedian Govardhan Asrani, fondly known to generations of moviegoers simply as Asrani, passed away on Monday at the age of 84 after being hospitalised for five days due to age-related ailments.
Born on January 1, 1940, in Jaipur to a middle-class Sindhi family, Asrani showed little interest in his father’s carpet business, instead nurturing a passion for performing arts. A graduate of Rajasthan College, he worked as a voice artist with All India Radio to support his education before formally studying acting under Sahitya Kalbhai Thakkar and later at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, in 1964.
Asrani made his film debut in 1967 with Hare Kaanch Ki Choodiyan, playing a supporting role opposite actor Biswajeet. He went on to appear in numerous Gujarati films before establishing himself as one of Hindi cinema’s most versatile and beloved comic actors.
His portrayal of the bumbling jailer in the 1975 classic Sholay remains one of the most iconic comic performances in Indian film history. Over the years, he collaborated with acclaimed filmmakers including Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Gulzar, and B.R. Chopra, and built a long and fruitful friendship with Rajesh Khanna, appearing alongside him in more than 25 films, including Bawarchi (1972).
After 2000, Asrani became a familiar face in Priyadarshan’s hit comedies, delighting audiences in Hera Pheri, Aamdani Atthani Kharcha Rupaiyaa, Chup Chup Ke, Garam Masala, Baghban, Bol Bachchan, and several others. He continued acting into his later years, with one of his final appearances in Dream Girl 2 (2023).
Asrani is survived by his wife, actress Manju Bansal, whom he met during the filming of Aaj Ki Taaza Khabar and Namak Haram, and their son Naveen Asrani.
With a career spanning more than five decades and over 350 films, Asrani leaves behind an enduring legacy as one of Bollywood’s most gifted comedians and character actors — a man whose humor, timing, and warmth defined an era of Indian cinema.