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Asrani
Asrani in 2012
Born	Govardhan Asrani (1941-01-01)1 January 1941 Jaipur,Jaipur State,British India (present-dayRajasthan, India)
Died	20 October 2025(2025-10-20) (aged 84) Mumbai,Maharashtra, India
Alma mater	Rajasthan College; FTII, Pune
Occupations	Actor film director film producer singer
Years active	1967–2025
Spouse	Manju Asrani
Awards	2 awards, 11 nominations Filmfare Award for Best Comedian

Govardhan Asrani (1 January 1941 – 20 October 2025), known professionally asAsrani, was an Indian actor and film director. His career inIndian cinema spanned over five decades, during which he appeared in over 350Hindi andGujarati films. Asrani worked in lead, character, comedic, and supporting roles. He is particularly noted for his role as theJailor inSholay, caricaturingHitler, andAmadavad no Rikshavaro and for his appearances in 25 films withRajesh Khanna as the lead actor between 1972 and 1991.

In Hindi cinema, he appeared in several comic roles from 1966 to 2014 and frequently portrayed the close friend of the lead actor in films between 1972 and 1995. He appeared in multiple films directed byHrishikesh Mukherjee andPriyadarshan. In some Hindi films, includingChala Murari Hero Banne andSalaam Memsaab, he played the lead role. In Gujarati films, he acted as the lead from 1972 to 1984 and performed character roles from 1985 to 2012. He directed six films between 1974 and 1997.

Asrani was born into a middle-class,Sindhi Hindu family inJaipur.^[1] His father opened a carpet shop. He has four sisters and three brothers: two elder and one younger. Asrani was disinterested in business and weak in mathematics. He completed his matriculation fromSt Xavier's School, Jaipur and did his graduation fromRajasthan College, Jaipur. He simultaneously worked as a voice artist atAll India Radio, Jaipur, to pay for his education.^[2]

He married actressManju Bansal, with whom he fell in love while working together in films likeAaj Ki Taaza Khabar andNamak Haram. After they wed, the couple acted inTapasya,Chandi Sona,Jaan-E-Bahaar,Jurmana,Nalayak,Sarkari Mehmaan,Narad Vivah andChor Sipahee. InAaj Ki Taaza Khabar, Asrani played Champak Boomia / Amit Desai and Manju played Kesari Desai. For this role Asrani won theFilmfare Award for Best Comedian.^[3] Later the couple acted inHum Nahin Sudhrenge, a home production directed by Asrani in 1980.^[4]

Asrani began to learn acting from Sahitya Kalbhai Thakkar from 1960 to 1962.^[1] In 1962, he travelled toMumbai to seek opportunities to act. In 1963, on an accidental meeting withKishore Sahu andHrishikesh Mukherjee, they advised him to learn acting professionally.^{[citation needed]}

In 1964 Asrani joined theFilm Institute inPune and finished his course in 1966. He got his first break in Hindi films playing the friend of actorBiswajeet in the filmHare Kaanch Ki Choodiyan in 1967. In the film institute he had impressed many and made his acting break as a hero in 1967 with a Gujarati movie opposite budding actress Waheeda (notWaheeda Rahman; the Hindi actress).^[5] He acted in four other movies, mainly as actor or supporting actor, in Gujarati from 1967 to 1969. He did not get many offers from the Hindi film industry between 1967 and 1969. His old advisor,Hrishikesh Mukherjee, then gave him the role of supporting actor in the filmSatyakam in 1969. He got noticed then in the filmMere Apne. From 1971, he started getting more offers as the main comedian in films or as the close friend of the lead actor.^{[citation needed]}

Directors like Mukherjee, Atma Ram, andGulzar repeatedly cast him in the period 1971–1974, and his work got noticed through these films. These roles set the tone for a number of supporting and comic roles in his career. In the 1970s his demand was at its peak as he appeared in 101 films from 1970 to 1979. Though initiallyRajesh Khanna and Asrani had met only on the sets ofBawarchi, they became close friends afterNamak Haraam, after which for comic roles Khanna insisted the producers and directors make Asrani a part of his films. Asrani worked in 25 films with Khanna from 1972 to 1991, fromBawarchi (1972) toGhar Parivaar (1991).^[6]

His most memorable works as supporting actor from 1970 to 1979 are inMere Apne,Koshish,Bawarchi,Parichay,Abhimaan,Mehbooba,Palkon Ki Chhaon Mein,Do Ladke Dono Kadke andBandish. He played the lead hero inChala Murari Hero Banne, a Hindi film he wrote and directed in 1977.^[7]

His notable roles as a comedian from the 1970s are inAaj Ki Taaza Khabar,Roti,Prem Nagar,Chupke Chupke,Chhoti Si Baat,Rafoo Chakkar,Sholay,Balika Badhu,Fakira,Anurodh,Chhailla Babu,Charas,Phaansi,Dillagi,Heeralal Pannalal,Pati Patni Aur Woh andHamare Tumhare.^[8]

Though he had played the supporting character in many films, he played a serious role for the first time inKhoon Pasina. He did off beat roles like that of the evil brother's role inKoshish (1972), the double role of a hippie and villager inL. V. Prasad'sBidaai (1974), abeedi andganji sporting wastrel in Hrishikesh Mukherjee'sChaitali (1975), a romantic inB. R. Chopra'sNikaah (1982) who sang aqawwali like yesteryear actor Yakub and played a pimp inK. S. Prakash Rao'sPrem Nagar (1974).Later he playedantagonist roles inAb Kya Hoga andTeri Meherbaniyan.^{[citation needed]}

He was a very popular public figure in the 1970s and was one of Rajesh Khanna's close friends. He became a regular feature in films produced byD. Ramanaidu and those movies directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee, B. R. Chopra,K. Bapaiah,Narayana Rao Dasari,K. Raghavendra Rao,Basu Chatterjee in 1972 to 1992.^{[citation needed]}

He won theFilmfare Award for Best Comedian for his performances inAaj Ki Taaza Khabar in 1974 and forBalika Badhu in 1977.^{[citation needed]}

In 1974, Asrani directed his first movie in Gujarati with himself as the hero, and the song "Hu Amdavad No Rikshawalo" sung byKishore Kumar was picturised on Asrani. Songs picturised on Asrani and sung by Kishore in Hindi are "Achcha Chaloji Baba Maaf Kardo" fromHamare Tumhare, "Pyar Main Karoonga" fromYeh Kaisa Insaaf. "Mannu Bhai Motor Chali Pam" was sung by him with Kishore Kumar and was picturised onRishi Kapoor and him, inPhool Khile Hain Gulshan Gulshan in 1978.^[1]

In the 1980s, he acted in 107 Hindi films. Asrani holds the record for appearing as a character actor/comedian in the most Hindi films in a decade – 101 in the 1970s and 107 in the 1980s. Unlike his roles in 1970 to 1984 which were pivotal to the plot, most of his roles from 1985 to 1993 were very minor mainly because the concept of a comedian was being phased out and heroes preferred to do their own comedy andaction films were more popular in the period from 1985 to 1994. In the 1980s his memorable performances were inHamari Bahu Alka,Ek Hi Bhool,Yeh Kaisa Insaf,Kaamchor,Agar Tum Na Hote,Asha Jyoti,Maqsad,Main Intequam Loonga,Love 86 andBiwi Ho To Aisi.^{[citation needed]}

In the films produced by South Indian production houses films and those directed byT. Rama Rao, K. Raghavendra Rao, K. Bapaiah, Narayana Rao Dasari, the trio of Asrani-Kader Khan-Shakti Kapoor were regular from 1982 to 1998 and boosted the popularity of the trio.^{[citation needed]}

In 1982, Asrani set up a small Gujarati production company with fellow artistesDinesh Hingoo,Harish Patel and Salim Parvez (son of famous supporting actorYunus Parvez). The company dissolved in 1996 with a large profit. Asrani also invested inclothing and acted as investor for other actors, until 1991 when he lost a lot of money. From 1988 to 1993, he was a director for the Film Institute in Pune. In the 1990s he did only 73 Hindi movies due to lack of good scope for him to perform.Muqabla (1993) saw him in a serious role after a long time.^{[citation needed]}

Simultaneously he kept working in Gujarati films in the 1970s and 1980s as a lead hero and achieved success as the lead protagonist inAmdavad No Rikshawalo,Saat Qaidi,Sansar Chakra,Pankhi No Malo,Jugal Jodi,Maa Baap,Chel Chabilo Gujarati. From the 1990s he played as a comedian or supporting actor in Gujarati films likeMota Ghar Ni Vahu,Piyu Gayo Pardesh, andBaap Dhamal Dikhra.^[9]

D. Ramanaidu gave a pivotal role to Asrani inTaqdeerwala in 1995 and once again comedy movies were being made from there on. Asrani started getting good roles in films directed by David Dhawan and Priyadarshan from 1993 until 2012. His most memorable performances as a comedian from the 1990s are inJo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar,Gardish,Taqdeerwala,Gharwali Baharwali,Bade Miyan Chote Miyan andHero Hindustani.

The 2000s saw Asrani in a number of films likeHera Pheri,Chup Chup Ke,Hulchul,Deewane Huye Paagal,Garam Masala,Dhamaal,Malamaal Weekly,Bhagam Bhag,Bhool Bhulaiyaa,De Dana Dan,Bol Bachchan andKamaal Dhamaal Malamaal. He appeared in a serious role inKyun Ki. He was an integral part of comedies bySajid Nadiadwala andPriyadarshan post-2000.^[9][10]

Asrani in 2018 played the role of Mikesh's grandfather in the popular web seriesPermanent Roommates. He also played the role ofDirector General of Police (DGP) in the serialPartners Trouble Ho Gayi Double.^[11]

Asrani acted asNarada in the 1985Doordarshan TV serialNatkhat Narad. Some of his co-stars wereJayshree T. andVikram Gokhale.^[5]

His obituary inThe Hindu stated: "Versatility was his middle name as he transcended the typical sidekick stereotype to become perfectfoil for thelead character, blendingslapstick with subtle satire and dramatic depth. Be it Rajesh Khanna,Amitabh Bachchan orJeetendra, Asrani played a definitive role in themyth making of severalmatinee idols of the 1970s and 1980s."^[12]

Asrani was admitted to Bharatiya Arogya Nidhi Hospital inJuhu, Mumbai, on 16 October 2025, withbreathing issues.^[13] He died there at 3:00 PM on 20 October, due tofluid accumulation in his lungs. He was 84.^[14][15] His last rites were performed atSantacruz Crematorium^[2][16] with family members in attendance.^[2]

Wikimedia Commons has media related toAsrani.

• Asrani atIMDb

• 1941 births
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• 20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights
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• Film directors from Rajasthan
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