Veteran actor Govardhan Asrani passed away on Monday, October 20, in Mumbai. Notably, there were several rumours of his death earlier, which were later found out to be false. However, the actor`s personal assistant informed mid-day that the veteran star breathed his last at the age of 84 on Monday.
Sholay actor Asrani dies
His personal assistant, Babubhai confirmed the news to mid-day. He said, “Asrani sahab was admitted to Bharatiya Arogya Nidhi Hospital in Juhu four days ago. He passed away today (October 20) between 3.00 and 3.30 pm. His funeral is done.”
When asked why the family decided to do the funeral so swiftly, he shared that the actor had told his wife Manju that he didnt want the news about his death to be made into headlines. “This is why the family only spoke about his passing away after the funeral was conducted.”
The family might issue a statement soon, while a prayer meet is also being planned.
About Asrani
Asrani was born on January 1, 1941 into a middle-class, Sindhi Hindu family in Jaipur. He was married to actress Manju Bansal, with whom he fell in love while they were working together in films like Aaj Ki Taaza Khabar and Namak Haram. Later the husband-wife duo appeared in several films together.
Asrani’s contribution to the field of comic acting has been invaluable. For several decades, he gave Hindi cinema many memorable characters and earned a special place in the hearts of audiences.
Asrani, one of Hindi cinema’s most beloved comic actors, has delivered unforgettable performances across decades. He is perhaps best remembered for his role as the quirky jailor in Sholay (1975), whose comic timing remains legendary. In the same year, he charmed audiences as Prashant in Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s classic comedy Chupke Chupke (1975). His humorous presence also shone in Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), where he played Akbar’s assistant, adding to the film’s multi-starrer appeal. Earlier, he had showcased his impeccable comic flair in Aaj Ki Taaza Khabar (1973), and in Chhoti Si Baat (1976), he contributed significantly to the film’s light-hearted charm, cementing his status as a staple of Hindi film comedy.
He was recently seen in films like Dream Girl 2 (2023), Non Stop Dhamaal (2023) showcasing his versatility. His upcoming films include Priyadarshan’s Bhooth Bangla and Haiwaan.
