Veteran actor Asrani, whose comedy style made generations laugh, passed away in Mumbai at the age of 84. There was a wave of mourning after hearing the news of his demise, with many people including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah paying tribute to him. At the event, Prime Minister Modi remembered Asrani as “a talented entertainer and a truly versatile artiste” whose acting delighted audiences across generations. He wrote, “Deeply saddened by the demise of Shri Govardhan Asrani ji. A talented entertainer and truly versatile artiste, he entertained audiences across generations. He especially brought joy and laughter into the lives of countless people with his unforgettable acting. His contribution to Indian cinema will always be cherished. My condolences to his family and fans. Om Shanti.”
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also expressed grief, saying, “The demise of famous actor Asrani ji is extremely sad. Asrani ji contributed to Indian cinema throughout his life and made a place in the hearts of millions of people by making people laugh. May God give his family and fans the strength to bear this irreparable loss. Om Shanti.”
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According to her manager Babu Bhai Thiba, Asrani died at Arogya Nidhi Hospital in Juhu, Mumbai. He is survived by his wife, sister and nephew. His last rites were performed at Santa Cruz cremation ground.
There was a series of tribute meetings. Actor Akshay Kumar, who has worked with Asrani in many films, wrote, “I am speechless on Asrani ji’s demise. Just a week ago we hugged each other during the shooting of ‘Haiwaan’. Very sweet person, his comic timing was amazing. From all my best films ‘Hera Pheri’ to ‘Bhagam Bhag’, ‘De Dana Dan’, ‘Welcome’ and now our unreleased ‘Bhoot Bangla’ and Till ‘Haivaan’, I learned and worked with him a lot. This is a huge loss for our industry. God bless you Asrani sir, for giving us millions of reasons to laugh. Om Shanti.”
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Other celebrities including Kajol, Ayushmann Khurrana, Anupam Kher, Jackie Shroff and Adnan Sami also paid heartfelt tributes remembering his evergreen acting and wonderful humour.