Actor Govardhan Asrani, popularly known as Asrani, known for his comedy skills, died in Mumbai on Monday after a prolonged illness. His last rites were performed at Santa Cruz cremation ground.Asrani, a versatile actor who also worked in direction, was admitted to the Bharatiya Arogya Nidhi Hospital four days ago. He was originally a resident of Jaipur. His family shared this news only after his last rites at the Santa Cruz crematorium. Asrani’s personal assistant Babubhai told India Today TV, “Asrani sahib was admitted to Bharatiya Arogya Nidhi Hospital in Juhu four days ago. Doctors told us that fluid (water) had accumulated in his lungs. He passed away today, October 20, at around 3:30 pm. The last rites have already been completed.”
Read this also: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang calls US export policy a ‘big mistake’, lost 95% market share
When asked why the family performed the last rites so soon, he revealed that the actor wanted to pass away peacefully and had asked his wife Manju not to make a big issue of his death. “That’s why the family talked about his demise only after the funeral.”
Senior Bollywood actor Govardhan Asrani, fondly known as Asrani, passed away at the age of 84 after a prolonged illness at around 4 pm on Monday evening. The reason for his demise is still unknown, leaving fans and the film industry in mourning. His sudden demise shocked many, especially because he had shared Diwali 2025 wishes on social media on the same day.
Asrani, who acted in over 350 Hindi films, was one of the most beloved comedians of Indian cinema, widely remembered for his iconic role of the eccentric jailer in ‘Sholay’ (1975). In a career spanning over five decades, he effortlessly balanced comedy, character roles and even direction, leaving behind a legacy that transcends generations.
Early life and entry into films
Born on 1 January 1941 in Jaipur, Rajasthan, into a middle-class Sindhi Hindu family, Asrani showed little interest in business or education. Instead, he took up art and worked as a voice artist at All India Radio while studying at Rajasthan College.
Read this also: Cargo plane skids off runway in Hong Kong, two killed; Millions of dollars loss due to fire at Dhaka airport
In the early 1960s, Asrani moved to Mumbai and trained at the Pune-based Film and Television Institute of India (FTII). She graduated in 1966 and made her film debut in 1967 with ‘Hare Kanch Ki Chudiyan’. His big break came from Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s film ‘Satyakaam’ (1969), which started his mainstream career.
Golden era: 1970s to 1980s
The 1970s and 1980s were the peak of Asrani’s career. He worked in more than 100 films in every decade, which is a record in Hindi cinema. He became a leading actor in Rajesh Khanna’s films, starring in 25 of his films, including hits like ‘Bawarchi’, ‘Namak Haraam’ and ‘Mehbooba’.