Asrani no more
Credit: X/@airnewsalerts
Mumbai: Veteran actor Govardhan Asrani — popularly known as Asrani — who played the iconic role of Jailor in blockbuster Sholay, passed away in Mumbai on Monday. He was 84.
Asrani’s comic timing, presence and dialogue delivery made him unforgettable and even after 50 years of Sholay and scores of other popular films, he is still remembered by the film-loving audiences.
A veteran of over 350 films, he had played lead roles, character roles, comic roles and supporting roles - and has worked with most of the big actors, directors and producers of his time.
The actor was facing age-related issues.
“Asrani Ji passed away at the Arogya Nidhi Hospital in Juhu. His last rites were performed at Shastri Nagar in Santacruz in the presence of family members and close friends,” his manager Babubhai Thiba said.
Sharing the news of his death, the Cine & TV Artistes’ Association (CINTAA), said: “CINTAA expresses its condolences on the demise of Asrani Ji."
Born on January 1, 1941, in a Sindhi-Hindu family in Jaipur, Asrani did his matriculation from St Xaviers School and did his graduation from Rajasthan College.
In 1964, he joined the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune from where he passed out in 1966.
Veteran filmmaker Hrishikesh Mukherjee gave him the break in Satyakam.
Some of his memorable roles were in Sholay, Guddi, Mere Apne, Koshish, Bawarchi, Parichay, Abhiman, Chupke Chupke and Choti is Baat.
Some of his latest performances were in several hit films such as Bhool Bhulaiyaa, Dhamaal, Bunty Aur Babli 2, Rajkumar, All The Best, and Welcome.