Veteran Actor Asrani Dies at 84 After Prolonged Illness

Veteran Bollywood actor Govardhan Asrani, popularly known as Asrani, passed away on Monday, October 16, 2025, at the age of 84 after a prolonged illness. Asrani had been hospitalized for 5 days prior to his death due to age-related ailments.

Born on January 1, 1940, in Jaipur, Asrani came from a middle-class Sindhi family. He initially worked as a voice artist at All India Radio in Jaipur before pursuing his passion for acting. Asrani trained at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune and made his Bollywood debut in 1967 with the film 'Hare Kaanch Ki Choodiyan'.

Over the course of his prolific 50-year career, Asrani delivered memorable performances in films like the iconic 'Sholay', where he played the role of a jailer. He also worked with acclaimed directors such as Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Gulzar, and BR Chopra, and was a close friend of actor Rajesh Khanna, starring in around 25 films with him.

In the later part of his career, Asrani carved a niche for himself in Priyadarshan's comedy films, delivering standout performances in movies like 'Hera Pheri', 'Aamdani Atthani Kharcha Rupaiyaa', and 'Bol Bachchan'. He was also a part of the recently released 'Dream Girl 2' in 2023.

Asrani's contributions to Hindi cinema over the decades have left a lasting impact, and his passing marks the end of an era for Bollywood.