Legendary Bollywood actor and comedian Govardhan Asrani passed away on Monday (October 20) at 4 PM in Mumbai, at the age of 84. His death was confirmed by several media outlets, including Filmfare, after he had been battling a long-term illness.
Born in Jaipur, Rajasthan, Asrani had an illustrious career spanning over five decades, acting in more than 350 films in Hindi, Gujarati, and Punjabi. He is best remembered for his portrayal of the eccentric jailer in the iconic 1975 film ‘Sholay’, which earned him widespread fame. His memorable roles in ‘Mere Apne’, ‘Chupke Chupke’, ‘Amar Akbar Anthony’, and many other films have left an indelible mark on Indian cinema.
Asrani started his acting career in Mumbai in the 1960s and soon became one of the most beloved comedic actors of Bollywood. Apart from acting, he also took on the role of director for the 1977 film ‘Chalbaaz’.
His passing has left a void in the film industry. Renowned actor Amitabh Bachchan paid tribute, writing, "The end of an era in acting." Actor Dharmendra expressed his sadness, saying, "The light of Diwali has gone out."