MUMBAI: Even as his most iconic film ‘Sholay’ was playing as a Diwali highlight on television, legendary comedian and character actor Asrani passed away at the age of 84 on Monday. His familiar face and nasal twang brought smiles to generations of film audiences through 300 films over a career spanning 50 years.“He was feeling weak for the past 15 days and had respiratory difficulty four days ago. He was hospitalised in Juhu. The final rites were performed in Santacruz crematorium with wife Manju (Bansal) and friends in attendance,” said secretary Babubhai Thiba. Manju was an actress who featured as Asrani’s wife in his famous Champak Bhoomiya avatar in ‘Aaj Ki Taaza Khabar’.The death of the actor, known for his iconic line ‘Ang-rezon ke zamane ke jailer’, evoked a wave of sorrow nationwide. Born Govardhan Asrani to a carpet dealer in Jaipur in Jan 1941, he completed his school and college education in his native state before heading to FTII Pune to make a career in cinema.After being advised to try his luck in cinema by Kishore Sahu and Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Asrani was first noticed in ‘Satyakam’, then ‘Mere Apne’ (1971), followed by ‘Abhimaan’. He accompanied Rajesh Khanna in nearly 25 films from 1972 onwards, inc-luding ‘Namak Haram’ and ‘Bawarchi’.
‘Thank you for giving us a million reasons to laugh’
Asrani lent able support to Amitabh Bachchan especially as his Sindhi secretary in ‘Abhimaan’ and P K Shrivastav in ‘Chupke Chupke’.Asrani’s memorable roles include Roti, Prem Nagar, Chhoti Si Baat, Rafoo Chakkar, Sholay, Balika Badhu, Fakira and Anurodh. He got to express more nuanced performances in Koshish and shades of grey in Nikaah and Ab Kya Hoga.The multifaceted artist also experimented with singing as a horse cart driver in Alaap. Asrani later wrote and directed ‘Chala Murari Hero Banne’ which along with ‘Salaam Memsaab’ cast him as hero.A diverse range of directors from Hrishikesh Mukherjee to Basu Chatterji, onward to David Dhawan and Priyadarshan, exploited his talent well.Asrani also enacted scores of Gujarati films as hero, and directed a few.Akshay Kumar mourned his loss saying, “Speechless with grief at the passing of Asrani ji. We had just shared the warmest of hugs just a week back at the shoot of Haiwaan. Bahot pyare insaan the. He had the most legendary comic timing. From all my cult films Hera Pheri to Bhagam Bhag… I had learned so much from him.. thank you for giving us a million reasons to laugh.”
