Entertainent Desk: Veteran Indian actor Govardhan Asrani, widely known simply as Asrani, has died at the age of 84 after a prolonged illness.
He passed away on Monday after being hospitalised for five days due to age-related ailments, according to an NDTV report.
Asrani was born on Jan 1, 1940, in Jaipur, into a middle-class Sindhi family. Despite his father owning a carpet shop, Asrani showed no interest in the family business, choosing instead to pursue acting.
His acting career in Bollywood began in 1967 with the film “Hare Kaanch Ki Choodiyan”, where he played the friend of actor Biswajeet. He also took on several lead roles in Gujarati films during this time.
One of Asrani’s most iconic performances was his portrayal of the jailer in the classic 1975 film Sholay. Throughout his career, he delivered versatile performances in films directed by acclaimed figures such as Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Gulzar, and BR Chopra.
He was also a close friend of legendary Indian actor Rajesh Khanna and appeared alongside him in around 25 films, including 1972’s Bawarchi.
Asrani is survived by his wife, actress Manju Bansal, whom he met while filming Aaj Ki Taaza Khabar and Namak Haram. The couple share a son, Naveen Asrani.
Spanning over five decades, Asrani’s significant contributions as both an actor and director have left an indelible mark on Hindi cinema.
