Govardhan Asrani (1 January 1941 – 20 October 2025), known professionally as Asrani, was an Indian actor and director.


 His career in Bollywood spanned over five decades, during which he appeared in over 350 Hindi & Gujarati films. Asrani worked in lead, character, comedic, and supporting roles. He is particularly noted for his role as the jailer in Sholay and Amadavad no Rikshavaro and for his appearances in 25 films with Rajesh Khanna as the lead actor between 1972 and 1991.


In Hindi cinema, he appeared in several comic roles from 1966 to 2014 and frequently portrayed the close friend of the lead actor in films between 1972 and 1995. He appeared in multiple films directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Priyadarshan. In some Hindi films, including Chala Murari Hero Banne and Salaam Memsaab, he played the lead role. In Gujarati films, he acted as the lead from 1972 to 1984 and performed character roles from 1985 to 2012. He directed six films between 1974 and 1997.


Asrani died on 20 October 2025 at the age of 84 after a prolonged illness. He was hospitalized in Mumbai before his death and was cremated at Santacruz Crematorium with family members in attendance.


Asrani was born into a middle-class, Sindhi Hindu family in Jaipur.[4] His father opened a carpet shop. He has four sisters and three brothers: two elder and one younger. Asrani was uninterested in business and weak in mathematics. He completed his matriculation from St. Xaviers School and did his graduation from Rajasthan College, Jaipur. He simultaneously worked as a voice artist at All India Radio, Jaipur, to pay for his education.


He married actress Manju Bansal, with whom he fell in love while working together in films like Aaj Ki Taaza Khabar and Namak Haram. After they wed, the couple acted in Tapasya, Chandi Sona, Jaan-E-Bahaar, Jurmana, Nalayak, Sarkari Mehmaan, Narad Vivah and Chor Sipahee. In Aaj Ki Taaza Khabar, Asrani played Champak Boomia / Amit Desai and Manju played Kesari Desai. For this role Asrani won the Filmfare Award for Best Comedian. Later the couple acted in Hum Nahin Sudhrenge, a home production directed by Asrani in 1980... Read more story 

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