VETERAN actor Asrani, who cemented a special place in the hearts of audiences through his portrayal of the eccentric jailer in “Sholay” and best known for his comic roles, passed away in a hospital here on Monday, his manager said. He was 84. He is survived by his wife, Manju Asrani, his sister, and nephew. The couple had no children. The veteran of several films spanning over five decades, Govardhan Asrani, known popularly by mononym Asrani, was remembered for his characters in “Sholay”, “Namak Haram”, and “Guddi”. The end came on Monday afternoon, four days after he was admitted to Bharatiya Arogya Nidhi Hospital in suburban Juhu.

 

“He was a bit unwell. He was admitted following breathing issues. He passed away today at 3:00 PM. We were told by the doctors that water had accumulated in his lungs,” Asrani’s manager Babubhai Thiba told PTI. Asrani had acted in over 300 films in a career spanning over five decades. He has largely played character roles, and has garnered wide acclaim for his impeccable comic timing. His dialogue, “Hum angrezon ke zamane ke jailor hai” has achieved a cult status. The comical character in Sholay was modelled after Charlie Chaplin in “The Great Dictator”. (Contd on page 5)