Tributes have been pouring in after veteran actor and comedian Govardhan Asrani passed away in Mumbai on October 20. He was 84 and admired for his great sense of humour and unique acting skills.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and actors pay tribute to Asrani
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was one of the first to share his sadness on social media, calling Asrani “a talented entertainer and a truly versatile artist.”
“Deeply saddened by the passing of Shri Govardhan Asrani Ji,” the Prime Minister wrote on X. “He particularly added joy and laughter to countless lives through his unforgettable performances. His contribution to Indian cinema will always be remembered. My condolences to his family and fans. Om Shanti.”
Deeply saddened by the passing of Shri Govardhan Asrani Ji. A gifted entertainer and a truly versatile artist, he entertained audiences across generations. He particularly added joy and laughter to countless lives through his unforgettable performances. His contribution to Indian…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 21, 2025
Actor Akshay Kumar shared how shocked he was, posting a happy picture of them together. “I’m speechless with sadness at the passing of Asraniji,” he wrote. “We had just hugged each other warmly only a week back on the set of Haiwaan. He was such a lovely person… he had the best comic timing ever.”
Fellow actor Anupam Kher also shared his feelings: “Dearest #AsraniJi! Thank you for making the world a nicer place with your personality! Both on and off screen! We will miss seeing you, but movies and your ability to make people laugh will keep you alive for years to come! Om Shanti.”
Many people remember Asrani best as the funny “Jailor” from the classic film Sholay. Singer-composer Adnan Sami recalled the actor’s dedication when he asked him to play that role again for his “Lift Karade” music video.
Sami wrote an emotional message saying that Asrani was so committed he made sure everything he wore, the wig, moustache, and uniform was exactly the same as the original props used for the Sholay movie.
Rajpal Yadav, who worked with Asrani often in films like Bhool Bhulaiyaa and Dhol, shared a heartfelt message. He said, “Whether it be Bhool Bhulaiyaa, Dhol, or our last film Bhoot Bangla, your help in making all the scenes a success is special,” showing how important the senior actor was on set.
Filmmaker Anees Bazmee, who directed Asrani in Welcome and Singh Is Kinng, remembered their 40-year friendship. “I’m very sad. He was a great actor and an equally great human being,” Bazmee told PTI. “It was a pleasure to work with him; he would make us laugh even when the camera wasn’t rolling. He had a special way of laughing that no one else could do. I’ll miss him a lot.”
Even cricketer Shikhar Dhawan paid tribute, calling Asrani “a true icon” of Indian cinema. “Grew up watching the amazing comic timing and charm of Asrani ji. His memory will live on forever,” Dhawan said.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis added that Asrani was “synonymous with wholesome entertainment.” He said, “His performances, whether funny or serious, always connected with audiences. His death is a big loss to Hindi cinema.”
The ‘Jailer’ role he was ‘born to play’
Veteran actor Asrani will always be remembered for playing the bossy jailer in the film Sholay. The director of Sholay, Ramesh Sippy, believes it was a role he was born to play.
Sippy said he felt the death of the actor on Monday at 84 was sudden, especially since Asrani seemed absolutely fine when they met recently. “He did a lot of work but this role stands out,” Sippy told PTI. “I will long, long remember him. It’s a role he was born to play. But saying all this on a day like this doesn’t feel good. It feels maybe that’s the best way to remember him,” he further said.
The jailer character, whose famous line is “Hum Angrezon ke zamane ke jailer hain ha ha” (I am a jailer from the British era), was inspired by Charlie Chaplin’s character in the film The Great Dictator. Sippy remembered first working with Asrani in Seeta Aur Geeta and being impressed with him.
“Then Sholay came up, and this part was written by writer duo Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar,” Sippy said. “We all thought Asrani would be the right person. We called him, talked about it with him. He was very happy to come and do this role. He was part of the creation of that character,” he further added.
The filmmaker greatly praised Asrani for playing the jailer role in the most natural way. “He worked so well that people till today remember it. This character will never be forgotten,” the director shared.
Asrani’s acting career
Asrani started his acting career in Hindi films in 1967 with the movie Hare Kaanch Ki Choodiyan. In that film, he played the friend of the main actor, Biswajeet. Around the same time, he also took on lead roles in several Gujarati films.
He was a talented actor who felt comfortable playing both serious and funny parts. Asrani was a graduate of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), a famous acting school. One of his final movie roles was in Haiwaan, which starred Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan.