असरानी की 85वीं बर्थ एनिवर्सरी: इंदिरा गांधी से शिकायत के बाद मिलने लगा काम, जया–अमिताभ की शादी में बने दुल्हन के भाई

Asrani was born on 1 January 1941 in a Sindhi family in Jaipur, Rajasthan.

Asrani was such an actor, whose name brought a smile on his face. Be it the jailer of Sholay, Dhirendra Bose of Chupke Chupke or his characters in films like Dhamaal and Khatta Meetha, people still remember him.

Born in a non-film family in Jaipur, Asrani came to Mumbai and made his mark in films. This path was not easy. However, on the basis of struggle, training and continuous hard work, he left his own mark in Hindi cinema.

Today is Asrani’s 85th birth anniversary. Come on this occasion, let us know some stories related to his life.

Asrani’s real name was Govardhan Asrani. His father had a carpet shop in Jaipur. The family wanted Asrani to take up this business in future, but his interest was in films and acting. Asrani graduated from Rajasthan College, Jaipur. To meet the expenses during his studies, he also worked as a voice artist in All India Radio.

Asrani did his schooling from St. Xavier’s School, Jaipur.

Asrani had told in an interview given to DD National that during his college days, his photographs used to be published in the college magazine. He used to do college stage plays and children’s programs on radio.

Neighbors used to call Asrani, “The boy is a good actor.” He also received praise from relatives continuously. People used to say that this boy will do something. These praises created confidence in his mind that he should enter the world of films.

Famous music director Naushad Ali was a relative of an uncle from Asrani’s locality in Jaipur. With the help of that relationship, uncle wrote a letter to Naushad. It was written in the letter, “This boy has a good voice and also does comedy well.”

Reached Mumbai with a letter addressed to Naushad

After completing his matriculation, Asrani left for Mumbai from Jaipur with a letter addressed to Naushad. He felt that if Naushad Saheb’s name was there, he would get the work easily.

Naushad Ali composed music in films like Mother India, Mughal-e-Azam, Ganga Jamuna, Aan and Pakeezah.

After reaching Mumbai, he saw the glitter of the big city for the first time. Wide roads, tall buildings, fast paced life. He wrote a letter home that he would get the work in three-four days, but the reality was completely opposite. A month passed while searching for Naushad’s address. When Naushad’s bungalow named ‘Aashiana’ was found, he met the watchman there.

Asrani said that he has brought a letter from Jaipur in the name of Naushad and wants to become an actor. The watchman said clearly, “Clear this misunderstanding. Naushad Sahab is very busy. It will take time to meet him. It is better to leave a letter and come after a month.”

Asrani felt that now the way was open, but gradually the illusion started breaking. He kept looking for work for a year. Ultimately, Naushad Sahab’s nephew took pity and got him a guest role in a film. The film was Khota Paisa. In this role, he had to stand in line in a party scene of the film.

A suit was required for this role in the film, but Asrani did not even have one. Under compulsion, Asrani, who was five and a half feet tall, had to wear his six feet tall uncle’s big suit.

After standing in the queue for eight days for the movie, Asrani understood that the path to films is not so easy. The intoxication had subsided. Ultimately he returned from Mumbai after a year and came to Jaipur.

On returning to Jaipur, the family members said, “Well done son, now take charge of the carpet shop.” But the same broken dream taught Asrani that coming to Mumbai with only dreams without preparation and training is the biggest mistake. This learning became the foundation of his struggle later.

Learned the nuances of acting in FTII

After some time, Asrani came to know that a professional course in acting was going to be started for the first time at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune. Asrani felt that if one really wants to become an actor, then it is important to first learn acting properly. With this thought in mind, he reached Pune and applied for admission in the institute. After the selection process, he got selected.

While studying at FTII, Asrani learned the nuances of acting, but even after completing the course, his path did not become easy. The struggle continued along with studies. He kept commuting between Pune and Mumbai. Sometimes he would give auditions, sometimes he would visit production offices and sometimes he would look for small roles. During this period, he got some small roles, but did not get permanent work.

In an interview given to Bollywood Thikana, Asrani had told that after completing his studies from FTII, he used to go to production offices with his certificate, but often he was turned away. People would taunt and say, “Is acting based on a certificate? There are big stars here who have not done any training.”

Had complained to Indira Gandhi regarding films

One day Indira Gandhi came to Pune. At that time she was the Minister of Information and Broadcasting. Asrani and his colleagues complained to him and said that despite having the certificate, no one gives them work. Indira Gandhi listened attentively.

Later, after coming to Mumbai, Indira Gandhi asked the producers to give a chance to trained artistes of FTII. From here Asrani’s luck changed. A few days later, he and Jaya Bhaduri (Bachchan) got the film Guddi. Asrani’s role in this film was small, but when the film became a superhit, he got many films.

Asrani played the role of a struggling actor named Kundan in Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s 1971 film Guddi.

Sholay was one of Asrani’s most popular films.

Asrani worked in more than 300 films during his career. Among these, the film Sholay was one of his most popular films, in which he played the role of a jailer of the British era. In his last interview given to Dainik Bhaskar, Asrani had told how he had prepared to play this role.

Asrani had told that when he was called to the office in Khar for the role of Sholay, he thought that there would be a normal meeting like every day, but as soon as he reached inside, the atmosphere felt different. Salim Khan, Javed Akhtar and Ramesh Sippy were sitting in a small room. Everyone had a script of just two-four pages in their hands.

Javed Akhtar started reading, “Attention… Attention… We are from the British era…”

Asrani was shocked. Then it was explained to him that this character is a big show-off, a bit stupid, but considers himself the most intelligent man in the world. This is his real attitude and this has to be captured.

The film Sholay was released on 15 August 1975.

After this Salim-Javed gave him a book of World War Second, which contained 12-13 poses of Hitler. It was told that before coming in public, Hitler used to rehearse in his room, wearing full dress, giving different poses in front of the photographer and choosing some of them and going in front of the public.

At that moment Asrani understood that the strength of this character is his attitude, when this man speaks, he instigates the person in front of him.

To prepare for the role, Asrani also watched some films based on Hitler, including Charlie Chaplin’s The Great Dictator.

Later, Asrani showed off his skills by donning a full uniform and mustache at Mohan Studios in Mumbai for the role and was selected for the film.

In the film Sholay, Amitabh Bachchan played the role of Jai and Dharmendra played the role of Veeru.

Asrani’s scene was cut

However, Asrani had told that there came a time when his scene from the film Sholay was cut due to its length. He was not even aware of this because he had returned after completing the shooting. The makers felt that such a long film would not run in theatres.

Later it was found that his scene is present in the 70 mm print of Mumbai, whereas not in the other prints. Sound recordist Mangesh Desai called it an important part of the film and warned that cutting it would be a mistake. Then, on the initiative of a journalist in Nagpur, his scene was finally added again and this character became one of the most memorable roles of Hindi cinema.

Brothers were present at Jaya-Amitabh’s wedding. Asrani and Jaya Bachchan worked together in many films, but their relationship was not limited to just co-stars. This relationship was of Guru-disciple and with time, brother-sister likeness also got added to it. Asrani was Jaya’s teacher in FTII. While there he taught Jaya the nuances of acting.

Asrani had told that he met Amitabh Bachchan through Jaya. Jaya lived on the floor below him. Amitabh used to come to meet him often. Many times it would happen that when producers were sitting at Jaya’s house, then Amitabh would quietly come and sit at Asrani’s house.

Jaya and Asrani had worked together in films like Guddi, Bawarchi, Abhiman, Chupke Chupke.

Asrani was one of the bride’s four brothers at Jaya and Amitabh’s wedding. Gulzar, Ramesh Bahl and a relative were also with him. Even after earning a big name in films, Jaya used to call Asrani respectfully as Sir.

People advised not to do negative roles

People always knew Asrani for his tremendous comic timing. Spreading laughter became his identity as soon as he came on screen, but Asrani also played serious and negative roles in his career in films like Ab Kya Hoga, Chaitali, Prem Nagar and Teri Meherbaniyaan. One such role was in the film Prayas.

In 1972, Asrani played the role of Kanu in the film Shosh, directed by Gulzar. His character in the film was greedy and completely negative. In this film, his character takes advantage of his deaf-mute sister and her husband.

Asrani played the role of Jaya Bhaduri (Aarti)’s brother in the film Shosh.

When the film was released, people praised his acting, but at the same time many people started telling him, “Don’t do such negative roles.”

Asrani had told in DD National’s program Trysh Se Kamby Tak that after watching the film, people had said, “Dude, don’t play such a role, your child dies in your hand. Don’t do a negative role.”

Dharmendra was surprised to see Asrani in a suit

During the shooting of the film Chupke Chupke, released in 1975, Asrani had to wear a suit for his character. This was a bit strange for him, because generally he rarely got roles wearing suits in films. He approached director Hrishikesh Mukherjee to understand the scene, but no one told him anything.

Hrishikesh Mukherjee was playing chess with writer Rahi Masoom Raza at that time. Four-five assistant directors were also sitting nearby. Asrani kept asking about the scene again and again, but there was silence everywhere. He stood there wearing a suit and shooting.

In Chupke Chupke, Dharmendra played a double role (Parmal Tripathi/Pyare Mohan), Amitabh Bachchan played the role of fake professor Sukumar Kumar Sinha and Asrani was seen in the role of Prashant Kumar.

Then suddenly Dharmendra entered there in driver’s dress. He asked Asrani with surprise, “I have become your driver?”

Dharmendra felt that something was wrong. He bombarded Asrani with many questions like what was the scene, where did he get the suit from and why was I made a driver?

Meanwhile, Hrishikesh Mukherjee saw this movement. He said angrily, “O Dharam! Why are you asking Asrani about the scene?” Then he said, “If you had this much understanding of the scene, you would not have been an actor.”

Asrani had worked in Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s films like Guddi, Abhiman and Chupke Chupke.

Asrani’s film Ikkis is releasing today

After Asrani’s death on 20 October 2025, his film Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon 2 was released. Today, on his birth anniversary, his another film ‘Ikkis’ is being released, in which late Dharmendra will also be seen. This is Dharmendra’s last film.

Apart from this, late Asrani will also be seen in director Priyadarshan’s upcoming films Bhoot Bangla and Haiwaan. These films are expected to release in 2026.

Asrani with Dharmendra in a scene from the film Ikkis.

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