Bollywood Mourns the Loss of Legendary Actor Asrani on Diwali

Diwali, the festival of lights, turned somber for Bollywood this year as renowned actor Asrani passed away at the age of 84. While homes across India were lit up with celebrations on October 20, the film industry was struck by grief with the news of Asrani’s demise.

Famous for his iconic role as the jailer in the classic film *Sholay*, Asrani left an indelible mark on the hearts of cinema lovers. On October 20, Asrani breathed his last and was quietly cremated later that evening. Despite dedicating 50 years to cinema, only about 20 people attended his funeral.

Born Govardhan Asrani, the actor had been hospitalized four days prior due to water accumulation in his lungs. He passed away around 3:00 PM on Diwali, Monday afternoon. His last Instagram post, in which he wished his fans a happy Diwali, has gone viral since his passing.

According to his manager, Asrani expressed his final wish to his wife, Manju Asrani: he wanted his death to remain private and did not want any commotion. He requested that news of his passing be shared only after his funeral. As a result, his last rites were performed quietly at the Shanti Nagar crematorium in Santacruz, with only 15 to 20 family members present.

Asrani is survived by his wife, Manju Asrani. The couple had no children, and his immediate family consists of his wife, a sister, and a nephew.

Over his illustrious career, Asrani acted in around 350 films, including *Sholay*, *Abhimaan*, *Chupke Chupke*, *Chhoti Si Baat*, and *Bhool Bhulaiyaa*. His famous dialogue from *Sholay*, “Hum Angrezon ke zamane ke jailer hain” (“I am the jailer from the British era”), remains popular to this day. He was last seen in the 2023 film *Nonstop Dhamaal*.

Govardhan Asrani was originally from Jaipur, born on January 1, 1941. His father ran a carpet business and hoped his children would continue the family trade. However, Asrani was drawn to the world of cinema, where he built a legacy that will be remembered for generations.