Mumbai, Oct 21 — Veteran actor Asrani, one of Indian cinema’s most admired character artists known for his unforgettable performances in Sholay, Chhoti Si Baat and Abhimaan, passed away on Monday afternoon at the age of 84.
Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, Shabana Azmi, and several other film personalities mourned the loss, calling it the end of an era in Indian cinema.
Bachchan, who worked with Asrani in multiple films including Abhimaan, Chupke Chupke and Namak Haram, remembered him as “a most talented colleague.”
“We lose another… Asrani Sir, a most talented colleague, a tutor to Jaya at the Film Institute… sudden and saddening… prayers,” Bachchan wrote on his blog.
Azmi, recalling her FTII days, said Asrani was her diction teacher. “The way he spoke was very beautiful. It’s a loss the whole of India will bear for a long time,” she said.
Akshay Kumar, who shared screen space with Asrani in several comedies including Hera Pheri, Bhagam Bhag and De Dana Dan, said he was “speechless with grief.”
“We had just hugged a week back at the shoot of Haiwaan. He was a lovely person with legendary comic timing. What an absolute loss to our industry,” Akshay posted.
Actor Ajay Devgn said it was an honour to work with him in Bol Bachchan and All the Best. “Always full of warmth, humour and humility. You will always be remembered, sir,” he wrote.
Actors Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Rajkummar Rao, Farhan Akhtar, Kajol, Rajpal Yadav, and Ayushmann Khurrana also expressed grief, remembering his warmth, humour, and timeless characters that became part of India’s collective memory.
Over his five-decade-long career, Asrani appeared in hundreds of films, working with top stars and directors across generations. His versatile performances — from comic brilliance to emotional depth — made him a beloved figure in Indian cinema.
