Several celebrities, including Ajay Devgn, Madhur Bhandarkar and Adnan Sami, have expressed sorrow over the death of veteran actor Asrani. He died on October 20 at the age of 84 after a prolonged illness.
Actor Ajay Devgn reflected on his journey from being an admirer to a colleague. He wrote, “Deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Asrani ji. From admiring his work to growing up to sharing screen space with him…it was a true honour. Always full of warmth, humour and humility. You will always be remembered sir. Om shaanti (sic).”
Director Madhur Bhandarkar offered his respects by acknowledging Asrani’s legacy in Indian cinema. Bhandarkar shared, “Saddened by the passing of the legendary actor Asrani ji. His remarkable contributions to Indian cinema, especially in comic timing, have left a lasting impact. For decades, he brought countless memorable characters to life, earning a cherished place in the hearts of audiences. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family and admirers (sic).”
Singer Adnan Sami also posted a tribute, emphasising the versatility of Asrani’s work. Sami wrote on X, “I am so saddened to learn about the passing of our dearest legend, Asrani ji. A man who was a genius of his craft and an artistic treasure. Although people will always remember him for his incredible comedy, he was a man of all seasons and styles. His dramatic roles were equally brilliant. But alas, his ‘Angraizon Ke Zamaanay Ke Jailor’ from the epic ‘Sholay’ will be remembered forever. (sic)”
Sami also recounted working with Asrani on a music video. He stated, “I had the honour of working and spending time with him when I requested him to appear in my music video of ‘Lift Karade’ and I too wanted him to reenact his legendary ’Jailor’ character, for which he generously agreed.”
“He was so committed that he made sure that every aspect of his getup was from the original makers of the ‘Sholay’ Movie—The wig, moustache and uniform. His enthusiasm and passion for his work was an example for us all to learn from. He was a thorough gentleman (sic),” the singer added.
Here’s how other celebrities mourned the death of veteran actor Asrani:
Asrani had recently been admitted to Bharatiya Arogya Nidhi Hospital in Juhu, where he died on October 20. According to his assistant, Babubhai, “Asrani sahab was admitted to Bharatiya Arogya Nidhi Hospital in Juhu four days ago. From what the doctors told us, there was fluid (water) accumulation in his lungs. He died on October 20, around 3:30 pm. The last rites have already been completed.”
Over his long career, Asrani became a cherished figure in Indian cinema. He was best known for roles in films such as ‘Sholay’, where his comic portrayal of a jailor became iconic. His work has remained relevant across generations, with recent appearances in ‘Non Stop Dhamaal’ and ‘Dream Girl 2’.
Two of the actor’s upcoming films, Bhooth Bangla and Haiwaan, are slated to release posthumously in 2026.
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.indiatoday.in ’
