Asrani

For other people named Asrani, see Asrani (surname).

Asrani
Native name	असराणी اسراڻي
Born	Govardhan Asrani 1 January 1941 (Age 75) Jaipur, Rajasthan
Education	Graduation
Alma mater	Rajasthan College, FTII, Pune
Occupation	Actor, Producer
Years active	1967-present
Spouse(s)	Manju Asrani
Awards	Filmfare Award for Best Comedian

Govardhan Asrani, popularly known simply as Asrani, is an Indian actor and director whose Bollywood career has spanned five decades. He has played in both Gujarati and Hindi films, and his roles include lead hero performances, character roles, comedic roles, as well as supporting parts.

Early life

Asrani was born in a middle class Hindu Sindhi family. His father migrated to Jaipur after the Partition of India and opened a shop selling carpets. He has four sisters and three brothers: two elder and one younger. Asrani was highly uninterested in business and very weak in mathematics. He completed his matriculation from St. Xaviers School and did his graduation from Rajasthan College, Jaipur. He simultaneously worked as a voice artist at All India Radio, Jaipur, to pay for his education. His ultimate aim was to become an actor.

He is married to actress Manju (nee Bansal), with whom he fell in love working together in films like Aaj Ki Taaza Khabar and Tapasya. In Aaj Ki Taza Khabar, Asrani played as Champak Boomia / Amit Desai and Manju played role of Kesari Desai and for this role Asrani won Filmfare Award for Best Comedian. Later the couple acted in Hum Nahin Sudhrenge, a home production directed by Asrani in 1980.

Career

He began to learn acting from Sahitya Kalbhai Thakkar from 1960 to 1962. In 1962, he travelled to Bombay (now Mumbai) and began to seek opportunities to act. In 1963, on an accidental meeting with Kishore Sahu and Hrishikesh Mukherjee, they advised him to learn acting professionally.

In 1964 Asrani joined the Film Institute in Poona (now Film and Television Institute of India, Pune) and finished his course in 1966. He got his first break in Hindi films playing the friend of actor Biswajeet in the film Hare Kaanch Ki Choodiyan in 1967. In the film institute he had impressed many and made his acting break as a hero in 1967 with a Gujarati movie opposite budding actress Waheeda (not Waheeda Rahman; the Hindi actress). He acted in four other movies, mainly as actor or supporting actor in Gujarati from 1967 to 1969. He did not get much offers from Hindi film industry between 1967-69. His old advisor, Hrishikesh Mukherjee then gave him role of supporting actor in the film Satyakam in 1969. He got noticed then in the film Mere Apne. It was from 1971 that he started getting more offers as the main comedian in films or as the close friend of the lead actor.

Directors like Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Atma Ram, Gulzar repeatedly cast him in the period 1971-1974 and his work got noticed through these films. These roles he did from 1971-1974 set the tone for a number of supporting and comic roles in his career and in 70's his demand was at its peak as he appeared in 101 films from 1970-1979 and had effective roles in them. Though initially Rajesh Khanna and Asrani had met only on sets of Bawarchi, they became close friends after Namak Haraam, after which for the role of comedian Rajesh Khanna insisted the producers and directors to make Asrani part of his films. Asrani worked in 25 films with Rajesh Khanna from 1972-1991 from Bawarchi (1972) to Ghar Parivaar (1991). His most memorable works as supporting actor from 1970-1979 are in Mere Apne, Koshish, Bawarchi, Parichay, Abhimaan, Mehbooba, Palkon Ki Chhaon Mein, Do Ladke Dono Kadke, Bandish. He played the lead hero in Chala Murari Hero Banne, a Hindi film he wrote and directed in 1977, which was critically acclaimed. His notable role as comedian from 70's are in Aaj Ki Taaza Khabar, Roti, Prem Nagar, Chupke Chupke, Chhoti Si Baat, Rafoo Chakkar, Sholay, Balika Badhu, Fakira, Anurodh, Chhailla Babu, Charas, Phaansi, Dillagi, Heeralal Pannalal, Pati Patni Aur Woh and Hamare Tumhare. Though he had played supporting character in many films even before, he played a serious role for first time in Khoon Pasina. He was hugely talked about in the 1970s and was one of Rajesh Khanna's close friends. He became a regular feature in films produced by D. Rama Naidu and those movies directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee, B.R.Chopra, K. Bapaiah, Narayana Rao Dasari, K. Raghavendra Rao, Basu Chatterjee in 1972-1992. He won the Filmfare award for Best Comedian for his performances in Aaj Ki Taaza Khabar in 1974 and for Balika Badhu in 1977. In 1974, he directed his first movie in Gujarati with Asrani himself as the hero, and the song Hu Amdavad No Rikshawalo sung by Kishore Kumar was picturised on Asrani. The songs picturised on Asrani and sung by Kishore in Hindi are Achcha Chaloji Baba Maaf Kardo from Hamare Tumhare, Pyar Main Karoonga from Yeh Kaisa Insaaf. The song 'Mannu Bhai Motor Chali Pam' was sung by him with Kishore Kumar and was picturised on Rishi Kapoor and him, in 'Phool Khile Hain Gulshan Gulshan' in 1978.

In the 1980s, he acted in 107 Hindi films. Asrani holds record for appearing as a character actor/comedian in most number of Hindi films in a decade – 101 in 70’s and 107 in 80’s. Unlike his roles in 1970-84 which were pivotal to the plot, most of his roles from 1985-1993 were very minor mainly because the concept of a comedian was getting phased out and heroes preferred to do their own comedy and action films were ruling the roost in the period 1985-1994. In 80's his memorable performances were in Hamari Bahu Alka, Ek Hi Bhool, Yeh Kaisa Insaf, Kaamchor, Agar Tum Na Hote, Asha Jyoti, Maqsad, Main Intequam Loonga, Love 86, Biwi Ho To Aisi. During this period in 1982, he set up a small Gujarati production company with fellow artistes Dinesh Hingoo, Harish Patel and Salim Parvez (son of famous supporting actor Yunus Parvez). The company dissolved in 1996 with a large profit. Asrani also invested mainly in cloth and acted as investor for other actors, until 1991 when he lost a lot of money. From 1988 to 1993, he was a director for the Film Institute in Pune. It was only from 1985-1994 that his screen space in the Hindi films was for less duration. In 90's he did only 73 Hindi movies due to lack of good scope for him to perform. Muqabla (1993) saw him in a serious role after long time.

Simultaneously he kept working in Gujarati films in 70's, 80's as lead hero and achieved success as the lead protagonist in Amdavad No Rikshawalo, Saat Qaidi, Sansar Chakra, Pankhi No Malo, Jugal Jodi, Maa Baap, Chel Chabilo Gujarati. From 90's he played as comedian or supporting actor in Gujarati films like Mota Ghar Ni Vahu, Piyu Gayo Pardesh, Baap Dhamal Dikhra.

D.Rama Naidu gave him a pivotal role to Asrani in Taqdeerwala in 1995 and once again comedy movies were being made from there on . Asrani started getting good roles in films directed by David Dhawan and Priyadarshan from 1993 till 2012. His most memorable performances as comedian from 90's are in Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, Gardish, Taqdeerwala, Gharwali Baharwali, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, Hero Hindustani.

The 2000s saw Asrani in a number of films like Hera Pheri, Chup Chup Ke, Hulchul, Deewane Huye Paagal, Garam Masala, Chup Chup Ke, Malamaal Weekly, Bhagam Bhag, De Dana Dan, Bol Bachchan, Kamaal Dhamaal Malamaal which had him in effective comedy roles. He appeared in a serious role in Kyun Ki. He was an integral part of comedies by Sajid Nadiadwala, Priyadarshan after 2000. His screen space in films of Rohit Shetty and others has got reduced gradually after 2009.

Asrani and Mallika Sherawat were the judges of the 18th annual Naya Andaz competition on 17 April 2010, in New Jersey.

Filmography

Actor

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2015	Sallu Ki Shaadi
	Dillagi... Yeh Dillagi
	Ishq Ka Manjan	santa
2014	18.11 - A Code of Secrecy	Habilder-Paholwan
2013	R.. Rajkumar	Pandit
	Himmatwala	Ticket Checker
2012	Joker	Master ji
	Kamaal Dhamaal Malamaal	Priest
	Bol Bachchan	Shashtri
	Agent Vinod	Ramlal
2011	Bodyguard	Shekhar
2010	Khatta Meeta	Karodimal
	Dus Tola	Sarpanch
2009	Paying Guests	Kiska Miglani
	De Dana Dan	Mamu
	All The Best	Vidya's father
2008	Karzzz	College Principal
	Billu	Naubat Chacha
	Yaariyan		Punjabi film
2007	Bhool Bhulaiyaa	Murari
	Dhamaal	Nari Contractor
	Fool & Final	Lalwani
	Bhagam Bhag	TBC
2006	Malamaal Weekly	Chokhey
	Chup Chup Ke	Sharma Ji
2005	Garam Masala	Mamu
	Cages	Leo	English film
	Elaan	Kishorilal
	Insaan	Film Director
	Kyon ki	Asylum patient
	Hulchul	Advocate Mishra
2004	Ek Se Badhkar Ek	Don Srikant Ramprasad
	Suno Sasurjee	Murli
	Arrangement	Papa
2003	Mumbai Matinee	Pyarelal
	Baghban	Bedi
	Tujhe Meri Kasam	Kashinath Dixit
2002	Dil Vil Pyar Vyar	Chandru
	Ankhiyon Se Goli Maare	Topichand's brother-in-law
	Awara Paagal Deewana	Champaklal
	Ek Aur Visphot	Dr. Daniel
2001	Aamdani Atthani Kharcha Rupaiyaa	Jhoomri's Boss
	Yeh Teraa Ghar Yeh Meraa Ghar	Chandiramani
	Lajja	Gulab Chand
2000	Aaghaaz	Gullu
	Karobaar	Champak
	Chal Mere Bhai	Family Doctor
	Tera Jadoo Chal Gayaa	Company owner
	Hera Pheri	Bank Manager
	Mela	Kaka/Banwari Baniya
1999	Raja Kumarudu	Policeman
	Haseena Maan Jaayegi	Jamnadas
	International Khiladi	Payal's Boss
	Heeralal Pannalal	Havaldar Chaurasia
	Mother	Johnny
1998	Mehndi	Tolani
	Hero Hindustani	Cameroon
	Haste Hasate
	Bade Miyan Chote Miyan	Security Officer
	Dulhe Raja	Inspector Azgar Singh
	Gharwali Baharwali	Dr. Ved
1993	Muqabla	Soni's husband
	Dil Tera Aashiq	Natwar Lal
1992	Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar	Dubeyji, Teacher
1992	Laat Saab
1985	Teri Meherbaniyan	Munim Banwarilal
1983	Himmatwala	Bhushan
1982	Nikaah	Saif
	Sitam
1980	Agreement	Dilip Kanuchand
1981	Ek Hi Bhool	Manohar Prasad M.P.
1979	Satyakaam	Peter
1978	Pati Patni Aur Woh	Abdul Karim Durrani
	Badalte Rishtey	Anup Chandra Thakur
1977	Kalabaaz	Changu
	Alaap	Ganesh (Ganeshi)
1976	Tapasya	Vinod Sinha
	Balika Badhu	Sharat
1975	Mili	Drunkard (Guest Appearance)
	Chhoti Si Baat	Nagesh
	Rafoo Chakkar	Kanhaiyalal Chaturvedi
	Sholay	Jailor
	Chupke Chupke	Prashant Shrivastav
1974	Bidaai	Murli/Bhaskar
	Ajnabee	Chetan Kumar
	Aap Ki Kasam	Dr. Ghad-Ghad Singhwala
1973	Namak Haraam	Dhondu, Shyama's brother
	Abhimaan	Chander Kripalani
	Anamika	Hanuman Singh
1972	Parichay	Narayan
	Bawarchi	Vishwanath Sharma/Babbu
1971	Mere Apne	Raghunath
	Guddi	Kundan
1969	Umang
1967	Hare Kanch Ki Chooriyan	Tripathi

As director

Year	Film	Language
1997	Udaan	Hindi
1992	Dil Hi To Hai	Hindi
1980	Hum Nahin Sudhrenge	Hindi
1979	Salaam Memsaab	Hindi
1977	Chala Murari Hero Banne	Hindi
1974	Amdavad No Rikshawalo	Gujarati

As singer

Year	Film	Song	Notes
1978	Phool Khile Hain Gulshan Gulshan	"Mannu Bhai Motor Chali Pum Pum"	with Kishore Kumar
1977	Alaap	"Binati Sun Le Tanik"
		"Ho Rama Dar Lage Apni Umariya Se"

Awards

Year	Film	Award	Result
1977	Balika Badhu	Filmfare Best Comedian Award	Won
1974	Aaj Ki Taaza Khabar		Won
	Namak Haraam		Nominated
	Abhimaan	Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor	Nominated
1973	Anhonee	Shama Sushama Award for Best Comedian	Won

Asrani also won the Best Actor, Best Director Award from Gujarat State Government for Saat Qaidi, a Gujarati language film.

External links

• Asrani at the Internet Movie Database

• Asrani interview on SET India
• http://www.cagesmovie.com/castandcrew/asrani/