Bollywood veteran actor Asrani, beloved for his comic timing and unforgettable screen presence in over 350 films, passed away in Mumbai on October 20, the day the nation celebrated Diwali. He was 84. Best remembered for his iconic turn as the jailer in Sholay and the immortal line, “Hum angrezon ke zamane ke jailer hain,” Asrani’s death marks the end of an era in Indian cinema.

A career that spanned more than five decades made Asrani a towering figure of Hindi films a performer equally at home in lead, supporting and comic roles. His filmography reads like a who’s who of Bollywood classics, and his ability to steal scenes with a single expression or a perfectly timed line made him a household name across generations.

Born on January 1, 1941, in Jaipur to a middle-class Sindhi Hindu famil

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