Veteran actor Govardhan Asrani, best remembered for his hilarious turn as the eccentric jailer in Sholay, passed away on Monday, October 20, at the age of 84 after a prolonged illness. His last rites were performed at the Santacruz Crematorium in Mumbai, where family and close friends gathered to bid him farewell.

Over a career spanning more than five decades, Asrani became one of Indian cinema’s most recognisable faces, appearing in over 350 films. Known for his impeccable comic timing and expressive style, he moved between humour and drama. But before fame, there was struggle — a long one that almost made him give up acting altogether.

Trained at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Asrani once revealed in an interview with Bollywood Thikana that his certificate meant lit

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