Veteran actor Govardhan Asrani, best known for his iconic role as the 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. Over his illustrious career spanning more than five decades, Asrani appeared in over 350 films.
FTII Background and Initial Struggles
Asrani was an alumnus of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, where he honed his acting skills before making his debut in Hindi cinema in the mid-1960s. However, despite his FTII degree, he faced significant challenges in securing work. In an old interview with Bollywood Thikana, he recounted how he spent a month in Mumbai searching for music director Naushad, hoping for a break, but to no avail. He returned to Jaipur, only to later enroll in FTII. He realized that an FTII certificate held little value in Bollywood initially. "I would roam around with my certificate, and they would shoo? Me away, saying, 'Do you think you need a certificate for acting? '" he recalled.
Indira Gandhi's Crucial Intervention
Asrani revealed that after struggling for two years, then-Information and Broadcasting Minister Indira Gandhi visited Pune. He and his batchmates complained to her about the lack of opportunities despite their qualifications. Following this, Indira Gandhi came to Mumbai and urged producers to hire them, while this intervention proved pivotal, as work began to flow for him and his peers.
First Break with Jaya Bachchan
After Indira Gandhi's intervention, Jaya Bhaduri was cast in 'Guddi', and Asrani also landed a role in the film. The success of 'Guddi' led the industry to take FTII graduates more seriously. Asrani is survived by his wife Manju Asrani, his sister, and nephew, while the couple didn't have any children.
