Priyadarshan and Asrani – A great comedy combo of new generation of Hindi cinema. This is a fan tribute to the great comedian who entertained us with a series of comedy roles through 6 decades and more.
Legendary comedian Govardhan Asrani was a familiar face of Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s films of 1970s. Apart from that, his screen presence has been noticed since late 1960s, where he appeared in films of Shashi Kapoor and a few lead actors. Since late 1960s, his appearance was noticed aside Dharmendra, followed by Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan and Jeetendra. He enjoyed career peak in the 1970s, and got opportunity to see changing times from social dramas & romantic films of 1960s to action and comedy films of 1970s, from Kapoors to Khannas to Bachchan. Then a time came when, like other actors, his career faced a downfall in the 1980s. With late 1980s, Asrani was almost absent from Bollywood films.
Everyone believed, it was the end of career of this legendary comedian. But like everyone say, how can we predict future. When Priyadarshan made his second Bollywood film, Gardish, remake of Malayalam classic, Kireedam, he was looking for a comedian who can reprise the comic role of Jagathy Sreekumar in the film. As a fanboy when he approached Asrani for this role, initially the great comedian hesitated. He was not active in Bollywood those days. Yet, he accepted the role, and the rest is, history!
Priyadarshan and Asrani worked together in 16 Bollywood films
Priyadarshan and Govardhan Asrani worked together in 16 Bollywood films later. It can be said that the actor was a permanent fix in Priyadarshan comedies, alongside Paresh Rawal and Om Puri. Yes, through Priyadarshan films, new generation got opportunity to watch Asrani on screen again. A big salute for that! Priyadarshan and Asrani – The real combo of comedy worked in 16 films together, can you believe? Also read: Top 10 Bollywood Remakes of Malayalam Movies
Priyadarshan became a fanboy of Asrani after he watched Satyakam
During the classic era of Indian films, slapstick comedy was prominent and Asrani too began his career more or less the same way. Priyadarshan’s younger days when he used to watch Hindi films abundantly without choices, he was not at all impressed by comedians’ slapstick comedy. Those days comedians performed mainly through body language and certain very common facial languages across the languages, and they were repetitive.
His opinion about comedians changed after he watched Asrani’s career-defining role in Satyakam. He started enjoying Asrani’s presentation after that. Later Priyadarshan watched most of his comic roles, along with some serious roles. Aap Ki Kasam, Anamika, Abhimaan, Seeta Aur Geeta, Namak Haram, Ek Duje Ke Liye, Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar and above all – the iconic role of Jailor in Sholay got added to the collection of Priyadarshan. Not only did Asrani played comic roles, he fits well into a wicked manager roles many times.
Gardish – The first movie of Priyadarshan and Asrani together
Years later, when Priyadarshan remade Mohanlal’s Kireedam to Hindi with Jackie Shroff playing the main lead, he wanted an actor to reprise the role played by the legendary comedian, Jagathy Sreekumar. He wanted someone with a high acting range. He couldn’t think about any other actor except Asrani for this role and approached him. But Asrani was not active in film industry those days. He was not getting enough opportunities. Priyan called him, even visited him, and after initial hesitations, Asrani agreed to do the role.
When Priyan met Asrani for the first time in the shooting sets, it was a fanboy moment. To watch someone in person, whose acting skills have made him laugh, was a magical moment for him. He kept watching the actor through the camera lens for a long time with the curiosity of a small kid. Asrani played the role of Phulwa’s husband in the film, and Priyan started calling him Asrani Saab.
His role in Gardish got noticed, and he started getting more roles. Later when they met, Asrani said, “You made world remember that I am still alive”. There began the glorious era of Asrani as an actor. Apart from Priyadarshan films, he became an integral part of comedies by Sajid Nadiadwala too, and he played numerous iconic comic roles on screen.
Asrani had 9 films with Hrishikesh Mukherjee and 16 movies with Priyadarshan
After their first collaboration, Gardish (1993), Priyadarshan and Asrani worked together in Hera Pheri (2000), Hulchul (2004), Kyon Ki… (2005), Garam Masala (2005), Chup Chup Ke (2006), Malamaal Weekly (2006), Bhagam Bhag (2006), Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007), Mere Baap Pehle Aap (2008), De Dana Dan (2009), Khatta Meetha (2010), Kamaal Dhamaal Malamaal (2012), Rangrezz (2013) and upcoming releases – Bhooth Bangla and Haiwaan. He left the world, when one shot left for Haiwaan. He left the film sets on Diwali to spend time with family and never returned!
In Hera Pheri, he played a bank manager who initially denies Ghanshyam a job, which leads to series of comedy events. Hera Pheri is widely regarded as the best comedy film of new era, and each character is iconic. Bollywood audience can never reimagine any of these characters with other actors, and hence along the ensemble cast, Asrani’s role becomes immortal.
Be it Murari in Bhool Bhulaiyaa or the event manager in Bhagam Bhag, the actor has his own signature in every role he did. Though he mostly played comic roles in Priyadarshan films, he had a serious role in Kyon Ki… He is also known for his role, eccentric villager Chokhey in Malamaal Weekly. Watch this Asrani comedy scene from Khatta Meetha.
Govardhan Asrani was immensely talented in memorizing dialogues
He could easily by heart 3 or 4 pages of dialogues. Feeling surprised by it, when Priyan asked how, he replied, it’s because of his theatre experiences, where actors have to memorize full dialogues. In real life too, this veteran was good enough to make others laugh. If he is in the film sets, the whole crew will gather around him, and he will tell them the stories of classic era of Bollywood. Legends like Raj Kapoor and Rajesh Khanna unfold themselves through his stories. Actor Akshay Kumar used to sit on the floor near to Asrani with the curiosity of a child to listen to his memories and experiences.
Asrani was a well-disciplined person in real life too. He never skips 1-hour walking in the morning and he remains silent throughout. The director wonders, what’s running through his mind during his walking hours.
He left the world with his last film shot left
Years later when Priyadarshan got active in Bollywood, directing two films with Akshay Kumar back-to-back, he casted his old friend Asrani once again. Priyadarshan’s last Bollywood outing, Hungama 2 was a flop. Asrani was suffering from age-related ailments when Priyan offered him Bhooth Bangla. Yet, he accepted them, because of his bonding towards the director and couldn’t say ‘no’. It was after a long time they were working together.
Though he was tired, he reached film sets and worked. He completed Bhooth Bangla, when he was offered the next role for Haiwaan. He was to reprise Mammukoya’s role in the Hindi remake of Priyadarshan’s own blockbuster Malayalam film, Oppam, marking the union of Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan after a gap of 17 years. Priyan was unable to imagine any other actor for this role. It’s because of their mutual love and respect, Asrani accepted the role, though he was not feeling well those days. He used to rest between shots, and was tired.
On the occasion of Diwali, he said, “It’s Diwali time. I will take rest and come back. There is only one shot left”. The actor left thinking, he can come and shoot that one scene. But surprisingly, he left the world exactly on Diwali, 20th October. “With whom, I will shoot that remaining scene?” – Priyadarshan mourns.
Govardhan Asrani, born on New Year of 1941 entertained three generations of audiences with his comedy and over 350 Hindi and Gujarati films. In the recent times, so many Bollywood artists belonging to the classic era of 1960s and 1970s left us, and he too joins them. May his soul rest in peace. Thank You, Asrani Saab for all the wonderful shades you played on silver screen. You gave me many nostalgic memories connecting classic era and present-day Bollywood. Thank you.
Also read: These 10+ Iconic Bollywood films of Priyadarshan & Others were originally scripted by Sreenivasan
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