Govardhan Asrani, affectionately known in Bollywood simply as Asrani, is no longer with us. His passing has brought renewed attention to a family that, though small in number, was bound by deep love and loyalty.
For Asrani, family extended beyond traditional definitions. Despite having seven siblings, he never allowed the bond of relationships to weaken. Now, in the wake of his death, many are curious to learn more about the family that stood quietly behind this iconic figure.
Asrani was one of Bollywood’s greatest actors who always kept his private life out of the limelight. At the age of 84, he passed away on Monday after a prolonged illness. Yet his legacy, and the strength of the family he built, continues to inspire.
Born on January 1, 1941 in Jaipur, Rajasthan, Asrani came from a middle-class Sindhi family. Following the partition of India and Pakistan, his father resettled in Jaipur and began a carpet business.
However, Asrani, who struggled with mathematics and showed little interest in business, defied expectations and pursued a career in acting. He completed his schooling at St. Xavier’s and graduated from Rajasthan College.
While still a student, Asrani supported himself by working as a voice artist at All India Radio, Jaipur. He had four sisters and three brothers, and was raised in a joint family, which instilled in him the importance of close-knit relationships. This value remained central to his life.
Asrani leaves behind a small but close family, with his wife Manju Asrani being the most prominent figure.
The couple had been married for over 50 years, and their bond was widely regarded as one of the strongest in the Hindi film industry. Manju, who always avoided the spotlight, remained his unwavering support both in his career and personal life. In this time of mourning, she remains the pillar of the family.
Their love story began when they met on the sets of the films Aaj Ki Taaza Khabar and Namak Haram. Manju, an actress in the 1970s and 1980s, and Asrani went on to appear in several films together, including Tapasya, Chandi Sona, Jaan-e-Bahar, Nalayak, Sarkari Mehman, Narad Vivah, and Chor Sipahi.
Asrani’s role as Champak Boomiya in Aaj Ki Taaza Khabar won him the Filmfare Award for Best Comedian, with Manju playing Kesari Desai.
It remains unclear whether the couple had children. Some reports suggest they were childless, while others claim they have a son, Naveen Asrani, a dentist based in Ahmedabad. Regardless, their family circle remained small but emotionally rich.
One of Asrani’s sisters and a nephew were among his closest family members. In fact, it was this nephew who played a key role during his final rites.
Asrani often said that family was not defined by numbers, but by the depth of connection.
His death marks the loss of a cherished figure in Indian cinema, but the memories he leaves behind, and the more than 350 films he graced, remain a lasting source of comfort and pride for his family and his many admirers. His legacy will forever shine as a guiding light bearing his family’s name.
