'Angrezon ke zamane ke jailer will live forever in our hearts’

When news broke of legendary actor and comedian Govardhan Asrani’s passing on October 20 at the age of 84, countless fans were transported back to one unforgettable image — the ‘Angrezo ke zamane ke jailer’ from Sholay.

His Hitler-inspired comic brilliance in Ramesh Sippy’s 1975 classic remains one of Indian cinema’s most iconic moments — a performance so effortless that it continues to define an era of humor and character acting.Speaking about Asrani’s legacy, Ramesh Sippy fondly recalled the actor’s natural ease and instinctive comic rhythm.“Very easy. Very little had to be induced. He absorbed the role completely,” Sippy said. “We would rehearse, exchange ideas and he would come up with something delightful each time.

It was a real interaction — a great camaraderie.”Sippy’s association with Asrani began with Seeta Aur Geeta (1972), where the actor played a small but pivotal role in the film’s opening sequence. “That’s how Asrani’s association with me began,” Sippy reminisced. “When Sholay came up and we were thinking about the jailer’s role, his name came up naturally. I agreed with Salim-Javed that it was worth giving him a go. His own contribution was huge.”

That decision became one of the most memorable casting choices in Indian cinema. In Sholay, Asrani’s bumbling, Hitler-esque jailer became a pop culture milestone. “We came up with the idea of doing a caricature of Hitler, and he imbibed it completely, made it his own, and gave it life,” Sippy reflected. “The way he misses his steps and says hum angrezon ke zamane ke jailer hai, stays with you even after all these years.

Everyone in had an iconic role, but Asrani’s part — you just can’t forget him.”Across a career spanning more than 300 films, Asrani worked with legends like Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan, and later with younger stars like Akshay Kumar and Aamir Khan, adapting seamlessly across generations. “Everybody will miss him. He was still working with even the younger actors — the second and third generations. He kept that spirit alive. I met him just a few weeks ago.

My wife Kiran (Juneja) is working on a documentary on my films and that’s when I met him. He was completely fine and doing well.”As destiny would have it, Asrani’s passing coincided with Sholay’s 50th anniversary and the festive season of Diwali — a bittersweet reminder of the joy he brought to millions. “So ironic, that on such a happy occasion, he passes away. But maybe he passed away with a smile. And Angrezon ke zamane ke jailer will live forever in our hearts.”