Overview
- He died on Monday in Mumbai at Arogya Nidhi Hospital after complications from a prolonged illness that doctors said included fluid in his lungs, according to his manager.
- His last rites were conducted at Santacruz (Shastri Nagar) Crematorium in a small ceremony attended by close family and friends.
- His family issued a public statement mourning his passing and celebrating a body of work that brought a distinct identity to Indian screen comedy.
- Across more than five decades and over 350 films, he became iconic as the jailer in Sholay, won two Filmfare Best Comedian awards, and built lasting collaborations with Rajesh Khanna, Kader Khan and filmmaker Priyadarshan.
- Tributes from across the industry continued, with Akshay Kumar praising him for giving audiences “a million reasons to laugh,” and he is survived by his wife Manju Asrani, his sister and a nephew.