India, Oct. 21 -- Veteran actor and comedian Govardhan Asrani, fondly known simply as Asrani, passed away on October 20 at the age of 84 at Arogya Nidhi Hospital in Juhu, Mumbai. Despite a towering legacy in Indian cinema that spanned more than five decades and over 350 films, the actor had wished for a quiet and dignified farewell, instructing his wife, Manju, to keep his final moments away from public glare.

Asrani's journey to stardom was far from easy. Hr trained at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, in 1964. But even with formal training, he faced repeated rejection in Mumbai. In an interview with Bollywood Thikana, he had once recalled those early struggles.

"I would roam around with my certificate, and they ...