When Laughter Turned Dark: Asrani’s Forgotten Villainous Turn in ‘Ab Kya Hoga’
The Villain Role that Bollywood Forgot : The beloved comedian's eerie performance in Ab Kya Hoga remains one of Hindi Cinema's most unexpected twists. Film poster and images from other films.
Govardhan
Asrani, the man who made generations laugh with his impeccable comic timing,
left the world on Diwali, October 20, 2025, at the age of 84. As the film
fraternity and fans mourn his passing, a lesser-known facet of his illustrious
career quietly resurfaces—a rare villainous role in the 1977 film Ab Kya Hoga.
Known
simply as Asrani, the FTII alumnus from the 1966 batch appeared in over 350
films, mostly in comic avatars. His performances in Guddi, Chupke Chupke, Sholay, and Aaj Ki Taaza Khabar earned
him iconic status. But tucked away in the annals of Bollywood history is a
surprising deviation—his role as a scheming antagonist in Ab Kya Hoga, a
supernatural thriller directed by Sawan Kumar Tak.
Released
on March 24, 1977, Ab
Kya Hoga starred Shatrughan Sinha, Neetu Singh, Bindu, and Ranjeet.
Ironically, Ranjeet—often typecast as a villain—played a non-villainous role,
while Asrani, the comic relief of countless films, turned dark. His character
masterminds the hero’s death, a plot twist that left audiences stunned at the
time.
The
film Ab Kya Hoga, inspired by the 1964 classic Woh Kaun Thi?, didn’t
enjoy a long theatrical run, and Asrani’s chilling performance went largely
unnoticed. Yet, for those who watched it, the shock of seeing the beloved
jailer from Sholay
in a sinister avatar was unforgettable.
In a rare cinematic twist, beloved comedian Asrani stunned audiences with a sinister role in a 1977 supernatural thriller—an unexpected chapter in a legacy built on laughter
Asrani’s
versatility extended beyond Hindi cinema. He acted in Gujarati films, held the position of the director at the FTII in Pune (1988–1993), and even produced films like Chala Murari Hero Banne.
His close friendships with legends like Rajesh Khanna and his presence in over
100 films in the 1980s cemented his place in cinematic history.
His
passing was quiet, just as he had wished. No media glare, no grand
farewell—just the silence of Diwali evening. But the legacy he leaves behind is
anything but quiet. It echoes in every laugh he evoked, every scene he stole,
and yes, even in that one rare moment when he chose to play the villain.
He
was a very popular public figure in the 1970s , in Hindi cinema, he appeared in
several comic roles from 1966 to 2014 and frequently portrayed the close friend
of the lead actor in films between 1972 and 1995.
Some
of his best-known roles were in films like Guddi, Mere Apne, Bawarchi, Namak Haraam, Aaj Ki Taza Khabar, Chupke
Chupke, Abhimaan, Chala Murari Hero Banne, Salaam Memsaab, Pati Patni Aur Woh,
Do Hawaldar, Parichay, Chhoti Si Baat, Rafoo Chakkar, Khoon Pasina, Alaap,
Amdavad No Rikshawalo, Saat Qaidi, Sansar Chakra, and Pankhi No Mal, Phool Khile Hai Gulshan Gulshan, Ek
Duje Ke Liye, among others.
Asrani’s
journey reminds us that even the most familiar faces can surprise us. And
sometimes, the most unexpected roles become the most memorable.
Om
Shanti, Asrani ji. You will be missed—but never forgotten.
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