Though he started with supporting and serious roles, Asrani’s innate gift for comedy soon shone through. The 1970s and 1980s saw him emerge as a household name, portraying the endearing fool, the anxious clerk, and the witty sidekick with equal ease. His portrayal of the bumbling jailor parodying Hitler in “Sholay” (1975) remains one of the most memorable comic turns in Hindi film history.