Veteran actor Asrani, known for his extensive career in Bollywood, had expressed his regret for being involved in the 2016 adult comedy film Mastizaade, starring Sunny Leone. Asrani, who passed away on October 20, 2025, at the age of 84, had candidly spoken about what he perceived as the rising vulgarity in Hindi comedy films.
In a 2016 interview, Asrani lamented the shift in comedy, stating that it had devolved into "terrible stuff" where "all that remains is taking clothes off". He recalled that earlier forms of comedy, such as the "Bimal Roy School," were realistic and subtle, while the "Madras school" introduced a separate comedy track but "never vulgar". Asrani felt that comedy had lost its way, with double-meaning dialogues becoming increasingly crude.
Asrani revealed that he felt embarrassed after working in Mastizaade. "Mujhe Mastizaade main kaam karna pada, mujhe sharam aayi (I had to work in Mastizaade, I felt embarrassed)," he confessed. He admitted that he did not know the film would turn out the way it did. He found the double-meaning dialogues particularly difficult and embarrassing.
Mastizaade, directed by Milap Milan Zaveri, featured Sunny Leone in a double role, alongside Tusshar Kapoor and Vir Das. The film revolved around two "mastikhors" (playboys) and their encounters with twin sisters, Lily and Laila, both played by Leone. The movie also featured Shaad Randhawa, Suresh Menon, Sushmita Mukherjee, and Vivek Vaswani in supporting roles. Made with a budget of approximately 30 crore rupees, the film managed to recover its costs, earning around 33 crore rupees at the box office.
Despite his disappointment with Mastizaade, Asrani remained hopeful that audiences would eventually reject vulgarity and embrace cinema rooted in family values. "People can discern now, the multiplex-going audience says we don't like this vulgarity and this phase will get over soon," he said. He believed that "basically we Indians are family-oriented people" and would return to more wholesome entertainment.
Asrani's career spanned over five decades, with roles in more than 300 films. He was known for his comedic timing and versatility, working with acclaimed directors like Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Raj Kapoor. His portrayal of the jailer in Sholay remains one of Hindi cinema's most iconic comedic roles. In addition to Hindi films, Asrani also contributed to Gujarati cinema, directing and starring in Amadavad no Rikshavaro in 1990.
Asrani's reflections on the changing landscape of comedy serve as a reminder of the importance of values-based storytelling and the enduring appeal of family-oriented entertainment.
