Go Unlimited with Magzter GOLD
Get unlimited access to 10,000+ magazines, newspapers and Premium stories for just
Try GOLD - Free
Asrani & the trap of the Bollywood stereotype
Hindustan Times Thane
|October 25, 2025
What will you remember Asrani for? Sholay? Abhimaan? Since the death of the veteran actor was announced, a lot of obituaries and fan-posts on social media have mentioned his iconic dialogue from Sholay "Hum angrezon ke zamane ke jailer hain" (I am a jailor of the British era). Asrani acted in more than 300 films in Hindi and Gujarati. Some small, some big.
-
Despite such a mammoth filmography, if we choose to remember an actor for a specific role/dialogue from one film, it says something about our viewing of an actor's body of work. It means that we have normalised stereotyping him to such an extent that it doesn’t even seem discordant anymore. Imagine the disappointment of the actor who is remembered for one role despite a vast filmography, while marginalising everything else he has done on screen!
This story is from the October 25, 2025 edition of Hindustan Times Thane.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM Hindustan Times Thane
Hindustan Times Thane
India focus on lineup for semis
Having drawn Australia in semis, the co-hosts still appear to be deciding on their best side
3 mins
October 26, 2025
Hindustan Times Thane
'Earlier machines replaced labour; AI replaces thought'
{ NELL WATSON } RESEARCHER OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES; CONSULTANT ON AI GUARDRAILS
2 mins
October 26, 2025
Hindustan Times Thane
Indian exports to China surge in FY25 1st half as traders diversify
THE UPTICK WAS DRIVEN BY ITEMS LIKE PARTS OF TELEPHONE SETS, SHRIMPS, ALUMINIUM AND CAPSICUM
1 min
October 26, 2025
Hindustan Times Thane
That's what they all say…
It’s strange how we have some of the same ideas, all around the world.
2 mins
October 26, 2025
Hindustan Times Thane
ROHIT ADMITS HE IS NOT SURE OF RETURNING TO AUSTRALIA
Rohit Sharma has always cherished playing in Australia and after a challenging ODI series against the old rivals, the former captain on Saturday admitted that there might not be another trip for him and Virat Kohli to their cricketing heartland.
1 mins
October 26, 2025
Hindustan Times Thane
Exit from greylist doesn’t mean terror isn’t funded: FATF to Pak
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global terror funding watchdog, has warned Pakistan that its removal from the ‘greylist’ in October 2022 doesn’t make it immune to money laundering and terrorist financing.
1 min
October 26, 2025
Hindustan Times Thane
ALANA'S 7/18 SETS UP WIN FOR AUSTRALIA VS SOUTH AFRICA
Leg-spinner Alana King’s spellbinding wizardry formed the cornerstone of Australia’s seven-wicket triumph over South Africa as the defending champions concluded the Women’s World Cup league stage firmly on top of the table here on Saturday.
1 min
October 26, 2025
Hindustan Times Thane
Click on all links?
The newest tree of life is a sweeping, elegant thing. We may never have all the dots, but it’s already teaching us... how little we know, how differently life has behaved. And it may finally explain mysteries such as why humans have a chin-and what we might evolve into next
3 mins
October 26, 2025
Hindustan Times Thane
Shots heard around the world: The wonder that was the Windies
ALL BATS ARE OFF
4 mins
October 26, 2025
Hindustan Times Thane
Parents of 'love jihad' accused to be arrested, says Assam CM
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said the proposed state law against “love jihad” will include a provision to arrest the parents of the accused.
1 mins
October 26, 2025
Listen
Translate
Change font size