Ashok Saraf

Ashok Saraf
Saraf in 2011
Born (1947-06-04) 4 June 1947 (age 77)
Bombay, Bombay Province, British India
(present day, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India)
Other namesMahanayak, Ashok Samrat, Mama
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
Years active1969–present
WorksFull list
Spouse
​
(m. 1990)​
Children1
Awards4 Filmfare Marathi Awards
Filmfare Marathi Lifetime Achievement Award
HonoursMaharashtra Bhushan (2023)
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2022)
V. Shantaram Award (2006)

Ashok Saraf (born 4 June 1947) is an Indian actor and comedian, known for his work in Marathi and Hindi films along with theatre in both languages. Saraf has received several awards including four Filmfare Marathi Awards. He is referred to as the Mahanayak (lit. 'Greatest Actor'), Ashok Samrat or Mama of the Marathi film industry.[1][2][3] In 2023, he received the Maharashtra Bhushan, the highest civilian honour in the Indian state of Maharashtra.[4]

From the early 1980s, Saraf started getting leading roles in Marathi films. The combination of Ashok Saraf, Laxmikant Berde, Sachin Pilgaonkar and Mahesh Kothare created the "comedy films wave" in Marathi cinema from 1985 that lasted for more than a decade. His successful Marathi films as the lead hero include Ek Daav Bhutacha (1982), Dhum Dhadaka (1985), Gammat Jammat (1987), Bhutacha Bhau (1989), Balache Baap Brahmachari (1989), Ashi hi Banawa Banavi (1988) and Aayatya Gharat Gharoba (1991).

In Bollywood he worked in many movies such as Karan Arjun (1995), Yes Boss (1997), Joru Ka Ghulam (2000) and Singham (2011) and in many Hindi television sitcoms.[5]

  1. ^ "Patrya Maruti Ganpati's one-of-a-kind tribute to Ashok Saraf". Pune Mirror. 9 September 2022. Archived from the original on 17 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023. Ashok Saraf was honoured for his lifetime achievement and thought it would be a nice idea for the procession display and his contribution to the film industry is remarkable, and the "Mahanayak" deserves to be shown love and gratitude in every way possible
  2. ^ "Kon Honar Crorepati : मराठी सिनेसृष्टीचे महानायक अशोक सराफ येणार 'कोण होणार करोडपती'च्या मंचावर". ABP Majha (in Marathi). 22 June 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2023. मराठी मनोरंजनसृष्टी ज्यांना अशोक मामा म्हणून ओळखते असं अभिनयाचं ज्येष्ठ अभिनेते अशोक सराफ [Veteran actor Ashok Saraf, who is known as Ashok Mama in the Marathi entertainment industry]
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "Veteran actor Ashok Saraf to be conferred with Maharashtra Bhushan Award 2023". India Today. 30 January 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  5. ^ "त्या मुलीने मामा बनवले". Maharashtra Times. Archived from the original on 22 February 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2016.