Ashok Saraf (born 4 June 1947) is an actor mainly working in Marathi and Hindi cinema. He is known as the "King of Marathi Film Industry".
Saraf began his career in 1969 with the Marathi film Janaki. He went on to act in numerous films throughout the 1970s and 1980s, including Donhi Gharcha Pahuna, Jawal Ye Laju Nako, Tumcha Aamcha Jamala, Chimanrao Gundyabhau, Deed Shahane, Haldikunku, Duniya Kari Salam, and many more. But he gained popularity through Dada Kondke's 1975 film Pandu Havaldar. He continued to work in Marathi films alongside Laxmikant Berde, Sachin, and Mahesh Kothare.
During that time, Marathi films entered a new era of comedy. Saraf starred in several notable Marathi films of this period, including Ashi Hi Banwa Banwi, Aayatya Gharat Gharoba, Balache Baap Brahmachari, Bhutacha Bhau, and Dhum Dhadaka. Ashi Hi Banwa Banwi remains a popular film to this day, and its freshness and humor continue to entertain audiences. It broke numerous records at the time of its release. The duo of Saraf and Berde became one of the most successful comedy pairs of that time, and they also worked in several Hindi films together.
Saraf has also acted in various Marathi plays and Hindi television serials. He later started his own production house, "Aniket Telefilms," which is managed by his wife Nivedita Saraf.
Saraf has starred in numerous Marathi films. He has also graced Hindi films and television shows with his presence. His talent has been recognized with numerous awards, including five Filmfare Awards and ten Maharashtra State Film Awards. He is the recipient of V. Shantaram Award and Maharashtra Bhushan Award.
Films
YearTitleRoleLanguageNotes1969JanakiMadanMarathi1971Donhi Gharcha PahunaSanitary InspectorSmall role1973Aalay Tufan DarayalaAshkya1975Pandoba Porgi PhasaliDhonduVaratSopan's brotherPandu HavaldarHawaldar SakharamMaharashtra State Film Award for Best Supporting Actor1976Tumcha Aamcha Jamala Nagojirao (Nagya)Jawal Yeh Laju NakoGaja1977Navra Majha BrahmachariJaisinghDagaaMasterRam Ram GangaramMhamdu KhatikFilmfare Award for Special Mention1978SushilaMangdu Bhaiya (Raja) DamaadMr. KhoteHindi 1979Meri Biwi Ki ShaadiAdv. Venkat VyasDuniya Kari SalaamShivanand MarathiGyanabachi MekhGyanabaAshtavinayakHimself SasurvasheenPopat SawantDeedshahaneRaja JagdaleBaeelvedaAvinashMaharashtra State Film Award for Best ActorHaldi Kunku Unnamed Cameo appearanceChimanrao GundyabhauChimanrao Paijecha VidaTukaram 1980Sharan Tula BhagwantaAdinathSaubhagyadaanSulaiman SawajKuldeep Hich Khari DaulatPrasadSulavarchi PoliRahim Road masterFatakadiBawlyaChoravar MorPratap Vanpurekar1981NaginTegya Mosambi NarangiPopatraoGovinda Aala Re AalaSarjerao Are Sansar SansarSavkar PatilSundara SatarkarBhunjang RaoGondhalat GondhalMadan Kumar Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Supporting ActorDaivatAshok Bhannat BhanuHanumantraoPatlinChhagan DevgharRajaShort film1982Aapalech Daat Aapalech OathSajjanraoEk Daav BhutachaKhandoji FarzandMaharashtra State Film Award for Best Supporting ActorSavitrichi SunRajaMai BaapGunwanti / Sethji Shyamji GhanashyamjiDon Baika Phajeeti AikaJaisinghrao Pawar Galli Te DilliRahubaKashala Udyachi BaatVidhyadhar (Bima Babu)1983Raghu MainaDafliwala Gupchup GupchupProfessor DhondBaiko Asavi AshiKaluSavitriMadya (Bajirao)Thakas MahathakBalasaheb InamdarSavvasherAshok Rao1984JugalbandiZakhmi WaghinSarjaKulswamini AmbabaiVasantraoChawhataGanpatBahurupiSawalya (Bhau Kaka)Maharashtra State Film Award for Best ActorGulchadiGajaNavri Mile NavryalaBalasaheb InamdarHech Maze MaherKamanna Goshta Dhamal NamyachiNamdeo (Namya)Filmfare Award for Best Actor – MarathiBin Kamacha NavraTukaram (Tukya)Sasu Varchad JawaiBabanrao GawaliAbodhHanumanHindiPhulwariManu1985Sage SoyareAaba Sonar MarathiKhichdiJagdishwar Jagdale (Jaggu)Gaon Tasa Changla Pan Veshila TanglaAaglaveyDhum DhadakaAshok Gupchup/ Yadunath JawalkarGhar DwaarBahadurHindi1986Khara VarasdarRanjeetMarathiTuzya Vachun KarmenaShyam Suryawanshi Gadbad GhotalaHemant DholeMaa BetiShankar PrasadHindi MuddatNarayanPremasathi Vattel TeDr. Bhagaram GaitondeMarathiPrem Karuya Khullam KhullaBajrangMaharashtra State Film Award for Best ActorChakke PanjeAshok Anandi AnandBhalchandra (Bhalu)PratighaatLawyerHindi 1988Gammat JammatPhalgun VadkeMarathiShiv ShaktiKarimHindi Pandharichi VariSadaMarathiMamla PorinchaBallal BagdeDisata Tasa NasataCID Inspector Raghunath Deshmukh Saglikade BombabombSadashiv KhareMaza Pati KarodpatiDinkar Luktuke / Bajirao RangadeMaharashtra State Film Award for Best Supporting ActorGhar Ghar Ki KahaniLallu RamHindi Aurat Teri Yehi KahaniBhagwan SinghAshi Hi Banwa BanwiDhananjay ManeMarathi1989AaghatMadhu Chandrachi RatraMaheshNavra BaykoAshok Kalat NakalatChotu Ek Gadi Baaki AnaadiMr. KirkireMaalmasalaKumar DesaiBhutacha BhauBanduBalache Baap BrahmachariVilas VaraatkarAtmavishwasVilas ZendeSavala MarotiMaroti Dharla Tar ChavtayRaja PatilPheka PhekiRajan PradhanBade Ghar Ki BetiKasturi Hindi 1990Changu ManguChangu / RamannaMarathiBaap Re BaapRajendra PradhanEka Peksha EkInspector Sarjerao ShindeEeja Beeja TeejaBeeja / Brijbhushan GhanchakkarManku GaisodeTuzhi Mazhi Jamli JodiProf. Ashok Pandit Dhamaal Bablya GanpyachiGanpyaAamchyasarkhe AamhichBhupal / Nirbhay InamdarShejari ShejariKeshav KulkarniIna Mina DikaDigambar MinapureThamb Thamb Jau Nako LambShankar Sonba SavkarChor Pe MorAnthony Hindi1991Yaara DildaraMr. YadavBalidaanSuryabhan Patil MarathiAnpekshitUttamrao PawarBenaam BadshaVinay Chandra Rathod Hindi Mumbai Te MauritiusPremMarathi Jasa Baap Tashi PoreRajaGodi GulabiAnilChaukat RajaGanpat (Gana)AflatoonBajrangrao BadveAayatya Gharat GharobaGopinathMaharashtra State Film Award for Best Supporting Actor1992Zhunj Tujhi MajhiBhallyaDhar PakadNagesh Than Than GopalaSubodh / SunilAikawa Te NawalachDhairyasingh DhurandharShubh Mangal SavdhanRajesh JaagrutiSevalalHindiMeera Ka MohanRamuSarphiraThiefPrem DeewaneSomnath NaseebwalaGangaram Lalwani1993Vaat Pahate PunvechiBhaiyyasaheb UrangaonkarMarathi PremankurAnil Chiplunkar Tu SukhkartaVinayak VighnaharteVajva Re VajvaUttam TopleLapandavAbhijeet SamarthAapli MansaRaghunath Maharashtra State Film Award for Best ActorGhayaalKeshavrao/ Ramchandra HireDil Hai BetaabVikram's employeeHindi 1994Sasar MaherAshok Marathi VazirCM Babasaheb MohileMaharashtra State Film Award for Best ActorAa Gale Lag JaaDhaniramHindi Sangdil SanamBhalchanderNazar Ke SamneMamu1995Sukhi Sansarachi 12 SutreKishore MarathiPainjanAjay Deshmukh Dhamal JodiRajaSuna Yeti GharaAshokFilmfare Award for Best Actor – MarathiTopi Var TopiGopalrao Sheth Jamla Ho JamlaBapu ShelarKaran ArjunMunshijiHindiAazmayishRoshanlal GudduBaliya 1996ArmyPascalMaaya MamtaSethjiMarathiGehra RaazHasmukhHindi Baal BrahmachariPyare MohanMarathi 1997KunkuVithobaAisi Bhi Kya Jaldi HaiDr. Avinash HindiKoylaVedjiJudge MujrimPA NatwarGupt: The Hidden TruthHawaldar PanduYes BossJohnny 1998BandhanChilluPyaar Kiya Toh Darna KyaTadkalalBhasmaMasanjogiMarathi 1999Aai Thor Tujhe UpkarAshokraoKhoobsuratMahesh ChaudharyHindiSawai HawaldarJamaldar Ashok ShindeMarathi Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Comedian2000Navra Majha Muthit GaRaosaheb BholeMaherchi PahuniAshokMaharashtra State Film Award for Best ComedianBhajiwali Sakhu Hawaldar BhikuBhikuBhakti Hich Khari ShaktiGauri's brotherBeti No. 1Ram BhatnagarHindi Joru Ka GhulamP. K. Girpade2001Afsana Dilwalon KaPyarebhaiAashiqConstableJodi No.1Ashok RaiInteqamMurliIttefaqShambhu Shikari2002Kuch Tum Kaho Kuch Hum KaheinGovindKyaa Dil Ne KahaaRajeev Patel2004Fukat Chambu BaburaoBaburaoMarathiSanshay KallolNavra Maza NavsachaLaluAai Tuza Ashirwad Thoda Tum Badlo Thoda HumRani's father Hindi2005Aai No. 1Booboo / Inspector LondheMarathi Sawal Majhya PremachaBabasaheb NimbalkarSoon Ladki SasarchiDeva Shappath Khota Sangen Khara Sangnar NahiTatya UgdepatilQatal E AamHindi2006Akhand SaubhagyavatiMarathiKalubaichya Navan ChangbhalaBalasahebPahili Sher Dusri Savvasher Navra PavsherPandu2007Lapun ChhapunKarayla Gelo EkMr. KaleMe Nahi Ho TyatlaRaghav Kulkarni2008SakhiSuryakant Jagdale Ek Unad DivasVishwas DabholkarChalu Navra Bholi BaykoSarkha Bhau Pakka VairiVijay DeshmukhSaade Maade TeenRatan Aamhi SatputeAnna Anolkhi Hey Ghar MazeJagannath Deshmukh Baba LaginAaba ZindabadAabaAdla BadliChandrakant ChandrakanEk Daav Dhobi PachhadDadasaheb DandageMaai Ka BituaHimself Bhojpuri film2009Goshta LagnanantarchiSakharam Balirajacha Rajya Yeu DeBali's fatherHastil Tyache Daat DistilNishani Dava AnghathaHeadmaster Bhau RathodMaster Eke MasterBappa More 2010Aika DajibaDajibaTata Birla Ani LailaBirlaMost WantedMamaShubha Mangal SavdhaanPrataprao TupeIdeachi KalpanaAdv. Manohar BarshingeFamilywalaDhanasu BeggarHindi 2011SinghamHead Constable Prabhu SavarkarKunasathi KunitariMarathiPakda PakdiJanya Mama2013Ekulti EkMr. MehtaYaa Topikhali Dadla Kay?Sarpanch Vishwasrao2014HututuDhananjay DhanawadeAandhali KoshimbirBapu Sadavarte2016VrundavanGirdhar Inamdar2017ShentimentalPSI Pralhad Ghodke2018Me Shivaji ParkDigambar Sawant 2020PrawaasAbhijat Inamdar 2021Kadhi Ambat Kadhi GoadAabasahebAltun PaltunDhananjay Jivan SandhyaJivan Abhyankar2022VedDinkar Jadhav 2024Life LineDr. Vikram DesaiNavra Maza Navsacha 2Ticket Checker Lalu 2025Ashi Hi Jamva JamviMohan2026Punha Ekda Sade Made TeenRatan
Television YearTitleRoleChannelLanguageNotes1986Zopi Gelela Jaga ZalaAshokDD Sahyadri MarathiChhoti Badi BaateinMamuDD National Hindi 1987-1988Aa Bail Mujhe MaarGuest appearance 1995Hum PaanchAnand MathurZee TV1997Chutki BajakeIshwar Devgan1999Professor PyarelalProfessor Pyarelal2000Don't Worry Ho JayegaSanjay BhandariSahara One2011Nana O NanaNanaMi MarathiMarathi2024Ashok Ma. MaAshok MajgaonkarColors Marathi Plays
References
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