Ashok Saraf | |
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![]() Saraf in 2011 | |
Born | |
Other names | Mahanayak, Ashok Samrat, Mama |
Occupations |
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Years active | 1969–present |
Works | Full list |
Spouse | |
Children | 1 |
Awards | 4 Filmfare Marathi Awards Filmfare Marathi Lifetime Achievement Award |
Honours | Padma Shri (2025) Maharashtra 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 eleven Maharashtra State Film Awards and four Filmfare Awards Marathi. He is referred to as the Mahanayak (lit. 'Greatest Actor'), Ashok Samrat or Mama of the Marathi film industry,[1][2][3] In 2016, Saraf received Filmfare Marathi Lifetime Achievement Award for his Contribution to Marathi cinema. In 2023, he received the Maharashtra Bhushan, the highest civilian honour in the Indian state of Maharashtra.[4] Saraf received Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian honour, from the Government of India in 2025.[5][6]
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.[7]
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
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]
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