Actor Asif Basra, a familiar face in various movies and TV shows, including “Jab We Met”, “Kai Po Che!” and “Paatal Lok” was found hanging in a private residential complex here Thursday, police said. He was 53 years old.
“He hanged himself around 12-12.30 today. We are investigating the matter. We have sent the body for an autopsy … Prima facie, it is a suicide case, “Kangra Police Superintendent Vimukt Ranjan told reporters.
The actor’s body was recovered by police officers, he said. More details are expected, Ranjan added.
Basra had reportedly rented a property in McLeodganj, Upper Dharamshala, about five or six years ago and was visiting the place regularly.
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News of the character actor’s sudden death, which comes months after Bollywood star Sushant Singh Rajput was found hanging at his Mumbai residence on June 14, sparked an industry commotion and several of his colleagues voiced their pain.
“What? This is too shocking! I shoot with him just before closing !!! Oh my gosh !!!” actor Manoj Bajpayee tweeted.
Director Hansal Mehta was equally astonished. “Asif Basra! It can’t be true … This is very, very sad.”
In his career spanning more than two decades, Basra played supporting roles in many critically acclaimed films such as “Black Friday,” “Parzania” and “Outsourced.”
Among his notable roles in Hindi cinema is his short but outstanding performance as a crafty booth owner in Imtiaz Ali’s 2007 film “Jab We Met”, opposite Kareena Kapoor Khan and Shahid Kapoor.
He played the father of Emraan Hashmi’s Shoaib Khan in Milan Luthria’s “Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai” (2010).
His most recent outing was on the hit Amazon Prime Video series “Paatal Lok.”
Among the others who mourned his death were directors Onir and Rahul Dholakia.
“In shock. I can’t believe we lost him. #Asifbasra I used to see him so often in the park jogging. He was telling me not to jog sideways, I could lose my balance and hurt myself,” Onir tweeted.
Dholakia, who directed Basora in the National Award-winning “Parzania” and the Sanjay Dutt starring “Lamhaa,” said Basora was a “wonderful actor and a jovial companion.”
“I mean why? Very sad – I had directed it in Parzania (Chagan), in Lamhaa (the Darzee) and also in society … Very sad to hear of his passing! #Asifbasra I hope you are at peace, “he added.
Casting director Mukesh Chhabra tweeted, “This can’t be true Asif Bhai, we’ve worked a lot together from ‘Kai Po Che’ to ‘Hostages 2.’ I can’t believe this! What’s going on ??????? ???? #asifbasra “.
The sudden death of Basra is the latest blow to the industry, which is struggling to recover after the lockdown that took effect in March to slow the spread of COVID-19.
After the Rajput’s death, it sparked discussions about the industry’s nepotistic nature and its vigilante attitude, but took a completely different angle after the actor’s family filed a FIR against his girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty, TV actor Samir. Sharma was found hanging in his Mumbai. home in august,
Sharma was best known for his roles in “Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi” and “Left, Right, Left”.
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