Asif Basra was a versatile actor who was known for his intense and grounded performances in films and theater. Some of his memorable roles came in films like “Black Friday,” “Outsourced,” Parzania,” and shows like “Paatal Lok,” “Hostages,” and “The Family Man.”
Early Life and Career
Asif Basra was born on July 27, 1967, in Amravati, Maharashtra. Basra spent his early life in Amravati, where he nurtured his love for acting. He moved to Mumbai in 1989, where he attended Mumbai University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in physics. However, his heart was set in Acting, and he regularly won accolades for his performances in college productions.
He started working with legendary Salim Gouse in 1991, who cast him as Horatio in his adaptation of “Hamlet.” Basra played multiple characters in Feroz Abbas Khan’s production of ‘Mahatma vs. Gandhi,’ where he demonstrated his exceptional range by portraying five different characters, each with its own distinct persona and ideological stance.
Another remarkable performance by Basra was in ‘Main Bhi Superman‘, where he played a child with spina bifida. This role required a sensitive portrayal of physical and emotional challenges, which Basra delivered with finesse, earning praise for his empathetic and nuanced interpretation.
Basra appeared in several other plays that spanned a variety of genres and themes, including “Tuglak” and “Mumtaz Bhai Patangwale.” His dedication to theatre also led him to train young talents and organise acting workshops at Prithvi Theatre.
Asif Basra In Films
He made his Hindi film debut in 1998 with the horror movie “Woh.” But his breakthrough came with his roles in critically acclaimed films such as “Black Friday” and “Parzania.” Basra’s talent shone through in diverse roles, whether it was playing a tailor in “Lamhaa” or Ali’s father in “Kai Po Che.” Besides Hindi cinema, He also worked in Gujarati, Tamil, and Malayalam films, showcasing his versatility across languages and genres.
In the latter part of his career, Basra embraced the digital space, appearing in web series such as ‘Paatal Lok” on Amazon Prime and “Hostages” on Hotstar. His last appearance was in the second season of “The Family Man,” released on Amazon Prime Video in June 2021.
Tragically, Asif Basra’s life came to a premature end on November 12, 2020. He was found hanging in a private complex in McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala. The investigation into his death did not yield conclusive results. And after some time, the case was eventually closed.
Asif Basra on IMDB
