Veteran actor Achyut Potdar - best known for his role as a professor in 3 Idiots - passed away on August 18 following heart failure.
He was 90 and was just weeks away from his 91st birthday.
Potdar’s daughter, Anuradha Paraskar, confirmed the news, saying he was admitted to Jupiter Hospital in Thane after he collapsed at home.
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“He was getting old, but yesterday he fell unconscious in the afternoon. Within a few hours, by about 9 o'clock, his heart went into failure. It was a quick but very peaceful end,” she said.
Career spanning 125 films and TV shows
With a career that stretched over decades, Achyut Potdar appeared in more than 125 films and several acclaimed television shows. His versatility made him a familiar face in both Bollywood blockbusters and parallel cinema.
He starred in celebrated films such as Aakrosh, Ardh Satya, Tezaab, Parinda, Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman, Rangeela, Vaastav, Hum Saath Saath Hain, Parineeta, Lage Raho Munna Bhai, Dabangg 2 and Ventilator.
On television, he appeared in iconic series like Bharat Ek Khoj (Doordarshan), Shubh Mangal Savadhan, Mrs. Tendulkar, Pradhan Mantri and Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi Kijo.
Pop culture fame through 3 Idiots
Although he had an extensive body of work, Potdar found enduring recognition through his role as a professor in Rajkumar Hirani’s 2009 hit 3 Idiots. His dialogue “Arey kehna kya chahte ho?” (“What are you trying to say?”) became meme material and remains part of Indian internet culture to this day.
Fans and colleagues are remembering him not only as a fine actor but also as a gentle and dignified presence in the industry. His contributions to Indian cinema, across both mainstream and parallel films, cement his legacy as one of Bollywood’s most dependable character actors.
Potdar is survived by his family, who described his passing as “quick but peaceful.”
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