3 Idiots' veteran actor, who was an ex-Indian Army officer and professor, dies at 91. Achyut Potdar joined Bollywood at 44
— mehtahansal (@mehtahansal)
All you need to know about Achyut Potdar
Veteran actor Achyut Potdar , best known for his memorable role as a college professor in the hit film 3 Idiots, passed away on Monday in Thane, Maharashtra, at the age of 91. As per the reports, the actor was admitted to Jupiter Hospital in Thane due to health complications. The exact cause of his death has not been revealed, but reports suggest he had been recently hospitalised due to age-related health issues.His funeral is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, August 19 in Thane. Star Pravah confirmed his passing on social media, remembering him for his warmth, simplicity, and honesty in every role he played.Throughout his extensive career, he appeared in over 125 Hindi and Marathi films and acted in close to 100 television shows. Director Hansal Mehta expressed his admiration for the actor, recalling his memorable role as Jaggu Dada's father in the film Angaar. Mourning the demise of the actor, the filmmaker also mentioned the privilege of working with him during his own directorial debut, Jayate, where the actor portrayed a professional medical witness known for his sharp timing and dry wit.Moreover, Achyut Potdar is fondly remembered for his role as the strict college professor in 3 Idiots, which became iconic, especially for his dialogue, 'Kehna kya chahte ho?' that went viral and became a popular meme on social media.But, did you know that before becoming an actor, he was both a professor and an Indian Army officer? Before his acting career, Potdar served in the Indian Army and retired in 1967. Prior to joining the military, he worked as a professor in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh. In addition to these profession, he also worked at the Indian Oil Corporation He entered the industry at the age of 44. Achyut Potdar's film career includes more than 125 Hindi and Marathi films. Some of his notable works include Lage Raho Munna Bhai, Parineeta, Dabangg 2, Ventilator, Tezaab, Rangeela, and Vaastav.On television, the veteran actor appeared in popular series such as Wagle Ki Duniya, Bharat Ki Khoj, Majha Hoshil Na, and Mrs. Tendulkar. He was also active in Marathi cinema. From serving the nation as an Army officer and educating students as a professor, to winning hearts as an actor, his journey remains an inspiring example of dedication and passion.
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Trigger Warning: This article contains mention of death. Aamir Khan paid a heartfelt tribute to his 3 Idiots co-star, Achyut Potdar, amid his death at 91. The actor expressed his sorrow by sharing an emotional note through his production house. Khan went on to describe the late star as an amazing actor and a wonderful human being. Potdar, who got famous for his line 'kehna kya chahte ho?' in the Rajkumar Hirani directorial, passed away on August 18, and the unfortunate news was confirmed by Achyut's doctor, Ravindra Ghawat. In the statement released to PTI, the medical expert mentioned, 'He was admitted to the hospital in a critical state with breathing and heart issues around 4 p.m. He was kept in the ICU. He passed away at 10:30 p.m. due to heart-related issues. He had high blood pressure and weak cardiovascular health.' Aamir Khan mourns Achyut Potdar's death Aamir Khan, who shared the screen space with the late Achyut Potdar, wrote a heartfelt note in remembrance of the latter. In an emotional note, the Sitaare Zameen Par star wrote, 'I am very saddened to hear about Achyutji passing away. He was an amazing actor, a wonderful human being, and a great colleague. We will miss you, Achyutji. My heartfelt condolences to his family.' Potdar was known to bring versatility and charm to the screens. He began his acting career at the age of 44, and gained popularity for playing the stern professor in the hit 2009 film. His phrase in the movie went on to become viral on the internet and is often used in memes and pop cultural references. Ahead of stepping into the films, the late actor portrayed various characters in TV shows such as Wagle Ki Duniya, Majha Hoshil Na, Mrs. Tendulkar, and Bharat Ki Khoj. Potdar also left a lasting impression on the Marathi cinema, as he played a number of roles onscreen commercially.

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3 Idiots actor Achyut Potdar passes away at the age of 91
Trigger Warning: This article contains mention of death. Veteran actor Achyut Potdar has passed away at the age of 91. Known for playing prominent roles in several Marathi and Hindi films, he was best remembered for his character of a professor in Aamir Khan's starrer 3 Idiots. Today (August 19), early morning, reports of demise circulated on the internet, leaving many heartbroken. The 91-year-old actor breathed his last on August 18 after his battle with a prolonged illness. Achyut Potdar passes away at the age of 91 According to Zee News, Achyut Potdar was admitted to Jupiter Hospital in Thane, Mumbai, where he had been under medical care. While the exact cause of his death remains unknown, reports suggest that he died due to age-related issues. The actor's last rites will take place on August 19 in Thane. While Potdar was a well-known name in the industry, it was his stint in the blockbuster film 3 Idiots which made him a household name. He played the role of a Professor, and his conversation with Aamir Khan's character Rancho went super viral. The scene was the professor scolding Rancho for smiling and not paying attention. He is best remembered for his 'Kehna Kya Chahte Ho' dialogue from the movie. His character and memes of his dialogue still trend on the internet. Known for his character roles in films, Achyut entered Bollywood at the age of 44. The news of his demise was also confirmed on social media by the Star Pravah channel as they shared an official post on their Instagram account. They shared a post paying tribute to the actor and offering their condolences. The caption of this post read, "A heartfelt tribute to senior actor Achyut Potdar… His smile, simplicity and honesty in every role will always be remembered." More about Achyut Potdar's professional life Achyut Potdar was a veteran and respected Marathi actor who had also worked in Bollywood films like Lage Raho Munna Bhai, Bhootnath, Dabangg 2, Hum Saath-Saath Hain, Vaastav: The Reality and many more. The actor was also a part of Priyanka Chopra -produced Marathi film, Ventilator, which released in 2016. Reportedly, the seasoned Indian actor had worked in over 125 Bollywood films, featured in 95 TV serials, 26 plays and 45 ads.
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