Some actors leave a mark so deep, their characters stay with us forever. Even after they are gone, their performances echo in our minds. Achyut Potdar was one such exceptional talent. He recently passed away at the age of 91. His journey into acting was quite unique.
Potdar began his acting career at 44 years old. Before stepping into the world of entertainment, he lived a remarkable life. He served in the army and retired as a Colonel. He also worked in education as a professor. Only after these careers did he enter acting. He starred in about 125 Bollywood films. Most of his roles were supporting ones. Besides movies, Achyut Potdar also graced television screens with his acting skills. He may no longer be with us, but his memorable characters will live on in the audience’s hearts.
Remembering His Most Famous Role
Achyut Potdar gained significant fame for his professor role in Aamir Khan’s film ‘3 Idiots’. His part was small, but it stuck with viewers. The line he delivered in that movie, “Are, Kehna Kya Chahte Ho?” (meaning, “What do you want to say?”), became incredibly popular. This dialogue later turned into iconic meme material. But ‘3 Idiots’ was not his only film; he acted in many others.
Beyond ‘3 Idiots’: A Rich Filmography
Potdar acted in several major films. In Amitabh Bachchan’s ‘Bhoothnath’, he played a temple priest. He also took on the role of a priest in ‘R… Rajkumar’. In the film ‘Dabangg’, he played Debi Singh. He appeared as a bat shop owner in ‘Ferrari Ki Sawaari’. He also played the fathers of lead actresses in several movies. He was Vidya Balan’s father in ‘Parineeta’ and Urmila’s father in ‘Rangeela’. He even appeared as Kajol’s father in ‘Yeh Dillagi’. Potdar was seen in smaller roles in films like ‘Ardh Satya’, ‘Tezaab’, ‘Vaastav’, and ‘Lage Raho Munna Bhai’.
A Presence on the Small Screen Too
Beyond films, Achyut Potdar also acted in many television serials and series. His TV credits include ‘Bharat Ek Khoj’, ‘Prime Minister’, ‘Wagle Ki Duniya’, and ‘Majha Hoshil Na’. For his work in the Marathi serial ‘Majha Hoshil Na’, he was honored with the Jeevan Gaurav Award in 2021.