Remembering Asit Sen, the renowned Hindi film comedian of yesteryears, on his 30th death anniversary (18/09/1993).

Remembering Asit Sen, the renowned Hindi film comedian of yesteryears, on his 30th death anniversary (18/09/1993).

Born on 13 May 1917, Asit Sen was a multi-talented figure in the Hindi film industry, initially gaining recognition as a film director before becoming a celebrated comedian. Over the course of his four-decade career, from 1953 until his passing on 18 September 1993, Sen directed two films and starred in over 200, leaving an indelible mark on Indian cinema.

Known for his unique acting style, Sen often portrayed characters in positions of authority — be it a police inspector or a landlord — but always with a comedic twist. His slow-paced dialogue delivery and thin voice stood in striking contrast to his imposing physical frame, adding layers of humor and depth to his roles. He was particularly prolific during the 1960s, 1970s, and early 1980s, sharing the screen with many of the industry’s biggest names.

Sen’s journey in the film industry began under the mentorship of director-producer Bimal Roy in Kolkata. However, as the Kolkata-based film industry began to decline, Roy, along with his team — including Sen, Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Nabendu Ghosh, Kamal Bose, and later Salil Chaudhury — relocated to Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1950. Before fully embracing acting, Sen directed two films for his mentor’s production house: “Parivar” in 1956 and “Apradhi Kaun” in 1957.

Today, we pay tribute to Asit Sen, whose contributions to Indian cinema as both a director and a comedian continue to be cherished. His legacy lives on, bringing smiles and laughter to generations.