Achyut Potdar, veteran Indian actor, dies at 91; funeral in Thane

Achyut Potdar, a veteran Indian actor whose memorable turn as a strict engineering professor in a blockbuster Hindi film made him a household name, died on Monday at Jupiter Hospital in Thane. He was 91. The actor’s funeral is scheduled for Tuesday in Thane, marking the end of a four-decade-plus career that bridged Hindi and Marathi cinema, television, and stage.

Potdar’s passing comes after a life that began outside the cinema world. He served in the Indian Armed Forces, later worked for the Indian Oil Company, and began acting in films and on television in the 1980s. Over the years, he built a prolific résumé that includes more than 125 films and numerous TV series, encompassing both Hindi and Marathi productions. His early work featured titles such as Aakrosh, Ardh Satya, Tezaab, Parinda, Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman, and Dilwale, among others, establishing him as a versatile character actor capable of delivering sharp timing and a caustic sense of humor.

Potdar’s face became instantly recognizable to contemporary audiences through Rajkumar Hirani’s 3 Idiots, where he played the endearing yet stern professor who became a staple of the film’s humor and heart. The character’s iconic...