Ashok Saraf

Ashok Saraf (born 4 June 1947) is an Indian actor and comedian, known for his work in Marathi and Hindi films along with theatre in both languages. Saraf has received several awards including eleven Maharashtra State Film Awards and four Filmfare Awards Marathi. He is referred to as the Mahanayak (lit. 'Greatest Actor'), Ashok Samrat or Mama of the Marathi film industry, In 2016, Saraf received Filmfare Marathi Lifetime Achievement Award for his Contribution to Marathi cinema. In 2023, he received the Maharashtra Bhushan, the highest civilian honour in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Saraf received Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian honour, from the Government of India in 2025.

From the early 1980s, Saraf started getting leading roles in Marathi films. The combination of Ashok Saraf, Laxmikant Berde, Sachin Pilgaonkar and Mahesh Kothare created the "comedy films wave" in Marathi cinema from 1985 that lasted for more than a decade. His successful Marathi films as the lead hero include Ek Daav Bhutacha (1982), Dhum Dhadaka (1985), Gammat Jammat (1987), Bhutacha Bhau (1989), Balache Baap Brahmachari (1989), Ashi hi Banawa Banavi (1988) and Aayatya Gharat Gharoba (1991).

In Bollywood he worked in many movies such as Karan Arjun (1995), Yes Boss (1997), Joru Ka Ghulam (2000) and Navra Mazha Navsacha (2004)Singham (2011) Navra Mazha Navsacha 2 (2024)and in many Hindi television sitcoms.