Asif Basra was a talented and versatile Indian film and theatre actor, whose impressive repertoire spanned multiple languages and international productions. He made a significant mark in the Indian film industry, starring in several critically acclaimed and popular Hindi movies, including Once Upon a Time in Mumbai, Jab We Met, and Kai Po Che. His remarkable performance in Rahul Dholakia's Parzania earned him widespread critical acclaim.
Asif's extensive filmography also includes notable roles in international productions, such as the 2006 movie Outsourced, Tandoori Love, and One Night with the King, alongside renowned actors like Omar Sharif and Peter O'Toole. He worked with some of India's leading directors, including Anurag Kashyap on the film Black Friday, and appeared in other notable films like Lamhaa: The Untold Story of Kashmir and Yeh Hai Bakrapur.
Beyond his film career, Asif was a prolific theatre actor, having performed in numerous plays in India and abroad. He was equally comfortable in English, Hindi, and Urdu productions, and toured various countries, including the United States, the UK, and Dubai, playing five characters in Feroz Khan's production of Mahatma V/s Gandhi. He also played the title role in Manav Kaul's acclaimed Mamtaz Bhai Patang Waale and portrayed a 12-year-old child with Spina Bifida in Main Bhi Superman.
Born on 27th July 1967 in Amravati, Asif moved to Mumbai in 1989 to pursue his acting career and continued to live and work there until his untimely passing. On 12 November 2020, he was found hanging in his apartment in Dharamshala, with the causes of his suicide being investigated.
