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Ashok Saraf Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 5, 2026 • 3 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth4 June 1947

Age78 Years

BirthplaceNagpur, Central Provinces and Berar, British India (now in Maharashtra)

ProfessionActor, Comedian

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseNivedita Joshi Saraf

FamilySon - Aniket Saraf (Pastry Chef)

Ashok Saraf Biography

Veteran Indian actor and comedian Ashok Saraf has been a prominent figure in Marathi cinema and Hindi films and television for decades. Known for his comic

Early life and background

Ashok Saraf was born on 4 June 1947 in Nagpur, then part of the Central Provinces and Berar under British India. He grew up partly in Chikhalwadi in South Mumbai and later counts Belgaum, Maharashtra, among his hometown connections. Saraf attended DGT Vidyalaya in Mumbai. He began participating in Marathi theatre as a young man, taking on stage work from about age 18.

Career

Saraf’s screen career started in Marathi cinema with the 1969 film Janaki. He moved between regional and Hindi-language work over the years, making his Bollywood debut with the film Damaad in 1978. Across a long career he has appeared in more than 250 Marathi films as of 2019 and has taken notable parts in mainstream Hindi films including Singham, Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya, Gupt, Koyla, Yes Boss and Karan Arjun.

On television, Saraf earned recognition for roles in series such as Yeh Choti Badi Baatein and Hum Paanch. He has remained active in Marathi theatre throughout his life; early commercial stage work included plays such as Yayati Aani Devyani, and other notable productions in his repertoire include Hamidabaichi Kothi, Anidhikrut, Manomilan, He Ram Cardiogram, Darling Darling, Sarkha Chatit Dukhtay, Laginghai and Vacuum Cleaner.

Saraf’s comic pairing with Laxmikant Berde during the 1980s and 1990s made them among the leading names in Marathi comedy of that era. His body of work spans straight drama, broad comedy and character parts in both regional and national cinema.

Awards and recognition

Over his career Saraf has received multiple honors. He won a Filmfare Award for Ram Ram Gangaram (1977) and additional Filmfare recognitions are recorded among his accolades. State-level recognition includes multiple Maharashtra Government awards, and he has received other honors such as a Screen Award and a Bhojpuri Film Award. A Padma Shri is listed among the awards associated with him.

Public profile

Saraf is often referred to by the nickname Mama and has been called a leading figure in Marathi cinema. He is known for a long-running presence on stage and screen as well as for his comic timing in film and television. Personal details that have been publicly noted include his height of about 178 cm and that he follows Hinduism. He has described hobbies such as travelling and listening to music.

Personal life

Ashok Saraf is married to actress Nivedita Joshi Saraf; the couple have a son, Aniket Saraf, who works as a pastry chef. Saraf is reported to be older than his wife by about 18 years. Earlier in his life he had a relationship with Marathi actress Ranjana Deshmukh, a fact that has been publicly noted. He has survived two serious accidents in his lifetime, one of which caused significant neck injury.

Later years and legacy

By the late 2010s Saraf’s filmography had exceeded 250 Marathi titles. He remains a celebrated figure in Marathi theatre and film, remembered both for a long list of popular movies such as Ashi Hi Banava Banavi, Aayatya Gharat Gharoba and Dhum Dhadaka and for his influential comic work alongside other leading performers.

Latest updates

In 2017 false reports circulated about Saraf’s death; his wife publicly denied those reports and confirmed that he was well. Information recorded through 2025 lists his age as 78 years.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Ashok Saraf, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded
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Recent Work

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Career Highlights

  1. Debuted in Marathi cinema with Janaki (1969)
  2. Bollywood debut in Damaad (1978)
  3. Appeared in over 250 Marathi films by 2019
  4. Popular television roles in Yeh Choti Badi Baatein and Hum Paanch
  5. Noted comic partnership with Laxmikant Berde in the 1980s–90s
  6. Recipient of multiple Filmfare and Maharashtra Government awards; Padma Shri listed among honors
Reviewed by F4U Editorial Desk

F4U profile pages are prepared from public career information, checked for readability, and updated when reliable correction sources are shared with the editorial team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Ashok Saraf born?

Ashok Saraf was born on 4 June 1947.

What is Ashok Saraf known for?

Ashok Saraf is known for actor, Comedian.

What is Ashok Saraf’s marital status?

Ashok Saraf's marital status is listed as Married.

Who is Ashok Saraf married to?

Ashok Saraf is publicly listed as married to Nivedita Joshi Saraf.