A career spanning over four decades, film actor and comedian Asrani is best-known for his comic and supporting in several Hindi films. An alumnus of Film and Television Institute of India, Pune, Asrani first faced the camera in a Gujarati movie in 1967 and made his debut in Bollywood shortly after with Hare Kaanch Ki Chudiyaan, later that year. The actor's path-breaking role was in Namak Haraam (1973), after which his close friend Bollywood's superstar Rajesh Khanna insisted on having Asrani in his movies for the comic roles. Koshish (1972), Bawarchi (1972), Parichay (1972), Abhimann (1973), Mehbooba (1976), Palkon Ki Chhaon Mein (1977), Do Ladke Dono Kadke (1979) and Bandish (1980) are some of his noteworthy films.
Asrani, then, concentrated on doing lead roles in Gujarati movies during the eighties. Some of his memorable performances during this decade were Hamari Bahu Alka (1982), Ek Hi Bhool (1981), Kaamchor (1982), Agar Tum Na Hote (1983), Asha Jyoti (1984), and Maqsad (1984). Best-remembered for his cameo appearance in the movie Sholay (1975), Asrani, in the nineties, starred in comic roles in movies like Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992), Gardish (1993), Gharwali Baharwali (1995) and Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (1998). From 2000 onwards, Asrani has acted in films like Hera Pheri (2000), Hulchul (2004), Garam Masala (2005), Chup Chup Ke (200), Bhagam Bhag (2006), De Dana Dan (2009) and Bol Bachchan (2012). Asrani's other projects include R.. Rajkumar (2013), Mastizaade (2016) and Yamla Pagla Deewana Phir Se (2018).