Veteran actor Ashok Saraf opened up about his remarkable career at Cannes 2026, reflecting on over five decades of hard work and success in cinema. The seasoned performer revealed that he has been active since 1971 and is still going strong in 2026, completing nearly 55 years in the industry. With close to 300 films to his name, most of which were box office hits, Saraf expressed deep gratitude for the rare and fulfilling journey he has experienced.
Ashok Saraf Says Most of His Films Have Been Hits
In a conversation with Brut, Saraf stated, “This journey of mine is still continuing. I have been working continuously for the last 55 years in the industry. I started in 1971. Now, in 2026, I am still working continuously. And I have acted in 300 films so far. Out of those 300 films, most of them have been hits. This is a big thing: most of the films are hits and they have been watched many times as well. So, I think that this is a record in the industry.”
Ashok Saraf on ‘Hum Paanch’: Reacting Was More Fun Than Acting
Saraf also took a trip down memory lane when discussing the beloved sitcom Hum Paanch. He described the show as a one-of-a-kind comedy that revolved around a father juggling the lives of five completely different daughters, all while dealing with the emotional weight of having lost his wife. Saraf emphasized that what he enjoyed most about the show was that it often required him to react to situations rather than just act, and for him, that is where the real magic of comedy lies. He elaborated, “Hum Paanch ki toh baat hee alag hai. It is such a comedy show where a father, a bewildered father, and his five daughters have different types of nature and get into unnecessary arguments with them. There is a wife who has died. There is a wife at home. There were six women and only one man fights with them. It was so challenging. So, I enjoyed doing that. I enjoyed reacting to it more than the action, because it is more important to act. But when you react, the action is complete. I enjoyed doing that more.”
Ashok Saraf Calls ‘Karan Arjun’ a Successful Film of His Life
Ashok spoke about working in films like Karan Arjun and noted that the dialogues there were very different from how people talk in real life. Saying those lines in the right way while still connecting with the audience was a challenge, but that is exactly what made those films so special and memorable for him. He remarked, “Even in Karan Arjun, the language was different. Although we never speak the language, we do not know the language, and to speak it continuously and what we are doing so that people like it—this is a big thing. So I consider it a successful film of my life.”
Saraf also spoke honestly about typecasting and said that comedians suffer from it the most. He explained, “It happened more with comedians. They get typecast. If people like someone in a particular kind of role, they prefer seeing them in that same role again. But people do not like them in different roles. I have done a lot of roles. I have done all kinds of roles, but people like me more in comedy. I had to accept being typecast. What can I do?”
Ashok Saraf Walks the Cannes Red Carpet with Marathi Film Industry
This year at Cannes, the Marathi industry showed up and showed out. Ashok Saraf, Nivedita Saraf, Prajakta Mali, Ankita Prabhu-Walawalkar, and Kedar Joshi walked the red carpet as a unit, drawing a lot of attention and appreciation. The ensemble represented the vibrant Marathi cinema scene on an international platform, highlighting the growing recognition of regional Indian cinema globally.
