Originally from Jaipur, Rajasthan, Asrani was born on January 1, 1941. Asrani graduated from Rajasthan College, Jaipur, and worked as a voice artist at All India Radio to pay for his education. He arrived in Mumbai in 1962 to become an actor.After completing his course at the Film Institute in Pune in 1966, the actor's first break came in the Hindi film Hare Kaanch Ki Choodiyan in 1967 as actor Biswajeet's friend. His most iconic role was as the jailer in Ramesh Sippy's Sholay (1975). In 1977, he directed and wrote the film Chala Murari Hero Banne, where he cast himself as the lead opposite Bindiya Goswami.