Bollywood actor, Aamir Khan is best known for playing the role of ‘Rancho’ in 3 Idiots. Now, he gave a heartfelt tribute to his onscreen professor, Achyut Potdar, who passed away at the age of 91 on August 18, 2025. There is a scene from 3 Idiots where Achyut, as an engineering professor, asks the students to give the definition of a machine. Rancho, in a funny manner, is seen demonstrating the same with the zipper of his pants. The scene, thanks to Aamir and Achyut, became both epic and legendary.
Aamir Khan pays a heartfelt tribute to his on-screen teacher, Achyut Potdar
Achyut’s demise was confirmed by Dr. Ravindra Ghawat, who is the Director of the Critical Care Department located at Jupiter Hospital. Dr. Ravindra shared that the veteran actor was admitted to the hospital in a critical state with breathing and heart issues around 4 p.m. He was kept in the ICU. He passed away at 10:30 p.m. due to heart-related issues. He had high blood pressure and weak cardiovascular health. As soon as the news surfaced, Aamir expressed his sadness via an emotional message that was shared by his production team. It read:
“I am very saddened to hear about Achyutji passing away. He was an amazing actor, a wonderful human being, and a great colleague. We will miss you, Achyutji. My heartfelt condolences to his family.”
Achyut left a huge impact with his versatile work in Indian cinema, and his screen presence was also pretty dignified. He gained significant fame and recognition for essaying the role of a strict professor in 3 Idiots, alongside Aamir, R. Madhavan, and Sharman Joshi. His most witty line was, “Kehna kya chahte ho”. It became a famous line, frequently used in pop culture and as meme content.
More about Achyut Potdar
Achyut was born on August 22, 1934, in Jabalpur, Central Provinces and Berar, British India. He was raised in Madhya Pradesh, Indore and then graduated with a post-graduation degree in 1961. He received a university medal after achieving first place in Economics. Achyut then became a professor at Rewa in Madhya Pradesh after completing university, and later joined the Indian Army. The late actor retired from the forces at the rank of captain back in 1967. Before he entered the world of cinema, Achyut was also an executive with the Indian Oil for like 25 years.
Achyut Potdar’s noteworthy performances
The exact cause of Potdar’s demise has not been known, but he had health-related complications when he was admitted to the hospital in Thane. The actor had also worked for the Indian Oil Corporation and is best known for his epic role in 3 Idiots. He has been seen in more than 125 movies in both Marathi and Hindi. Apart from his work in 3 Idiots, Achyut was known for his work in movies such as Aakrosh, Ardh Satya, Tezaab, Parina, to name a few. He also created his mark on Indian TV with hit shows such as Wagle Ki Duniya and Bharat Ki Khoj. Achyut’s work in the Marathi cinema has also been very well known, as he has done many roles in both commercial and critically acclaimed movies that have left an indelible mark.
What are your views on Aamir Khan’s tribute to Achyut Potdar?
Also Read: Rajesh Khanna’s Alleged GF, Anita Advani Claims Being Stopped At His Last Rites, ‘Bouncers Kept..’