"Arrey bhai, kehna kya chahte ho?" (What are you trying to say).
On August 18, 2025, Achyut Potdar, famous for his role in the classic film 3 Idiots (2009), passed away. The veteran actor was 90 years old.
Potdar was born on August 22, 1934, and after graduating from university, he became a professor at Rewa, Madhya Pradesh.
He proceeded to join the Indian army, where he served as a captain until 1967.
While working with Indian Oil as an executive, Potdar played roles in various plays and theatre performances.
He made his Bollywood film debut in Aakrosh (1980) and went on to appear in over 125 films, 95 television shows, 26 plays and 45 advertisements.
In his acting career, Achyut Potdar played mostly brief and supporting roles.
Some of the well-known films in which he starred include Rangeela (1995), Ishq (1997), and Hum Saath-Saath Hain (1999).
However, arguably his most notable role was in Rajkumar Hirani’s 3 Idiots, in which he played a professor in one scene.
In the scene, the professor questions Rancho (Aamir Khan) about the definition of a machine.
Dismayed by Rancho’s oversimplified answer, the professor calls on Chatur ‘Silencer’ Ramalingam (Omi Vaidya).
To Rancho’s bemusement, the professor is really happy with Chatur’s answer, which the latter has clearly crammed from a book.
When Rancho highlights this to the professor, he is ousted from the classroom.
On his way out, Rancho turns back, saying he has forgotten something.
When the professor asks what he has left behind, Rancho delivers a long definition of the object from the dictionary.
The puzzled professor hasn’t got a clue what Rancho is talking about and he demands: “What are you trying to say?”
To this, Rancho simply replies: “My books, sir.”
The exasperated professor asks: “Couldn’t you have said so simply?”
Rancho quips back: “I did try earlier, Sir. But you didn’t like it.”
Several users paid tribute to Achyut Potdar following the news of his death.
One user said: “Veteran actor Achyut Potdar, beloved for his iconic line, ‘Arrey bhai, kehna kya chahte ho?‘ passed away yesterday at the age of 90.
“From a Professor to Indian Army Officer to Indian Oil Executive to a cinema legend – a truly remarkable journey.”
Potdar was also highlighted for never asking producers for lead roles, only doing what was offered to him.
Following 3 Idiots, he appeared in films including Dabangg 2 (2012) and R…Rajkumar (2013).
The actor made his final film appearance in Hausla (2019).
Watch Achyut Potdar’s iconic 3 Idiots scene:
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