Om Puri

Om Puri Biography

Om Puri is a versatile stage actor and film actor of present times and he has given unparallel contributions to Bollywood from second half of 1970’s. He is the youngest brother of Amrish Puri. He has done many leading hero roles as well as supporting actor roles in Bollywood. He has won many national, state and international awards, proving himself to be one among the finest actor of present times. He has won National awards twice during 1980’s for his brilliant performance in Bollywood movies – Arohan and Arth Satya. He has won Filmfare supporting actor award once for the movie – Aakrosh in 1981 and has been nominated 4 times during 90’s for the movies – Gupt, Pyar to hona hi tha, Maachis and Ghayal. He is a wonderful theatre artist also, exhibiting those talents in silver screen as well. He is a favourite of many directors like Richard Attenborough (a cameo role in Gandhi), Satyajit Ray, Govind Nihlani, Ketan Mehta and Sudhir Mishra. He has worked with Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi and Smita Patel in many art movies.   

He was born in Ambala of Haryana and graduated from the Film and Television Institute of India. Naseeruddin Shah was his friend at National school of Drama – 1973 batch. Ghasiram Kotwal of 1976 was his first Bollywood movie. He began to known for the versatility and flexibility of handling roles during 1980’s and Satyajit Ray casted him for the movie Sadgati in 1981. It was the second movie made by Satyajit Ray in Hindi after Shatrang ki khiladi. After that he didn’t look back and his career noticed a steep rise with his every movie. No doubt, he is counted among the most versatile actors of Bollywood at present.

He has given importance to art movies than commercial ones. Yet, it’s for art movies that he has given his finest performance. He diversified his acting skills and has experimented with his talent always. He did some comic roles in Priyadarshan movies like Maalamal lottery and Hera Pheri. Classic comedy along with Nasuruddeen Shah – Jaane bhi do yaarom is another instant. He has worked in a few British movies as well. His Kannada movie A.K.47 was released in the year and similar to many roles, he did a police officer’s role. His other memorable works include Disco dancer, Hera pheri, Agnipath, Yuva, Chachi 420, Chup chup ke, Kurbaan, Dev, Hey Ram, Ghaat, Singh is Kingh, Aastha, Narsimha, Kuwara, Lakshya, Rang de basanthi, Maqbool, Don, Maya Memsaab, London dreams, OMG, Debaangg and Vinasak.

Puri died at the age of 66, after having a heart attack on the morning of 6 January 2017 at his residence in Andheri, Mumbai.

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Updated: January 06, 2017