Om Shivpuri

Om Shivpuri Biography

Om Shivpuri was an actor of Bollywood during 70’s and 80’s most known for his villain characters. He has also directed a few films. Om Shivpuri became the first chief of the National School of Drama Repertory Company (1964) and he continued till Manohar Singh succeeded him in 1976. He was one of its leading artists as well. Later he found a theatre group – Dishantar in New Delhi. His wife is Sudha Shivpuri, a noted television actress most popularly known for TV serial Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. His daughter Ritu Shivpuri has also worked in a few films and is a successful television actress. Don (1978) was one of the most memorable films of his career.

Om Shivpuri was born in Rajasthan and started his career in Jaipur Radio Station, where he happened to meet his future wife, Sudha Shivpuri. Later they worked together in plays as well. While he was studying in NSD, she was his classmate. They fell in love with each other while they were at NSD, formed drama company together and got married in 1968 after 9 long years. Aadhe Adhure, a classic Hindi play written by Mohan Rakesh, was the most popular play of this group. Their theater group was so popular that tickets were often sold in black during its golden period.

Om Shivpuri started his film career in 1971 with Mani Kaul's Ashad Ka Ek Din, soon followed by Gulzar's Koshish in 1972. He shifted to Mumbai two years later to hunt his future in Bollywood. He was quite successful as well. In the career spanning to about 2 decades, he portrayed character roles to negative roles in about 175 films. A few of his noted films in his career – Mausam, Don, Pati pani aur woh, Namak haram, Hum Kisise Kum Nahin, Khoobsurat, The great gambler, Tumhare liye, Kudrat, Naseeb, The burning train, Insaaf ki tarazu, Khushboo, Aandhi, Achanak and Koshish. He has appeared in numerous Amitabh Bachchan films in villain and supporting roles.  

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Updated: October 25, 2013