We Miss You, Legendary Om Puri Saheb
Om Puri Saheb Biography: Om Puri was a well-known Indian actor who acted in both, domestic and international films. He was well-known for his diverse and forceful performances in a variety of genres and languages. Here’s a quick rundown of his life and accomplishments:
Om Puri was born in Ambala, Haryana, India on October 18, 1950. His father was a member of the Indian Army and the Indian Railways. He had a rough upbringing and supported his family by working in a tea store and collecting coal from railway lines.
He attended the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune and the National School of Drama (NSD) in New Delhi to study acting. Naseeruddin Shah, a friend and fellow actor, urged him to follow his dream of becoming an actor.
He made his cinematic debut in 1972 with Ghashiram Kotwal, a Marathi film based on a play by Vijay Tendulkar. After that, he appeared in a number of critically acclaimed art films and parallel films, including Aakrosh, Arohan, Ardh Satya, Sadgati, Tamas, Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, Mirch Masala, and many others. He received two National Film Awards for Best Actor for his roles in Arohan and Ardh Satya. In 1990, he was also awarded the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian honor.
He has dabbled in big commercial Hindi films, appearing in Ghayal, Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha, Hera Pheri, Chachi 420, Malamaal Weekly, Singh Is Kinng and others. He has appeared in films in Bengali, Kannada, Gujarati, Telugu, and Marathi.
He has made an impression in world cinema, appearing in films such as My Son the Fanatic, East Is East, The Ghost and the Darkness, City of Joy, Wolf, The Hundred-Foot Journey, The Reluctant Fundamentalist, and others. East Is East earned him a BAFTA nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role. In 2004, he was made an honorary Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).
He has appeared in episodes like The Jewel in the Crown, Bharat Ek Khoj, Sea Hawks, Kakaji Kahin, Mr Yogi, and others. He has provided the voice for animated films including The Jungle Book and Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama.
Om Puri Saheb Biography: Struggling Life
Om Puri was a great actor who endured numerous difficulties and problems before earning popularity and recognition:
Om Puri earned Rs 600 a month as a clerk in a government office in Punjab. He gave up his career to pursue acting and attended FTII and NSD. He went to Mumbai with barely Rs 3000 and shared a chawl with four other persons. To make ends meet, he had to undertake odd jobs like painting movie posters and selling vegetables.
Om Puri was rejected and mistreated against because of his unusual appearance and dark skin. He was frequently cast as a villain, gangster, or cop. Some directors and producers teased him for his looks. “I have no regrets,” he once declared. I’ve done really well for me. I didn’t have a typical face, but I performed well and am happy about it.”
Om Puri battled for parts in a parallel film, which was dominated by performers such as Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi, and Smita Patil. He had to audition for a number of films and wait months for a response. He was also up against Naseeruddin Shah, a friend and adversary who was more popular and successful at the time. “Naseer and I were always competing for roles, not girls,” Om Puri explained. We were both looking for good parts.”
Om Puri had a difficult relationship with his first wife, Seema Kapoor, whom he married in 1991. Personal issues caused them to divorce after only eight months of marriage. In 1993, he married journalist Nandita Puri and had a son called Ishaan.
Om Puri Superhit Movies
Om Puri was a great actor who appeared in a slew of blockbusters in a variety of languages and genres. Some of his best-known films and their plots are as follows:
Ardh Satya (1983): Govind Nihalani directed this criminal drama film. It follows a recently assigned police rookie as he battles with corruption, romance, and cruelty. Om Puri played the protagonist, Anant Velankar, and received the National Film Award for Best Actor for his portrayal.
Arohan (1982): Shyam Benegal directed this drama film. It highlights the plight of a peasant farmer who joins the Naxalite movement after suffering under a harsh landlord. Om Puri played the farmer Hari Mondal and received another National Film Award for Best Actor for his performance.
East Is East (1999): Damien O’Donnell directed this British comedy-drama film. It is based on Ayub Khan-Din’s drama of the same name. It delves into questions of identity, culture, and family in the context of a Pakistani immigrant family in England. Om Puri was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his performance as George Khan, the family patriarch.
Maachis (1996): Gulzar’s latest film is an action-crime drama. It depicts terrorists and youth in Punjab following the 1984 riots in a realistic manner. Sanatan, a former army officer who educates young men to become insurgents, was played by Om Puri.
Charlie Wilson’s War (2007): Mike Nichols directs this American biographical comedy-drama film. It is based on George Crile III’s novel of the same name. It follows a Texas congressman’s undercover operations in Afghanistan during the Soviet-Afghan War. Om Puri was cast as Pakistan’s president, Zia-ul-Haq.
Om Puri Net Worth
Om Puri’s net worth, according to various sources, was believed to be approximately $20 million at the time of his death in 2017. He used to charge somewhere between Rs. 15 and Rs. 25 lakhs for each film. He amassed his fortune through his roles in Indian and foreign films, television series, and voice-overs. He also won various accolades and medals for his contributions, including the Padma Shri, the OBE, and the National Film medals. He was one of the world’s most acclaimed and versatile performers.
Om Puri Last Message
Om Puri was a great actor who died of a heart attack on January 6, 2017. At the time, he was 66 years of age. His final message to the world was not recorded or published, although he did give a few interviews in his final days that conveyed his ideas and opinions on a variety of themes. Here are some quotes from his most recent interviews:
In his most recent interview with a news station, he stated, “My contribution as an actor will be visible once I leave this world, and the young generation, especially film students, will watch my films.” He also appreciated Shyam Benegal, Govind Nihalani, Basu Chatterjee, Mrinal Sen, and Gulzar’s works, saying, “There are two kinds of cinema: one is just for entertainment, and the other touches your heart.” Both have a distinct role.”
In the final interview he had with another media outlet, he discussed his film Lashtam Pashtam, which was released after his death. “Partition is the biggest tragedy of our lives, and it still haunts us,” he remarked. It’s a delicate issue that must be addressed with care.” “It’s very sad that small films don’t get enough screens and attention,” he stated, expressing his unhappiness with the problems that short films encounter in getting distributed. They are the ones that require further assistance.
In his most recent interview with another media outlet, he discussed the India-Pakistan split and asked, “What message is there for the nation?” We have been at war with each other for the past 70 years. It’s time to take a different path. We ought to coexist in peace and harmony. Each of us is unique. He also spoke about his work in Pakistan, adding, “I have no regrets or complaints because I worked there and I have received a lot of love and respect from there.”
On January 6, 2017, he died of a heart attack at his residence in Andheri, Mumbai. The film business and his followers all across the world grieved his loss. He was cremated with the State honors at Oshiwara crematorium.
