Om Puri

Om Puri, OBE (Honorary) (born October 18, 1950 in Ambala, Haryana, India) is an Indian actor who has appeared in both mainstream Bollywood films as well as art films. His credits also include appearances in British and American films. He graduated from the Film and Television Institute of India. He was also an alumnus of the 1973 batch of National School of Drama where Naseeruddin Shah was a co-student.

Biography

Acting career

Puri has worked in hundreds of Indian films and films produced in the United Kingdom and the United States. He made his film debut in the 1976 film Ghashiram Kotwal, a film based on a marathi play of the same name. He was often thought to be the brother or cousin of late actors Madan Puri and Amrish Puri but he was not related to them. However he had collaborated in many films with Amrish Puri as well as Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi and Smita Patil in films such as Bhumika (1977), Bhavani Bhavai (1980), Sadgati (1981), Ardh Satya (1982) and Mirch Masala (1986). These films came under the category of Parallel Cinema or art films which were different to the mainstream Hindi films made at that time.

He was critically acclaimed for his performances in many unconventional roles such as a victimized tribal in Aakrosh (1980) (a film in which he spoke not a single line of dialogue), a police inspector in Ardh Satya (1982), where he revolts against life-long social, cultural and political persecution and for which he got the National Award for the Best Actor and as the leader of a cell of Sikh militants in Maachis (1996).

In the 1990s, Puri diversified to play different roles in mainstream Hindi cinema, where his roles are more tuned to mass audiences than film critics. He also became known internationally for starring in many British films such as My Son the Fanatic (1997), East is East (1999) and The Parole Officer (2001). He also appeared in Hollywood films include City of Joy (1992), Wolf (1994) and The Ghost and the Darkness (1996). Puri also had a cameo in the international highly acclaimed film Gandhi (1982, directed by Richard Attenborough), based on the life of Mahatma Gandhi.

He has also worked in a Hindi TV serial Kakkaji Kaheen (roughly meaning "Uncle says") which was a parody on politicians.

Awards

Puri has won a few of the prestigious National Awards, and the popular Filmfare Awards for his performances. In July, 2004, he was awarded an honorary OBE for his performances in English movies as well.

Select filmography

• Victoria No. 203 (2007) (filming)
• Charlie Wilson's War (2007) (filming)
• Fool and Final (2006)
• Baabul (2006)
• Don - The Chase Begins Again (2006)
• Chup Chup Ke (2006)
• Malamaal Weekly (2006)
• Rang De Basanti (2006)
• Deewane Huye Pagal (2005)
• Kyon Ki (2005)
• Kisna (2005)
• Yuva (2004)
• Lakshya (2004)
• Dev (2004)
• Kyun...! Ho Gaya Na (2004)
• Maqbool (2003)
• Ek Aur Ek Gyarah (2003)
• Awara Paagal Deewana (2002)
• Pyaar Diwana Hota Hai (2002)
• The Parole Officer (2001)
• The Mystic Masseur (2001)
• Farz (2001)
• Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge (2000)
• Hera Pheri (2000)
• Pukar (2000)
• East is East (1999)
• Chachi 420 (1998)
• Such a Long Journey (1998)
• My Son the Fanatic (film) (1997)
• Gupt: The Hidden Truth (1997)
• The Ghost and the Darkness (1996)
• Maachis (1996)
• Drohkaal (1994)
• Wolf (1994)
• In Custody(1993)
• City of Joy (1992)
• Antarnaad (1991)
• Sam & Me (1991)
• Ghayal (1990)
• Aghat (1985)
• The Jewel in the Crown (1984) (TV)
• Ardh Satya (1983)
• Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron (1983)
• Disco Dancer (1982)
• Gandhi (1982)
• Sadgati (1981)
• Aakrosh (1980)
• Ghashiram Kotwal (1976)

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