On veteran Bollywood actor and National Film Award-winner Om Puris birth anniversary on October 18, we pay tribute to the legend with rare pictures of his journey in the Hindi and regional film industry
Om Puri was the major face of the parallel cinema movement alongside his contemporaries Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi and Smita Patil, working collectively in some of the biggest Indian classics like Bhumika, Aakrosh, Sparsh, Bhavni Bhavai, Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Ata Hai, Mirch Masala, Sadgati, Arohan, Ardh Satya and Mandi.
Om Puri, who starred in around 300 movies, won the National Film Award for best actor for his role as a police inspector in the 1982 film Ardh Satya. He also received the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award of India in the year 1990.
In picture: Om Puri with Smita Patil in Satyajit Ray's 1981 film Sadgati
After the end of the art cinema movement, Puri shifted to mainstream cinema where he did memorable character roles while continuing to give noteworthy performances in films like Vijeta, Ghayal, Droh Kaal, Maachis, Ghatak: Lethal, Chachi 420, Khoobsurat, Pukar, Hera Pheri and Dev.
In picture: With Linda Bassett in the 1999 British comedy-drama film East is East
Om Puri earned international fame in many British films, such as My Son the Fanatic, East Is East, The Parole Officer and others. He also appeared in Hollywood films like City of Joy, Wolf, The Ghost and the Darkness among others.
In picture: With Shabana Azmi and Patrick Swayze in the 1992 Hollywood film City of Joy directed by Roland Joff
Did you know Om Puri made his film debut in 1976 with the Marathi film Ghashiram Kotwal?
In picture: Om Puri and Smita Patil
Om Puri appeared in the 2015 Salman Khan movie Bajrangi Bhaijaan. He played the part of a progressive imam, who protects Bajrangi and Munni from the Pakistani security forces and offers them refuge at the madrassa he teaches in.
In picture: Om Puri and Rekha in the controversial film Aastha
After Bajrangi Bhaijaan, he teamed up with Salman and Kabir Khan again in Tubelight, which released on Eid 2017.
In picture: Om Puri in the satire, The King of Bollywood
Om Puri passed away tragically at his Oshiwara home on January 6, 2017. The Padma Shri awardee was found lying on the floor, bleeding from his head. It was later known that the actor had suffered a fatal heart attack.
In picture: Om Puri and Rajeshwari Sachdev in Triyacharitra
At around 7 am, when Om Puri's driver reached his third-floor residence and rang the bell, there was no response. He got suspicious and raised an alarm. Puri's neighbours gathered and managed to get duplicate keys to enter his home. Upon opening the door, they found Puri lying on the floor near his kitchen, bleeding from his head. The driver, Puri's ex-wife Nandita and a few of his neighbours from the Oakland Park building then rushed him to Cooper Hospital.
The primary cause of Om Puri's death was a heart attack. There was an injury on the left side of his head, which suggested that after suffering the heart attack, he fell to the ground.
A still from the popular TV show starring Om Puri, Kakaji Kahin
Born in Ambala, Haryana, in a Punjabi family, Puri graduated from the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune
He was also an alumnus of the 1973 class of National School of Drama, where Naseeruddin Shah was a co-student
Om Puri in a still from the film Bollywood Calling
Puri etched his name in the 1980s with the alternative art cinema that found a niche audience in India, playing several memorable characters that depicted the anger and angst of those times
Om Puri and Revathy
Om Puri in a still from his movie
Om Puri, Saira Banu and Javed Jaaferi
The actor in a still from Shahadat
