Om Puri
| Om Puri | |
|---|---|
 Puri at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival |
|
| Born | Om Rajesh Puri 18 October 1950 Ambala, Haryana, India |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1976 – present |
| Spouse | Seema Kapoor (1996–2009, divorced) Nandita Puri |
Om Puri (Hindi: ओम पुरी, Punjabi: ਓਮ ਪੂਰੀ, born 18 October 1950) is an Indian actor who has appeared in both mainstream Indian films and art films. His credits also include appearances in British and American films. He has received an honorary OBE.
Contents |
[edit] Early life
Puri was born in Ambala, Haryana and spent the early part of his life living with his maternal uncle in Sanaur (Patiala), Punjab, India. He graduated from the Film and Television Institute of India. He is also an alumnus of the 1973 class of National School of Drama where Naseeruddin Shah was a co-student.[1]
[edit] Career
Puri has worked in numerous Indian films and in many films produced in the United Kingdom and the United States. He made his film debut in the 1976 film Ghashiram Kotwal, based on a Marathi play of the same name. He has claimed that he was paid "peanuts" for his best work.[2] He has collaborated with Amrish Puri as well as Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi and Smita Patil in art films such as Bhavni Bhavai (1980), Sadgati (1981), Ardh Satya (1982), Mirch Masala (1986) and Dharavi (1992).
He has been active in Punjabi cinema. In the 1980s, Puri made two highly successful Punjabi films called Chan Pardesi (1980) and Long Da Lishkara (1986). After nineteen years, Puri returned to Punjabi cinema with the film Baghi (2005). He recently acted in another Punjabi film, Gurdas Mann's Yaariyan (2008).
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 only during flash-back sequences); Jimmy's manager in Disco Dancer (1982); 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 Film Award for Best Actor; the leader of a cell of Sikh militants in Maachis (1996); as a tough cop again in the commercial film Gupt in 1997; and as the courageous father of a martyred soldier in Dhoop (2003).
In 1999, Puri acted in a Kannada movie A.K. 47 as a strict police officer who tries to keep the city safe from the underworld — it became a huge commercial hit. Puri's acting in the movie is very memorable. He has rendered his own voice for the Kannada dialogues. In the same year, he starred in the successful British comedy film East is East, where he played a first-generation Pakistani immigrant in the north of England, struggling to come to terms with his far more westernised children.
Puri had a cameo in the highly acclaimed film Gandhi (1982, directed by Richard Attenborough). In the mid-1990s, he diversified to play character roles in mainstream Hindi cinema, where his roles are more tuned to mass audiences than film critics. He became known internationally by starring in many British films such as My Son the Fanatic (1997), East Is East (1999) and The Parole Officer (2001). He appeared in Hollywood films including City of Joy (1992), opposite Patrick Swayze; Wolf (1994) alongside Jack Nicholson; and The Ghost and the Darkness (1996) opposite Val Kilmer. In 2007, he appeared as General Zia-ul-Haq in Charlie Wilson's War, which stars Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts.
He has worked in Hindi television serials like Kakkaji Kaheen (1988) (roughly meaning "Uncle says") as a paan-chewing 'Kakkaji', which was a parody on politicians, and Mr. Yogi (1989) as a suave 'Sutradhaar' who enjoys pulling the protagonist's leg. These two serials underlined Om Puri's versatility as a comedian. He received critical acclaim for him performance in Govind Nihalani's television film Tamas (1987) based on a Hindi novel of the same name. He essayed comic roles in Hindi films like Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro which reached a cult status, followed by Chachi 420 (1997), Hera Pheri (2000), Chor Machaye Shor (2002) and Malamaal Weekly (2006).
His more recent Hindi film roles include Singh Is Kinng, Mere Baap Pehle Aap and Billu. Puri was seen in the role of Mohammad Ali Kasuri in Road to Sangam (2009). In 2010, he appeared in The Hangman. In 2011 he was in the Indian action movie Don 2.
[edit] Controversy
A breach of privilege notice was issued against Om Puri in the Parliament of India for allegedly making derogatory remarks against the politicians during the fast carried out by Anna Hazare for Jan Lokpal Bill at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi in August 2011.[3]
[edit] Partial filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Ghashiram Kotwal | Ghashiram | |
| 1977 | Godhuli | ||
| 1977 | Tabbaliyu Neenade Magane (Kannada) | ||
| 1977 | Bhumika | ||
| 1978 | Arvind Desai Ki Ajeeb Dastaan | Marxist man | |
| 1980 | Aakrosh | Lahanya Bhiku | Won, Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award |
| 1982 | Gandhi | Nahari | |
| 1982 | Arohan (film) | Hari Mondal | Won, National Film Award for Best Actor |
| 1983 | Ardh Satya | Anant Velankar | Won, National Film Award for Best Actor |
| 1984 | The Jewel in the Crown | Mr De Souza | TV series |
| 1985 | Mirch Masala | ||
| 1988 | Ek hi Maqsad | Dr. Ram Kumar Verma | |
| 1990 | Ghayal | ACP Joe Dsouza | Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor |
| 1991 | Sam & Me | Chetan Parikh | |
| 1992 | Maya Memsaab | adaptation of Gustave Flaubert's Madame Bovary | |
| 1992 | City of Joy | Hazari Pal | adaptation of Dominique Lapierre's novel |
| 1993 | In Custody | Deven | |
| 1994 | Wolf | Dr. Vijay Alezias | |
| 1994 | Drohkaal | ||
| 1996 | The Ghost and the Darkness | Abdullah | |
| 1996 | Maachis | Sanatan | Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor |
| 1997 | My Son The Fanatic | Parvez | |
| 1997 | Aastha | Amar | |
| 1997 | Gupt: The Hidden Truth | Inspector Udham Singh | Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor |
| 1998 | Such a Long Journey | Ghulam Mohamed | |
| 1998 | Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha | Inspector Khan | Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor |
| 1998 | Vinashak – Destroyer | Inspector Khan | |
| 1999 | East Is East | George Khan | |
| 1999 | A.K.47 (Kannada) | Commissioner Yashwant Sinha | |
| 2000 | Hey Ram | Goel | |
| 2000 | Kunwara | ||
| 2000 | Hera Pheri | Khadak Singh | |
| 2001 | The Mystic Masseur | Ramlogan | |
| 2001 | Gadar: Ek Prem Katha | Narrator | |
| 2001 | The Parole Officer | George | |
| 2002 | Awara Paagal Deewana | ||
| 2002 | Dhruva (Kannada movie) | Co-starred with Darshan(actor) | |
| 2002 | Chor Machaye Shor | ||
| 2002 | White Teeth | Samad | adaptation of White Teeth by Zadie Smith |
| 2003 | Code 46 | Bahkland | |
| 2004 | Aan: Men at Work | Police commissioner Khurana | |
| 2004 | Lakshya | Maj. Pritam Singh | |
| 2004 | Yuva | Prosonjit Bhatacharya | |
| 2005 | The Hangman | Shiva | |
| 2005 | Mumbai Xpress | ACP S.P. Rao | |
| 2006 | Rang De Basanti | Amanullah Khan, father of Aslam | |
| 2006 | Malamaal Weekly | Balwant 'Balu' | |
| 2006 | Chup Chup Ke | Prabhat Singh Chauhan | |
| 2006 | Don: The Chase Begins Again | CBI Officer Vishal Malik | |
| 2007 | Fool & Final | father of Rahul/Raja | |
| 2008 | Charlie Wilson's War | Mohammed Zia, president of Pakistan | |
| 2008 | Billu | ||
| 2009 | London Dreams | Arjun's uncle | |
| 2009 | Kurbaan | Bhaijaan | |
| 2010 | Khap | Sarpanch of the village | |
| 2010 | Dabangg | Police Inspector | |
| 2010 | Action Replayy | Rai Bhahadur | |
| 2010 | West Is West | George Khan | |
| 2011 | Don 2: The King is Back | Malik | |
| 2011 | Teen Thay Bhai | Chixie Gill | |
| 2012 | Agneepath | Additional Commissioner Gaitonde | |
| 2012 | Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya | Chowdhary |
[edit] Awards and nominations
- Wins
- 1981: Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for Aakrosh
- 1982: National Film Award for Best Actor for Arohan
- 1984: National Film Award for Best Actor for Ardh Satya
- 1984: Karlovy Vary International Film Festival Best Actor for Ardh Satya
- 1998: Brussels International Film Festival Best Actor for My Son the Fanatic
- 1990: Padmashri, India's fourth highest civilian award
- 1998: Grand Prix Special des Amériques Montréal World Film Festival for exceptional contribution to the cinematographic art
- 2004: Honorary Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to The British Film Industry
- 2009: Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award
- Nominations
- 1990: Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for Ghayal
- 1997: Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for Maachis
- 1998: Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for Gupt: The Hidden Truth
- 1999: Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha
- 2000: BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for East Is East
[edit] References
- ^ Puri, Nandita (2005-01-18). "Brothers-in-arms". Mid-Day Multimedia Ltd.. Archived from the original on 2005-02-28. http://web.archive.org/web/20050228094718/http://web.mid-day.com/columns/nadita_puri/2005/january/101724.htm. Retrieved 2005-05-27.
- ^ Jha, Subhash K (2007-12-12). ""I've been paid peanuts for my efforts"- Om Puri". Greynium Information Technologies Pvt. Ltd.. http://entertainment.oneindia.in/bollywood/features/om-puri-poorly-paid-121207.html. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
- ^ "Ramlila remarks: Kiran Bedi, Om Puri could face 15 days in jail". The Times of India. 2011-08-30. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-08-30/india/29944328_1_privilege-notice-kiran-bedi-privileges-committee. Retrieved 2011-09-03.
[edit] External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Om Puri |
- Om Puri at the Internet Movie Database
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
