Om Puri, the prolific Bollywood actor who also starred in several British and Hollywood films, has died. He was 66.
Indian media reported Puri’s close friend, filmmaker Ashok Pandit, confirming the actor had died from a heart attack. Pandit later took to Twitter to pass on his condolences.
Over a career that stretched almost half a century, Puri starred in over 100 films. His craggy features and penchant for taking unusual roles made Puri a critics’ favorite, and he gave award-winning performances in the films Aakrosh (1980) and Arohan (1982). In recent years he had roles in more mainstream Bollywood films like Singh Is Kinng (2008) and Don 2 (2011).
As well as working in Bollywood and several of the regional Indian film industries, Puri starred in many British films later in his career, most notably 1997’s My Son the Fanatic, the hit comedy East is East (1999) and the Steve Coogan comedy The Parole Officer (2001). Puri also had a cameo in the Oscar-winning film Gandhi and worked on television shows Jewel in the Crown and The Canterbury Tales. Though not a citizen, Puri was awarded an honorary OBE in 2004 for his services to British film.
Puri also appeared in a number of Hollywood films including City of Joy (1992), Wolf (1994), The Ghost and the Darkness (1996) and notably played Pakistani General Zia-ul-Haq in the 2007 Tom Hanks film Charlie Wilson’s War. In 2014, he appeared alongside Helen Mirren in the comedy The Hundred-Foot Journey.
Born in the northern Indian state of Haryana to a Punjabi family in 1950, Puri would later attend the Film and Television Institute of India as well as National School of Drama, where he was a classmate of actor Naseeruddin Shah. In addition to the honorary OBE, Puri was awarded the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award of India.
The Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi and a number of Bollywood stars took to Twitter to express their shock and sadness at Puri’s passing.
The Prime Minister condoles the passing away of actor Om Puri & recalls his long career in theatre & films.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 6, 2017
#OmPuri lent dignity to d medium he worked for. Whether it was stage, TV or cinema. He elevated status of the projects was associated with.
— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPkher) January 6, 2017
Cannot believe #OmPuri ji is no more .. spoke to him a few days back .. such an artist had the privilege of working with him recently .. RIP
— Huma Qureshi (@humasqureshi) January 6, 2017
The end of an era …. The legacy lives on.. RIP #OmPuri
— PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) January 6, 2017
Sad to hear about the passing away of the very talented Om Puri, my co-actor in many films…heartfelt condolences to the family. #RIP
— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) January 6, 2017
Will miss you Omji ..will miss you..will miss you.#Ompuri
— Sunny Deol (@IAMSUNNYDEOL) January 6, 2017
Shocked beyond words to learn that #OmPuri ji is no more. Will miss you sir. Condolences to the family. RIP #HugeLoss pic.twitter.com/REq9vDrtkk
— Riteish Deshmukh (@Riteishd) January 6, 2017
Had meet #OmPuri sir a couple of months back only and had an amazing conversation.Saddened by his sudden demise. Rip #OmPuri ji.
— Varun Dhawan (@Varun_dvn) January 6, 2017
