Born: October 18, 1950
Age: 73
Birthplace: Ambala, Haryana, India
Om Rajesh Puri OBE (born 18 October 1950) is an Indian actor who has appeared in mainstream commercial Indian, British and Hollywood films, Independent films and art films. His credits also include appearances in American films. He has been awarded Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award of India.
Om Puri was born in Ambala, Haryana, to a Punjabi Hindu family. His father worked in the railways and in the Indian Army. Puri graduated from the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune. He is also an alumnus of the 1973 class of National School of Drama where Naseeruddin Shah was a co-student.
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 Marathi film Ghashiram Kotwal, based on a Marathi play of the same name by Vijay Tendulkar. It was directed by K. Hariharan and Mani Kaul in cooperation with 16 graduates of the FTII. He has claimed that he was paid "peanuts" for his best work. Along with Amrish Puri, Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi and Smita Patil, he was among the main actors who starred in what was then referred to as art films such as Bhavni Bhavai (1980), Sadgati (1981), Ardh Satya (1982), Mirch Masala (1986) and Dharavi (1992).
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 lifelong 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 memorable. He 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) with 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 his performance in Govind Nihalani's television film Tamas (1987) based on a Hindi novel of the same name. He played 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.
He has also worked in some episodes of the TV series Aahat during the second season which was aired between 2004 and 2005 on Sony channel.
Puri was seen on the small screen in a crime show Savdhaan India’s second season on Life OK.
In 2014, he appeared opposite Helen Mirren in the comedy-drama The Hundred-Foot Journey.
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1972 | Ghashiram Kotwal | Ghashiram | Marathi film |
1977 | Godhuli | Based on a Hindi story by Premchand | |
1977 | Tabbaliyu Neenade Magane | Kannada film | |
1977 | Bhumika | ||
1978 | Arvind Desai Ki Ajeeb Dastaan | Marxist man | Directed by Saeed Akhtar Mirza |
1980 | Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyoon Aata Hai | Garrage Mechanic | Directed by Saeed Akhtar Mirza |
1980 | Aakrosh | Lahanya Bhiku | Won Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award |
1980 | Bhavni Bhavai | Ketan Mehta | |
1981 | Sadgati | DuKhi | Director: Satyajit Ray |
1982 | Gandhi | Nahari | Directed by Richard Attenborough |
1982 | Vijeta | Arvind | Directed: Shyam Benegal |
1982 | Chann Pardesi | Tulsi | Punjabi film |
1982 | Arohan | Hari Mondal | Won, National Film Award for Best Actor |
1983 | Ardh Satya | Anant Velankar | Won, National Film Award for Best Actor |
1983 | Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron | Ahuja | |
1983 | Long Da Lishkara | Dittu | Punjabi film |
1984 | The Jewel in the Crown | Mr De Souza | English TV series |
1984 | Giddh | Bhashya | |
1985 | Mirch Masala | Abu Mian | Directed: Ketan Mehta |
1985 | Nasoor | Dr Sunil | Directed: Ashok Chopra |
1985 | Aghaat | Trade Unionist | Director: Govind Nihalani |
1988 | Ek hi Maqsad | Dr. Ram Kumar Verma | |
1988 | Puravrutham | Raman | Malayalam movie |
1990 | Ghayal | ACP Joe D'Souza | Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor |
1991 | Sam & Me | Chetan Parikh | |
1991 | Narsimha | Suraj Narayan Singh 'Baapji' | |
1992 | Maya Memsaab | adaptation of Gustave Flaubert's Madame Bovary | |
1992 | City of Joy | Hazari Pal | English film adaptation of Dominique Lapierre's novel |
1992 | Ankuram | Satyam | Telugu film |
1992 | Current | Velu | |
1992 | Raat | Sharji | Hindi film |
1993 | In Custody | Deven | Urdu/Hindi film |
1993 | Patang | Mathura | |
1994 | Wolf | Dr. Vijay Alezias | English film |
1994 | Drohkaal | DCP Abhay Singh | |
1994 | Woh chokri | ||
1996 | The Ghost and the Darkness | Abdullah | English film |
1996 | Maachis | Sanatan | Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor |
1997 | My Son the Fanatic | Parvez | English film |
1997 | Chachi 420 | Banwari lal-Secy | |
1997 | Aastha | Amar | |
1997 | Gupt: The Hidden Truth | Inspector Udham Singh | Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor |
1997 | Mrityudand | Rambaran Mahto | |
1998 | Such a Long Journey | Ghulam Mohamed | English film |
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 | English film |
1999 | A.K.47 | Commissioner Yashwant Sinha | Kannada film |
2000 | Hey Ram | Goel | |
2000 | Kunwara | Balraj Singh | |
2000 | Hera Pheri | Khadak Singh | |
2000 | Dulhan hum le jayenge | Bhola Nath | |
2000 | Ghaath | Ajay Pandey | |
2001 | Farz | ACP Arjun Singh | |
2001 | The Mystic Masseur | Ramlogan | English film |
2001 | Gadar: Ek Prem Katha | Narrator | |
2001 | The Parole Officer | George | English film |
2001 | Bollywood Calling | Subramaniam | |
2002 | Awara Paagal Deewana | Ballu Bolbachan | |
2002 | Dhruva | Kannada film | |
2002 | Chor Machaye Shor | ||
2002 | White Teeth | Samad | English series adaptation of White Teeth by Zadie Smith |
2003 | Aapko Pehle Bhi Kahin Dekha Hai | Sam | |
2003 | Second Generation | A British TV serial | |
2003 | Code 46 | Bahkland | English film |
2003 | Maqbool | Inspector Pandit | |
2003 | Dhoop | Father Of Dead Military Man | |
2004 | Kyun! Ho Gaya Na... | ||
2004 | Aan: Men at Work | Police Commissioner Khurana | |
2004 | Lakshya | Subedar Maj. Pritam Singh | |
2004 | Yuva | Prosonjit Bhatacharya | |
2004 | Dev | Special Commissioner Tejinder Khosla | |
2005 | Deewane Huye Paagal | Don | |
2005 | The Hangman | Shiva | |
2005 | Mumbai Xpress | ACP S.P. Rao | |
2006 | Rang De Basanti | Amanullah Khan | |
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 | |
2007 | Charlie Wilson's War | Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq | English film |
2008 | Mere Baap Pehle Aap | Madhav Mathur | |
2008 | Kismat Konnection | Sanjeev Gill | |
2008 | Singh Is Kinng | Rangeela | |
2008 | Mukhbiir | SP Intelligence — Rathod | |
2009 | Billu | Sahukaar Daamchand | |
2009 | London Dreams | Arjun's uncle | |
2009 | Kurbaan | Bhaijaan | |
2009 | Delhi-6 | ||
2010 | Khap | Sarpanch | |
2010 | Dabangg | Police Inspector | |
2010 | Na Ghar Ke Na Ghaat Ke | Sankata Prasad Tripathi | |
2010 | Action Replayy | Rai Bhahadur | |
2010 | West Is West | George Khan | English film |
2011 | Don 2: The King is Back | CBI Officer Vishal Malik | |
2011 | Love Express | Khadak Singh Bakshi | |
2011 | Teen Thay Bhai | Chixie Gill | |
2012 | Agneepath | Additional Commissioner Gaitonde | |
2012 | Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya | Chowdhary | |
2012 | Chaar Din Ki Chandni | Fatoor Singh | |
2012 | Chakravyuh | Govind Suryavanshi | |
2012 | OMG: Oh My God! | Hanif Bhai | |
2012 | Kamaal Dhamaal Malamaal | David | |
2013 | Jatt Boys Putt Jattan De | Jora Vailly | Punjabi film |
2013 | Bhaji in Problem | Punjabi film | |
2013 | The Reluctant Fundamentalist | Abu | |
2014 | The Hundred-Foot Journey | Papa Kadam | English/French |
2014 | Heartless | Dr. Sanjay Trehan | |
2014 | Aa Gaye Munde U.K. De | ||
2014 | Chaar Sahibzaade | Narrator | Punjabi film |
2015 | Jai Jawaan Jai Kisaan | Dr. Rajendra Prasad | Hindi |
2015 | Dirty Politics | Laddu Babu aka Sai Kumar Konakandla | Hindi |
2015 | Chapekar Brothers | Bal Gangadhar Tilak | Hindi |
2015 | Bajrangi Bhaijaan | Moulana Sahab | Hindi |
2015 | Miss Tanakpur Haazir Ho | Matang Singh | Hindi |
2015 | A Million Rivers | Shiv | English |
2016 | Ghayal Once Again | ACP Joe D'Souza | Hindi |
2016 | Aadupuliyattam | Muni | Malayalam |
2016 | The Jungle Book | Bagheera | Hindi |
2016 | Viceroy's House | English, filming | |
2016 | Santheyalli Nintha Kabira | Kannada, filming | |
2016 | Tiger | Kannada, filming | |
2016 | Actor In Law | Pakistani film debut |
1988 | Bharat Ek Khoj | Various roles | A Doordarshan Television Series | |
2003 | Second Generation | Sharma (A Mentally Challenged Bakery Factory Owner) | A British TV Serial |