
Indian actor Om Puri, whose repertoire as an actor included films like “East Is East”, “Gandhi”, “City of Joy” and “Wolf”, was honoured at the 89th Academy Awards ceremony in the “In Memoriam” montage. Om Puri got a musical tribute by Grammy and Tony-nominated singer and songwriter Sara Bareilles.
A National School of Drama alumnus, Om Puri’s international career started with a cameo in Richard Attenborough’s iconic “Gandhi”.
A Padma Shri awardee and National Award-winner, Om Puri was also made the honorary officer of the Order of the British Empire for his services to the British film industry.
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Bollywood’s veteran actor Om Puri dies of cardiac arrest
Veteran actor Om Puri, considered to be one of the finest actors in India, died of a cardiac arrest. Om Puri’s sudden death has come as a shocker to the film industry and to the actor’s fans around the world.
Om Puri was an alumni of Film and Television Institute of India and at the National School of Drama (where Naseeruddin Shah was his classmate). Om Puri made his film debut in 1976 with the Marathi film ‘Ghashiram Kotwal’.
Om Puri featured in films like ‘Ardh Satya’, ‘Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron’ and ‘Mirch Masala’.
The actor was last seen in Sunny Deol’s Ghayal Returns and also featured in one of the biggest hits of 2016 The Jungle Book (Om Puri was the voice of Bagheera.)
Celebrities who tweeted their condolences.
Om Puri! You have left us all too early.. i am so so sorry..The fun the laughter the arguments so vividly etched in my mind..Will miss you
— Azmi Shabana (@AzmiShabana) January 6, 2017
Goodbye Om! A part of me goes with you today. How can I ever forget those passionate nights we spent together talking about cinema & life ?
— Mahesh Bhatt (@MaheshNBhatt) January 6, 2017
So long Omji. Prided myself on being his friend peer & admirer. Who dare say my Om Puri is no more ? He lives through his work.
— Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) January 6, 2017
Karan Johar just tweeted, “Solid actor….Solid filmography….immense talent…. #RIPOmPuri ….cinema has truly lost a brilliant artist….”
Solid actor….Solid filmography….immense talent…. #RIPOmPuri ….cinema has truly lost a brilliant artist….
— Karan Johar (@karanjohar) January 6, 2017
Anupam Kher tweeted with a heavy heart, “Seeing him lying on his bed looking so calm can’t believe that one of our greatest actors #OmPuri is no more. Deeply saddened & shocked.”
66-year-old Om Puri is survived by his ex wife Nandita Puri and son Ishaan. An amazing talent, Om Puri will surely be missed by all cine-lovers.