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Amrish Lal Puri (Punjabi: ਅਮਰੀਸ਼ ਪੁਰੀ), (Hindi: अमरीश पुरी); June 22, 1932 - January 12, 2005) was an iconic theater and film actor from India, who was a key player in the Indian theater movement that picked up steam in the 1960s. He worked with notable playwrights of the time, such as Satyadev Dubey and Girish Karnad. However, he is primarily remembered for essaying some iconic negative roles in Hindi cinema. His is most remembered for his role as Mogambo in the Hindi film Mr India (1987). Also, as Mola Ram in the Hollywood film Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984), he crossed over to international cinema as well.
Early life and background
Amrish Puri was born in Nawanshahr, Punjab to Sri Nihal Puri and Ved Kaur as the third of four children. His siblings include elder brothers Chaman Puri and Madan Puri (both actors) and elder sister Chandrakanta and younger Harish Puri. He later moved to Shimla and graduated from B.M. College, Himachal Pradesh.
Amrish Puri came to Mumbai in the footsteps of his elder brothers Chaman Puri and Madan Puri(both actors), who was already an established actor known for playing negative roles. He failed his first screen test, and found a job with the Life Insurance Corporation of India. At the same time, he started performing at the Prithvi Theatre, in plays written by Satyadev Dubey. He eventually became well-known as stage actor and won the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1979.[1] This theatre recognition soon led to work in television ads and eventually to films at the late age of 40.
He went on to work in Hindi, Kannada, Hollywood, Punjabi, Malayalam, Telugu and Tamil films. Though he was successful in all of these industries, he is best known for his work in Bollywood cinema. He has appeared in over four hundred movies. His dominating screen presence and baritone voice made him stand out amongst the other villains of the day. He is best known for his role as Mogambo in the 1987 blockbuster, Mr. India and for his portrayal of Mola Ram, the antagonist in Steven Spielberg's Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.
[edit]National Cinema
- Hindi
In 1971 he appeared in his first film, Prem Pujari although the first film he had signed for was Reshma Aur Sheraaa which released in 1971. This was followed by many villain or supporting roles in numerous art films such as Shyam Benegal's Nishant, Manthan, and Bhumika andSuraj Ka Satvan Ghoda. He also appeared in Govind Nihalani's film, Party in 1984.
Amrish Puri grew to became a staple of Hindi films in the 1980s playing mostly villainous roles, and attracting the most acclaim for his work in the 1987 hit film Mr. India, directed by Shekhar Kapur. He played an egotistical international super-villain, Mogambo, who frequently refers to himself in the third-person, expressing satisfaction at the actions of his underlings with the phrase, Mogambo khush hua (Mogambo is pleased). Since then the Mogambo catchphrase has become one of the best recognized lines in Hindi Cinema.
He also went on to play many positive supporting roles, including his famous role as Baldev Singh, the conservative father who eventually lets his daughter marry her love instead of being forced into an arranged marriage, in the Bollywood blockbuster Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge(1995). Other positive roles include Group Captain Varghese, a Malayali officer in the Indian Air Force based movie Vijeta, an ailing idealistic father in Ghatak: Lethal. He was a kind-hearted American businessman in Pardes (1997) and a genial grandfather in the films Chori Chori Chupke Chupke and Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai. He is also known to play a strict old man in comedy movies like Jhooth Bole Kauwa Kaate, where he played a retired cop and Muskurahat where he played a retired judge.
His last films included Kisna: The Warrior Poet and Kachchi Sadak, which were released some time after his death.
- Malayalam
He starred as the sadistic jailor in Kalapani in which co-acted Padmashri Mohanlal and Tamil actor Prabhu.
- Punjabi
He is best known in Punjabi cinema for his role as the landlord villain Joginder Singh in the legendary film Chan Pardesi (1980). He also starred as the villain Zalam Singh in the religious Punjabi film Sat Sri Akal (1977). After twenty years, he returned to Punjabi cinema to make a brief appearance as the Sufi Saint in the acclaimed film Shaheed Uddham Singh (2000).
- Telugu
He also appeared in Telugu movies such as Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari, Major Chandrakanth, Aditya 369, Kondaveeti Donga,Aswamedham, Aakhari Poratam etc.
- Tamil
He appeared in the Tamil film Dalapathi (1991), directed by Mani Ratnam, opposite Rajnikanth and Mammootty, Tamil and Malayalam superstars respectively. After Dalapathi, Amrish Puri made his second and last appearance in the Rajinkanth's film "Baba" (2002) in which he played the role of an evil tantrik who helps politicians and other evil elements to succeed in their hideous schemes.
- Kannada
He acted in some Kannada movies during the early days of his career. He played the protagonist role in a black & white off beat Kannadamovie Kaadu directed by Girish Karnad.He also acted in some other mainstream films.
[edit]International
He is known to international audiences for his roles as Khan in Richard Attenborough's Gandhi (1982) and as the main antagonist Mola Ramin the Steven Spielberg's Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984). He shaved his head for the role, and it created such an impression that he kept his head shaved and became one of the most popular villains in Hindi Cinema. Amrish and Spielberg shared a great rapport and Spielberg often said in interviews that, "Amrish is my favorite villain- The best the world has ever produced and ever will!"
[edit]Personal life
He married Urmila Divekar on 5 January 1957, at the Shri Krishna Temple in Wadala. The couple have two children, son Rajeev Puri and daughter Namrata Puri. His son Rajeev is a businessman married to a physiotherapist, Meena. They have two children - Harshvardhan Puri and Sachi Puri. Namrata Puri and her husband Shirish Bagwe, also have two children, Krish and Shantanu.
Amrish had a passion for collecting hats, and bought a hat or two on every trip abroad. He had a collection of over 200 hats from across the world. Amrish was a very religious person by heart. He was also very secular minded and believed that all religions had their own strong ideologies.
[edit]Death
He died on 12 January 2005 from a brain hemorrage, in Mumbai, Maharashtra at the age of 72.
[edit]Awards
- 1968:won: Maharashtra State Drama Competition
- 1979:won:Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Theatre
- 1990:Nominated:Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award-Tridev
- 1986:won:Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award, Meri Jung
- 1991:won:Maharashtra State Gaurav Puraskar
- 1994:won:Sydney Film Festival, Best Actor Award – Suraj Ka Satvan Ghoda
- 1994:won:Singapore International Film Festival, Best Actor Award – Suraj Ka Satvan Ghoda
- 1996:Nominated:Filmfare Best Villain Award forKaran Arjun
- 1996:Nominated:Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award-Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge
- 1993:Nominated:Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award-Muskurahat
- 1994:Nominated:Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award-Gardish
- 1997:won:Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award-Ghatak
- 1997:won:Star Screen Award for Best Supporting Actor-Ghatak
- 1999:Nominated:Filmfare Best Villain Award forKoyla
- 1998:won:Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award-Virasat
- 1998:won:Star Screen Award for Best Supporting Actor-Virasat
- 2000:Nominated:Filmfare Best Villain Award forBaadshah
- 2002:Nominated:Filmfare Best Villain Award forGadar:Ek Prem Katha
[edit]Filmography
Amrish Puri acted in more than 400 films between 1967 - 2005. Some of them are listed below.
| Year | Film | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Prem Pujari | henchman in church |
| 1971 | Shantata! Court Chalu Aahe | |
| Reshma Aur Shera | Rehmat Khan | |
| Hulchul | Public Prosecutor | |
| 1973 | Kaadu (Kannada) | Chandra Gowda |
| Hindustan Ki Kasam | ||
| 1975 | Salaakhen | Master |
| Nishant | Eldest Zamindar | |
| 1976 | Manthan | Mishraji |
| 1977 | Paapi | voice(uncredited)...Michael |
| Alibaba Marjinaa | Jabbar | |
| Imman Dharam | Dharam Dhayal | |
| Bhumika | Vinayak Kale | |
| 1978 | Kondura | Konduraswamy |
| 1979 | Sawan Ko Aane Do | Chandrika's dad |
| Lakhan | ||
| Jaani Dushman | Man in Ghost train reading horror story | |
| Hamare Tumhare | General MAnager | |
| 1980 | Patthar Se Takkar | |
| Maan Abhiman | Madhuraprasad Chowdhary | |
| Kalyug | Kishan Chand | |
| Chan Pardesi | Joginder Singh | |
| Aakrosh | Dushane, Public Prosecutor | |
| Qurbani | Rakka | |
| Gehrayee | Tantric magician | |
| Dostana | Balwant Singh | |
| Hum Paanch | Veer Pratap Singh | |
| 1981 | Krodhi | Madhavan |
| Naseeb | Don | |
| 1982 | Vijeta | Chief Instructor Varghese |
| Vidhatha | Jagavar Chowdhary | |
| Johny I Love You | ||
| Ashanti | Ranvir | |
| Aadat Se Majboor | Agnihotri (aka Johinder Singh) | |
| Apna Bana Lo | Mr.Joshi | |
| Shakti | J.K.Verma | |
| Gandhi | Khan | |
| 1983 | Mandi | Darvish |
| Hero | Pasha | |
| Haadsa | ||
| Ardh Satya | Anant's Father | |
| Andha Kanoon | Mr.Ram Gupta | |
| Coolie | John D'Costa | |
| Nishaan | ||
| 1984 | Zakhmi Sher | Swami Kashinath Singh |
| Yeh Desh | Dhulia | |
| Party | Doctor | |
| Jagir | Lakhan | |
| Duniya | Balwant Singh Kalra | |
| Awaaz | Moolchand | |
| Mashaal | S.K.Vardhan | |
| Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom | Mola Ram | |
| Gangva | Special Appearance | |
| Jhootha Sach | ||
| Kasam Paida Karne Wale Ki | Udaybhan | |
| 1985 | Zabardast | |
| Teri Meherbaniyan | ||
| Phaansi Ke Baad | Damodar Seth | |
| Patthar Dil | Rana Surajbhan Singh | |
| Paisa Yeh Paisa | Jugal | |
| Mohabbat | Choudhary | |
| Karmayudh | Sohanlal Puri | |
| Aaj Ke Sholay | Balbir Gupta | |
| Meri Jung | G.D. Thakral | |
| 1986 | Ricky | |
| Pyar Ho Gaya | ||
| Naseeb Apna Apna | ||
| Nagina | ||
| Mera Dharam | ||
| Kaanch Ki Deewar | ||
| Aap Ke Saath | Persha | |
| Sultanat | Razoulli Al-Jabber Al-Nasser | |
| Janbaaz | Rana Vikram Singh | |
| Samundar | Raiszada Narsingh | |
| Asli Naqli | Durjan Singh | |
| 1987 | Tamas (mini TV series) | |
| Sher Shivaji | ||
| Jawab Hum Denge | Dhanraj | |
| Inaam Dus Hazaar | Captain S.P.Singh | |
| Dance Dance | A.M.Singh | |
| Dadagiri | Bhanupratap | |
| Loha | Sher 'Shera' Singh | |
| Pyar Karke Dekho | ||
| Madadgar | ||
| Mr. India | Mogambo | |
| Hawalaat | Seth Dharam Das | |
| Sadak Chhap | Dharamdas, MP | |
| Pharam Dharam | Shamshera | |
| 1988 | Yateem | Dacoit Porkhiya |
| Saazish | Diwan | |
| Mohabbat Ke Dushman | Shahbaaz Khan | |
| Mar Mitenge | Ajit Singh | |
| Hamara Khandaan | Chandraprakash Singh (Vishal's dad) | |
| Ganga Jamuna Saraswathi | Thakur Hansaj Singh | |
| Aakhari Poratam | Anantananda Swamy | |
| Hun Farishte Nahin | Pashrutam Das/Din Dayal | |
| Shahenshah | J.K.Verma | |
| Waris (TV series) | Dulla | |
| Commando | Marcelloni | |
| Rukhsat | ||
| Dayavan | Inspector Ratan Singh | |
| 1989 | Tujhe Nahin Chhodunga | |
| Suryaa : An Awakening | Gangadhar Chowdhary | |
| Ram Lakhan | Bhisambar Nath | |
| Nigahen : Nagina Part II | voice(uncredited)...Bhairon Nath | |
| Nafrat Ki Aandhi | Chandidas Khurana | |
| Mujrim | Khan | |
| Do Qaidi | K.K | |
| Mil Gayee Manzil Mujhe | ||
| Farz Ki Jung | Jai Kishan (JK) | |
| Ilaaka | Nagar | |
| Daata | Gopal Das | |
| Tridev | Bhujang/Bhairav Singh | |
| Naa-Insaafi | ||
| Batwara | Hanumant Singh | |
| Jaadugar | Mahaprabhu Janak Sagar Jagat Narayan Chintamani | |
| Aag Se Khelenge | Zakha | |
| 1990 | Tejaa | Jarahwar |
| Muqaddar Ka Badshaah | Vikral Singh | |
| Kishen Kanhaiya | Lala Gendamal | |
| Jeene Do | Thakur Sher Bahadur Singh | |
| Hatimtai | ||
| Ghayal | Balwant Rai | |
| Kondaveeti Donga | Gadra | |
| Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari | Mahadrashta | |
| Aaj Ka Arjun | Thakur Bhupendra Singh | |
| Doodh Ka Karz | Raghuvir Singh | |
| 1991 | Shikari : The Hunter | Nahar Singh |
| Trinetra | Singhania | |
| Numbri Aadmi | Rana | |
| Mast Kalandar | ||
| Kohraam | ||
| Aadmi Aur Apsara | Mahadrashta | |
| Jigarwala | Dhurjan Singh | |
| Iraada | ||
| Benaam Badsha | Jaikal | |
| Ajooba | Vazir-e-Ala (aka Vazir) | |
| Saudagar | Chuniya | |
| Aditya 369 | Antique Collector | |
| Dharam Sankat | Jagira | |
| Phool Aur Kaante | Nageshwar "Don" | |
| 1992 | Thalapathi | Kalivardhan |
| Vansh | ||
| Time Machine (Incomplete film) | ||
| Tehelka | Dong | |
| Ashwamedham | ||
| Vishwatma | Azghar Jurhad | |
| Zindagi Ek Jua | Bhalla | |
| Deewana | Dhirend (Ravi's uncle) | |
| Muskurahat | Gopichand Verma (Former Justice) | |
| 1993 | Suraj Ka Satvan Ghoda | Mehesar Dalal |
| Sangram | Raja's father | |
| Kundan | ||
| Divya Shakti | Tau (Mafia Don) | |
| Damini | Barrister Indrajit Chaddha (Scheming Lawyer) | |
| Gardish | Purushottam Sathe | |
| 1994 | Tejaswini | Lala Khurana |
| Pramaatma | ||
| Maha Shaktishali | ||
| Elaan | Ramakant Chaudhry | |
| Pehla Pehla Pyaar | Hukam Singh | |
| Droh Kaal | I.G.P Pathak | |
| 1995 | Oh Darling! Yeh Hai India! | Don Quixote |
| Kartavya | Thakur Ugranarayan Singh | |
| Karan Arjun | Thakur Durjan Singh | |
| Jai Vikraanta | Thakur Jaswant Singh | |
| Hulchul | Shobraj | |
| Maidan-E-Jung | Thakur Ranvir Singh 'Daata Guru' | |
| Prem | Vanraja | |
| Gundaraj | Police Inspector | |
| Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge | Chaudhry Baldev Singh | |
| Haqeeqat | ACP. Shivcharan | |
| 1996 | Sardari Begum | Hemraj |
| Kala Pani | Mirza Khan | |
| Jaan | Surya Dev Singh | |
| Dilijale | Daka | |
| Vijeta | Wing Commander Varghese | |
| Tu Chor Main Sipahi | Thakur Gajendra Singh | |
| Jeet | Gajraj Choudhary (Underworld Don) | |
| Beqabu | ACP Amritlal Bakshi | |
| Ghatak | Shambu Nath | |
| 1997 | Virasat | Raja Thakur (Best Supporting Actor- Filmfare award) |
| Pardes | Kishorilal | |
| Nimayak | ||
| Itihaas | ||
| Himalay Putra | Malhotra, Seema's father (special appearance) | |
| Dhaal: The Battle of Law Against Law | Pilot Baba | |
| Koyla | Raja Saab | |
| Mahaanta | Seth. Kedar Nath | |
| Tarazu | Appa Rao | |
| 1998 | Sham Ghansham | Collector Bhim Singh |
| Doli Saja Ke Rakhna | Jojo Pinto | |
| Dhoondte Reh Jaaoge | Voice on the phone with Tiger | |
| China Gate | Col. Kewal Krishan Puri | |
| Chachi 420 | Durgaprasad Bhardwaj | |
| Barood | Mr.Singhal | |
| Jhooth Bole Kauwa Kaate | Abhayankar (Police officer) | |
| 1999 | Kaala Samrajya | Kaalkeshwar Singh |
| Lal Baadshah | Thakur Dhayal Singh | |
| Aarzoo | Dayashankar | |
| Zulmi | Balraj Dutt | |
| Jai Hind | ||
| Taal | Jagmohan Mehta | |
| Baadshah | Suraj Singh Thaper | |
| Gair | C.K Oberoi | |
| Thakshak | Nahar Singh (Ishaan's father) | |
| 2000 | Shaheed Uddham Singh | The Sufi Saint |
| Badal | ACP Ranjeet Singh | |
| Dhaai Akshar Prem Ke | Yagvender Gareval | |
| 2001 | Mohabbatein | General Khanna (special appearance) |
| On Wings Of Fire | Nihavand ruler | |
| Zubeidaa | Suleiman Seth | |
| Censor | Pandit Shiv Prasad (Censor Board Member) | |
| Chori Chori Chupke Chupke | Kailashnath Malhotra | |
| Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai | Balram Singh (Tau of Karan) | |
| Gadar: Ek Prem Katha | Mayor Ashraf Ali (Sakina's father) | |
| Yaadein | Jagdish Kumar Malhotra (Ronit's uncle) | |
| Nayak: The Real Hero | Chief Minister Balraj Chauhan | |
| 2002 | Badhaai Ho Badhaai | Mr. Chaddha |
| Shararat | Prajapati | |
| Baba | Tantrik | |
| Jaani Dushman: Ek Anokhi Kahani | Sadhu (sage) | |
| Rishtey | Yashpal Chaudhary | |
| 2003 | Surya | Thakur |
| Khushi | Vir Bhadra Singh | |
| The Hero: Love Story of a Spy | I.S.I Chief Ishak Khan | |
| Jaal: The Trap | Major Amrish Kaul | |
| Out of Control | Jatta Singh Bedi (Jaswinder's father) | |
| Dil Pardesi Ho Gayaa | Brigadier Sarfaroz Khan | |
| 2004 | Woh Tera Naam Tha | Ustad Samad Khan |
| Police Force: An Inside Story | Mr. Pandey | |
| Dev | Chief Minister Bhandarker | |
| Lakshya | Brigadier Gautam Puri (Sp. App.) | |
| Garv: Pride and Honour | Inspector Samar Singh | |
| Mujhse Shaadi Karogi | Colonel Dugraj Singh | |
| Taarzan: The Wonder Car | Kartar Singh/Baa Ji | |
| Aitraaz | Mr.Ranjit Roy | |
| Hulchul | Angar Chand | |
| 2005 | Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Saathiyo | Narrator |
| Kisna: The Warrior Poet | Bhairo Singh |
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