Amrish Puri

"Mogambo Khush Hua" was his punchline in the adored flick 'Mr. India'. Amrish Puri was best known for his negative onscreen image in Bollywood and some Hollywood films. He was a leading theatre actor and played a prominent role in the Indian theatre movement in 1960's. Puri worked along with the eminent theatre personas like Girish Karnad and Satyadev Dubey. He was born on 22 June, 1932 in Jalandhar, Punjab in then British India. The actor breathed his last on 12 January, 2005 in Mumbai. His family includes his actor brothers Madan Puri, Chaman Puri, younger brother Harish Puri and sister Chandrakanta. Urmila Divekar is the name of Amrish Puri's spouse and the couple has two children, Rajiv and Namrata. Puri later on moved to Shimla and did graduation from B.M. College.

Amrish Puri did not limit himself to any particular language, as he acted in Hindi, Marathi, Punjabi, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam and Tamil movies. Apparently, Amrish Puri arrived in Mumbai to be a part of Bollywood like his brothers, who were already essaying antagonists in the films. He started doing the job with the Employees' State Insurance Corporation and was also performing in Prithvi theatre at the same time. He earned fame as a stage actor and won Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in the year 1979. This paved the way for his appearances in television commercials and eventually, in Bollywood in his late 40's. The actor has more than 400 films on his credit and his towering personality and mighty voice tone gave his acting an extra edge. In Hollywood film 'Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom' by Steven Spielberg, Amrish Puri played an antagonist called Mola Ram, which earned him many praises and acclaim in Hollywood. In the 1982 release 'Gandhi' by Richard Attenborough, Puri essayed the role of Khan.

Several awards won by this eminent actor give evidence of his versatility. Some of them are Maharashtra State Gaurav Puraskar, Maharashtra State Drama Competition, Star Screen Award for Best Supporting Actor, Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award, Singapore International Film Festival Best Actor Award, Sydney Film Festival Best Actor Award, Filmfare Best Villain Award. 'Shaheed Uddham Singh' (2000) and 'Chann Pardesi' (1980) are Punjabi films done by Puri. Amrish Puri has a big list of his filmography, still some prominent films of him include 'Taarzan - The Wonder Car', 'Aitraaz', 'Nayak', 'The Hero', 'Dil Pardesi Ho Gayaa', 'Khushi', 'Yaadein' (2001), 'Badhaai Ho Badhaai', 'Garv', 'Lakshya', 'Police Force', 'Mujhse Shaadi Karogi', 'Mohabbatein', 'Aarzoo', 'Zubeidaa', 'China Gate', 'Taal', 'Gair', 'Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai', 'Dhaai Akshar Prem Ke', 'Barood' (1998), 'Chori Chori Chupke Chupke', 'Lal Baadshah', 'Koyla', 'Taraazu', 'Himalay Putra', 'Virasat', 'Pardes', 'Ghatak', 'Chachi 420', 'Karan Arjun', 'Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge', 'Diljale', 'Beqabu', 'Jeet', 'Hulchul' (1995), 'Oh Darling! Yeh Hai India', 'Damini', 'Deewana', 'Phool Aur Kaante', 'Saudagar', 'Ajooba', 'Gardish', 'Kohram', 'Ram Lakhan', 'Meri Jung', 'Nagina' (1986), 'Andhaa Kaanoon', 'Mashaal' (1984), 'Duniya', 'Ardh Satya', 'Aakrosh' (1980), 'Qurbani', 'Haadsaa', 'Coolie', 'Reshma Aur Shera', 'Hum Paanch', 'Jhutha Sach', 'Kasam Paida Karne Wale Ki' and to list a few.

The cerebral haemorrhage resulting from the complications of myelodysplastic syndrome made the iconic Amrish Puri lose his life in Mumbai on January 12, 2005.