"Chakravyuh mein ghusne se pehle kaun tha main aur kaisa tha, yeh mujhe yaad hi na rahega ... chakravyuh se bahar nikalne par main mukt ho jaon bhale hi, phir bhi chakravyuh ki rachna mein fark hi na padega ... maron ya maaron, maara jaon ya jaan se maardon, iska faisla kabhi na ho payega (Before I entered the chakravyuh who and how was I, I won't remember that ... after getting out of it even if I'm free, even then the structure of the maze will be unaffected ... whether I just die, kill or get killed or take someone's life, that will never be decided)."
- Ardh Satya (1983).
Just like his famous cop drama Ardh Satya, where the protagonist struggles with the big bad world around him along with his own frailties, veteran actor Om Puri too had his share of name, fame and shame, and well within the chakravyuh of life.
On Friday, January 6, when the thespian succumbed to a massive heart attack, the world remembered him for some of his brilliant movies such as Aakrosh, Maachis, Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, besides a host of Pakistani, British and Hollywood films. He was most recently seen in Ghayal Returns (2016).
Om Puri and Naseeruddin Shah in Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro. |
Puri, along with actors such as Shabana Azmi, Smita Patil, Amol Palekar, Naseeruddin Shah, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Pankaj Kapoor, Deepti Naval and Farooq Shaikh, had emerged from the Indian parallel cinema wave of the 1970s and 1980s. The news of his death was broken on Twitter by his close friend and filmmaker Ashoke Pandit.
While his career graph always saw a steady but upward curve, the actor who was known for being upfront, was embroiled in a huge controversy in 2011 following wife Nandita’s biography, Unlikely Hero: The Story Of Om Puri.
In the book, Nandita had revealed some of the most disturbing and private details about the actor’s life. She exposed the fact that he had sex with his maid at the age of 14. She wrote about Puri's longstanding liaison with a woman named Laxmi with whom he was sexually and emotionally involved.
At that time, a visibly upset Puri had said, "My wife has reduced a very important and sacred part of my life to cheap and lurid gossip… I don't care if she's my wife. I won't let her get away with it.”
Following the release of the book, things turned ugly between the two. While Nandita had earlier filed a domestic violence case against the actor, the couple finally opted for judicial separation in 2016 after 26 years of marriage.
The actor was also in news last year for his alleged insensitive comment on the Indian Army which he retracted later. Puri is also survived by his son Ishaan.
Actors, directors and others took to Twitter to mourn Puri's demise:
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
Voh sirf gareeb hii nahii badnaseeb bhi hain. #OmPuri in Maachis RIP https://t.co/9r7Tzk7kpk
— Smita Prakash (@smitaprakash) January 6, 2017
In an era of media hype and star power, Om Puri a fine reminder that cinema still has space for acting prowess RIP
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) January 6, 2017
RIP Om Puri.We have lost one of our finest.A talent, A Voice, A Spirit.Will miss you Puri Saab.
— Boman Irani (@bomanirani) January 6, 2017
Oye chal oye, paalan toh hamnay apni baap kii agya ka nahii kiya, tuu cheez kya hai #OmPuri RIP https://t.co/nZ1N6ORbN8
— Smita Prakash (@smitaprakash) January 6, 2017
Saddened to hear that the fabulous actor #OmPuriji passed away. Loved him in Ardh Satya many more. RIP
— Madhuri Dixit-Nene (@MadhuriDixit) January 6, 2017
I have known #OmPuri for d last 43yrs. For me he’ll always b a great actor, a kind & generous man. And that is how world shud remember him.
— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPkher) January 6, 2017
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.
— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPkher) 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
Farewell #OmPuri. Though you found respect in the West, the Indian film industry must bear the guilt of having wasted your supreme talent.
— Apurva Asrani (@Apurvasrani) January 6, 2017
In Dec 2015, this is what late #OmPuri told @dawn_com: "Indian majority holds no grudge against Pakistanis’'https://t.co/xQ6ocN1VaH https://t.co/htcT2OPE27
— Raza Ahmad Rumi (@Razarumi) January 6, 2017
Some of Indian film industry's finest actors in this scene. #OmPuri RIP https://t.co/DHZhQRzw9o
— Smita Prakash (@smitaprakash) January 6, 2017
The Prime Minister condoles the passing away of actor Om Puri & recalls his long career in theatre & films.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 6, 2017
completely shocked to hear that om puri ji is no more.may his soul be blessed with peace!it will take long to come to terms with his demise!
— Manoj Bajpayee (@BajpayeeManoj) January 6, 2017
Stunned by the sudden demise of #OmPuri. Met him twice&admired him. InThiruvananthapuram he is mourned as a fine actor in 3 Malayalam films.
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) January 6, 2017