Om Puri leaves behind legacy difficult to surpass

From powerful roles in police trilogy films Ardh Satya, Drohkaal and Dev to light-hearted characters in Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, Chachi 420 and Hera Pheri, actor Om Puri leaves behind a legacy very few would surpass.

The veteran actor died due of a cardiac arrest in Mumbai on Friday morning.
In his 44 years in theatre, silver screen and television, Puri worked with almost all the top actors and carved a niche for himself.

Puri was born into a humble Punjabi family in Ambala. His father worked in the Indian Army and the Railways. An alumnus of National School of Drama and Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Puri dreamt big and rose to the top. However, he ran into several controversies of late due to his comments and personal life.

Puri married twice, first to Seema Kapoor, sister of actor Annu Kapoor, in 1991, but their marriage ended within eight months. In 1993, he married journalist Nandita, and has a son, Ishaan. They separated in 2013. Nandita wrote a biography of her husband titled Unlikely Hero: The Story Of Om Puri, but he objected to some of the very private incidents detailed in the book. She also filed a case of domestic violence against him. Puri made his film debut with the 1976 Marathi film Ghashiram Kotwal based on a Marathi play of the same name by Vijay Tendulkar. 

Some of the films in which he played memorable roles include Bhavni Bhavai (1980), Sadgati (1981), Ardh Satya (1982), Dharavi (1992), Aakrosh (1980), Mithin Chakraborty-starrer Disco Dancer (1982) and Maachis (1996).