A thorough gentleman, Amrish Puri, was a towering figure in Indian cinema, known for his deep voice and commanding presence. Hollywood legend Steven Spielberg called him his “favourite villain—the best the world has ever produced and ever will!.”
Early Life
Amrish Puri (22 June 1932 – 12 January 2005) was born in Nawanshahr, Punjab, into the family of Lala Nihal Chand Puri and Ved Kaur. His father, was a government officer while his mother was a homemaker. Puri had four siblings: elder brothers Chaman and Madan Puri, who also acted, elder sister Chandrakanta, and younger brother Harish. He was also the cousin of the great KL Saigal. Amrish grew up in a disciplined household, exposed to cultural traditions that influenced his career.
His interest in performing arts increased when he joined DAV College in Hoshiarpur. In college he was famous for playing the flute, imitating Dilip Kumar, sketching, and even having a flair for photography. When he joined B.M. College in Simla, he found new ground for his talents. Along with athletics and trekking, he also started acting in plays staged at the Gaiety Theatre and Kali Bari Hall.
The Making of a Legend
Amrish Puri moved to Mumbai in 1953 but couldn’t find any success in finding a role of his liking. He was rejected by filmmakers because of his unconventional looks. He even failed a screen test in 1954. It was the time when Amrish Puri joined All India Radio, where he did many radio plays and commercial spots. He was also a part of the popular programme “Hawa Mahal” until 1975.
Amrish Puri started his job at the government organisation Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) in the late 1950s. He worked there as a clerk for 21 years.
In 1961, he met the legendary Ebrahim Alkazi, who was then the principal of the acclaimed Natya Academy. Kazi gave him the lead role in the adaptation of Arthur Miller’s play A View From the Bridge, previously played by Eddie Carbone.
In Mumbai, Puri became a prominent figure in Satyadev Dubey’s theatre group, Theatre Unit. His performances in plays written by Dubey were powerful and left a lasting impression on audiences and critics alike. It was during this time that Puri’s reputation as a formidable stage actor began to grow, eventually leading him to win the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1979.
Amrish Puri On Stage
Amrish Puri played King Lear in the adaptation of Shakespeare’s King Lear, directed by Alkazi. His portrayal of the aging king’s descent into madness was both powerful and poigent. He performed as Shylock in The Merchant of Venice, showcasing his ability to handle Shakespearean villains. These roles highlighted his range and stage presence. He also acted in Satydev Dube’s adaptation of Molière’s Scorpion, by the name of “Bichchoo.”
He had done almost 60 full-length plays. One of Puri’s most notable play was “Andha Yug,” where he played the character of Dhritarashtra. Puri also did the Punjabi play “Kanak Di Balli,” “Rashomon,” based on Akira Kurosawa’s film of the same name, “Man is a Man,” a satirical comedy by Bertolt Brecht, “Aadhey Adhure,” where he played five roles, Sakharam Binder, Chup Court Chalu Hai!, as well as Girish Karnad’s Yayati, and Hayavadan.
Amrish Puri On Screen
In 1967, Amrish Puri acted in the American TV series “Maya,” produced by MGM, which marked the start of his screen career. His first film was Dev Anand‘s “Prem Pujari,” which came out in 1971. It was a small role as a henchman, but it began the extraordinary career of a legend. One of his early memorable role came in Reshma Aur Shera, directed by Sunil Dutt. Amrish played Rehmat Khan in the crime drama. He followed it by Aahat (1971), Hulchul (1971), Sone ke Hath (1973), and Hindustan Ki Ksaam (1973).
In 1973, he starred in Girish Karnad‘s Kaadu (1973), with G. S. Nataraj and Nandini Bhaktavatsala. The film was a critical and commercial success. It also won the best film at the National Awards and the Filmfare Awards South. He starred in the French-produced TV series Le soleil se lève à l’est (Sun Rises in the East) in 1974, which was based on the life of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh.
In Nishant, directed by Shyam Benegal, Amrish took on the role of a despotic zamindar. Released in 1975, the film explored rural power dynamics. His performance as Chandra Gowda earned widespread critical acclaim.
The Era of Mogambo
In the Punjabi film Chan Pardesi, directed by Chitraarth, Amrish portrayed Joginder Singh, a cruel and cunning landlord. Films like Jani Dushman (1979), Aakrosh (1980), Qurbani (1980), Dostana (1980), Hum Panch (1980), Krodhi (1981), Ashanti (1981), further established him in the industry. The 80’s were the time when Amrish Puri became the quintessential villain ofr Hindi film industry. He was the part of every other films and was a gaurantee for a powerful performance. The roles were written ffor him.
Casting director Dolly Thakore sent stills of him from the horror film Gehrayee to Steven Spielberg. Spielberg’s team aproached him but he seemed to be disinterested in the part. He wrote in his autobiography, The Act of Life, that American casting agents came to India to meet with him, and instead of auditioning, he asked them to watch him perform on the sets of a film. To his surprise, they came and selected him.
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, directed by Steven Spielberg, marked Amrish’s Hollywood debut. Released on May 23, 1984, he played Mola Ram, a sinister Thuggee priest. The film, starring Harrison Ford, grossed over $333 million worldwide. Amrish’s chilling portrayal, including the heart-ripping scene, earned global acclaim. His shaved head and intense delivery set a new benchmark for villains.
Other Work
Some of his most iconic films as a villain include Shakti (1982), Hero (1983), Ardh Stya (1983), Mashaal (1984), Meri Jung (1985), Nagina (1986), Loha (1987), Mr. India (1987), Waaris (1988), Shahenshah (1988), Ram Lakhan (1989), Batwara (1989), Tridev (1990), Ghayal (1990), Saudagar (1991), Thalapathi (1991), Tahalka (1992), Damini (1993), Karan Arjun (1995), Kaalapani (1996), Jeet (1996), Diljale (1996), Koyla (1997), Baadshah (1999), Gadar: Ek Prem Katha (2001), and Nayak (2001).
In villainous roles, Puri is best remembered as “Mogambo” in Mr. India, “Jagavar” in Vidhaata, “Thakral” in Meri Jung, “Bhujang” in Tridev, “Balwant Rai” in Ghayal, Barrister Chadda in Damini, “Thakur Durjan Singh” in Karan Arjun, and many others. He was also cast as Dada Abdulla Hajee Adab, President of the National Indian Congress, in Richard Attenborough’s Gandhi (1982).
Amrish Puri The Character Actor
From the 1990s until his death in 2005, Puri also featured in positive supporting roles in many movies. Some of his notable positive roles are Phool Aur Kaante (1991), Gardish (1993), Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (1995), Ghatak (1996), Pardes (1997), Virasat (1997), China Gate (1998), Badal (2000), Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai (2001), and many more.
His comic role in Chachi 420, in which he acted alongside Kamal Haasan, was highly appreciated. Puri also act in comedies like Jhooth Bole kauwa Kate (1998), Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004), and Hulchul (2004).
He was nominated for 14 Filmfare Awards: Tridev, Saudagar, Muskurahat, Tahalka, Gardish, Damini, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Karan Arjun, Koyla, Baadshah and Gadar: Ek Prem Katha. He received the Filmfare Best Supporting Actor award for “Meri Jung,” “Virasat,” and “Ghatak.”
Personal Life
Puri Saab married Urmila Diveker in 1957, and together they have two children: Rajiv and Namrta Puri. His grandson Vardhan Puri is also an actor who debuted with “Yeh Saali Aashiqui(2019).
Amrish Puri died on January 12, 2005, in Mumbai after a courageous battle with myelodysplastic syndrome, a rare kind of blood cancer. As we remember Amrish Puri, we celebrate not just the roles he played but the life he led—a life full of passion, artistry, and the relentless pursuit of his dreams.
Amrish Puri on IMDB
