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!” Today, on his birth anniversary, Tasweermahal is honouring the legend by taking a look at his extracurricular life.
Amrish Puri (22 June 1932 – 12 January 2005) was born in Nawanshahr, Punjab, into the Punjabi family of Lala Nihal Chand Puri and Ved Kaur. His elder brothers, Chaman Puri and Madan Puri, were also actors; he was also the cousin of the great KL Saigal.
The Making of a Legend
His interest in performing arts increased when he joined DAV College in Hoshiarpur, where 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.
He moved to Mumbai in 1953 but couldn’t find any success in finding a role of his liking and was rejected by filmmakers because of his unconventional looks. 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.
He also started his job at the government organisation Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) in the late 1950s. 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. It was followed by Satydev Dube’s adaptation of Molière’s Scorpion, by the name of “Bichchoo.”
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 had done almost 60 full-length plays. Some of Puri’s most notable roles were “Andha Yug,” where he played the character of Dhritarashtra, 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!, and Girish Karnad’s Yayati, Hayavadan.
In 1967, he acted in the American TV series “Maya,” produced by MGM, which marked the start of his screen career. His first film, Dev Anand’s “Prem Pujari,” came in 1971, followed by Aahat (1971), Reshma aur Shera (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. In 1974, he starred in the French-produced TV series Le soleil se lève à l’est (Sun Rises in the East), which was based on the life of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh.
The Era of Mogambo
Manthan (1976)” and “Bhumika (1977).” Some of his other films in this period include Jani Dushman (1979), Aakrosh (1980), Qurbani (1980), Dostana (1980), Hum Panch (1980), Krodhi (1981), Ashanti (1981), 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), 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 Mola Ram in Steven Spielberg’s Hollywood film Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984). He was also cast as Dada Abdulla Hajee Adab, President of the National Indian Congress, in Richard Attenborough’s Gandhi (1982).
Casting director Dolly Thakore sent stills of him from the horror film Gehrayee to Steven Spielberg, 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.
From the 1990s until his death in 2005, Puri also featured in positive supporting roles in many movies. His comic role in Chachi 420, in which he acted alongside Kamal Haasan, was highly appreciated.
Some of his notable positive roles are Phool Aur Kaante (1991), Gardish (1993), Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (1995), Ghatak (1996), Diljale (1996), Pardes (1997), Virasat (1997), China Gate (1998), Badal (2000), Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai (2001), Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004), and Hulchul (2004).
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.”
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).
Puri Saab 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.
