Amrish Puri

Today is the death Anniversary of a great actor with an envious baritone Amrish Puri.

He started his career in itsy bitsy roles in early 70s.

However he got his due when Shyam Benegal took him for the raw Zamindar's role in Nishaant.

In his over 30-year career as an actor, Amrish Puri did over 200 films. In his early years, most of the work he did was either quality-oriented work  for  directors like Shyam Benegal and Govind Nihalani or commercial potboilers for all top banners where he used his powerful voice and screen presence to accentuate the cinematic  definitions of evil. Amrish Puri’s truly productive phase as Bollywood’s most dependable character actor, or actor of character, began in the 80s. Vidhaata and Ashanti were his major hits  but it was Mogambo that gave him the face that went on to live with him.

How things change..

In Dostana 1980 he played Balwant Singh a co Villian ( if not henchman ) to Prem Chopra.

8 years later in 1988 came Shahenshah where he played JK  and Prem Chopra had a secondary role as Bank Manager Mathur.

In 1992, Puri  chanced on  huge commercial success with Phool Aur Kaante. Though this was the launchpad for Ajay Devgn, it was Puri who stole much of the dubutant’s thunder as the good-natured don who wants to win his  estranged son’s respect back. Puri admitted this film was a turning point in his career

During the same year that Phool Aur Kante brought grey glory into Puri’s black persona, he went out-and-out positive in Priyadarshan’s Muskurahat, a wonderfully heartwarming story of a sullen old man, and a young woman who brings a smile to his frowning face. Priyadarshan went on to cast Puri in most of his Hindi films.

His foray in Hollywood with Indiana Jones and the temple of doom was also a success as Mala Ram Tantrik.

His best phase as an actor came as the NRI father in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jaayenge (1995)

And followed up with Pardes in 1997. He was a disciplinarian with principles that the new generation finds impossible to uphold.. honestly he did put Shahrukh in the shade in both the films.

Another feather is Ghaatak, that featured him as the eccentric idealist (a role that Puri patented) from Uttar Pradesh as father to Sunny Deol.

In one of his last roles in a negative Charecter in Nayak he Excelled as the Chief Minister.

His role in Mujhse Shaadi Karogi was also appreciated.

Seldom, ever did an actor other than the leading man acquire the respect and command of Amrish Puri.

(Possibly Pran and Amjad Khan before him).

His grand son Vardhan Puri made his debut last year.

Iam sure up from heaven he must be saying

Mogambo Khush Hua.

Or Dong Kabhi Wrong Nahi Hota.