Amrish Puri

Amrish Puri was an Indian actor, who was one of the most notable and important figures in Indian cinema and theatre. He acted in more than 450 films in a career spanning nearly four decades. He was the son of the actor Jayant, who was originally from Peshawar, Pakistan. He gained popularity for his performance as Gabbar Singh in the 1975 classic Sholay, which is considered one of the best films of Indian cinema. His dialogues and mannerisms as the iconic villain have become part of the Bollywood culture and inspired many imitations and parodies. He also played negative roles in other films such as Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Kaalia, and Qurbani. He also showed his versatility by playing positive and comic roles in films such as Yaarana, Lawaaris, and Chameli Ki Shaadi. He also worked in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Bengali films. He was a recipient of several awards and recognition for his contribution to cinema and society. Amrish Puri was born on 22 June 1932 in Nawanshahr, Punjab, British India. His father was Jayant, a famous actor of his time, who belonged to the Barozaiclan of Pashtuns. His mother was of Iranian descent. He had a brother, Imtiaz Khan, who was also an actor. He was educated at St. Andrew's High School and R. D. National College in Bandra, Mumbai. He developed an interest in acting from a young age and participated in many plays and dramas. He made his film debut as a child actor in Nazneen in 1951. He also appeared in Ab Dilli Dur Nahin in 1957. He assisted director K. Asif in the film Love And God, which was left incomplete after Asif's death in 1971. Amrish Puri got his first break as an adult actor in the film Hindustan Ki Kasam in 1973, in which he played a small role. He was then offered the role of Gabbar Singh, the ruthless dacoit leader, in the film Sholay by writer Salim Khan. He prepared for the role by reading a book on Chambal dacoits written by Taroon Kumar Bhaduri, the father of actress Jaya Bachchan. He also improvised many of his dialogues and expressions, which added to the impact of his character. The film was a huge success and made him a star overnight. His portrayal of Gabbar Singh is considered one of the most memorable performances in Indian cinema history. After Sholay, Amrish Puri became one of the most sought-after actors in the industry. He played villainous roles in many films, such as Zanjeer, Yaadon Ki Baaraat, Parvarish, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Kaalia, Qurbani, and Nastik. He often played a suave, sophisticated, and powerful criminal mastermind, who was feared and respected by his associates and enemies. He also played positive roles in films such as Shatranj Ke Khilari, Mr. Natwarlal, Yaarana, Lawaaris, and Utsav. He also displayed his comic talent in films such as Sadhu Aur Shaitaan, Do Aur Do Paanch, and Chameli Ki Shaadi. He also ventured into other film industries and acted in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Bengali films. He worked with many prominent actors and directors of his time, such as Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Rajesh Khanna, Dev Anand, Raj Kapoor, Ramesh Sippy, Prakash Mehra, and Manmohan Desai. Amrish Puri also tried his hand at direction and production. He directed and acted in the film Chor Police in 1983, which was a moderate success. He also produced and acted in the film Ameer Aadmi Gharib Aadmi in 1985, which was a flop. He also acted in some television serials, such as Bahadur Shah Zafar and The Great Maratha. Amrish Puri married Urmila Diveker, who was the sister of the singer Zohrabai Ambalewali. They had no children. Amrish Puri was involved in social and charitable activities, and was known for his generosity and kindness. He was a patron of many educational institutions and orphanages. He also supported many causes, such as farmers' welfare, water conservation, and organ donation. Amrish Puri suffered from health problems in his later years. He had a serious accident in 1986, when he drove his car into a tree. He underwent several surgeries and lost a lot of weight. He also developed diabetes and heart ailments. He died of heart failure on 12 January 2005 in Mumbai, at the age of 72. His death was mourned by many film personalities and fans, who paid tribute to his legacy and achievements.