The renowned villain of Hindi cinema, the late Amrish Puri, needs no introduction today. If Gabbar was a villain, then Mogambo was the one after him. Amrish Puri possessed an extraordinary ability to imbue any role he took on with profound meaning. If you hated him in the role of Mogambo in Mr. India, he also touched everyone's hearts as Simran's father in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. Amrish Puri was a quintessential actor, effortlessly fitting into every character, whether it was a father, a friend, or a villain. His mastery over these diverse roles cemented his status as a great artist. Hindi cinema would perhaps remain incomplete without this remarkable actor.
Amrish Puri's Life
Amrish Puri was born on June 22, 1932, in Punjab. His father's name was Lala Nihal Singh and his mother's was Ved Kaur. He had four siblings: Chaman Puri, Madan Puri, his elder sister Chandrakāntā, and his younger brother Harish Puri. Amrish Puri was deeply passionate about physical exercise. He was also a deeply religious man, devoted to Lord Shiva.
Amrish Puri's Education
Amrish Puri received his early education in Punjab. He later went to Shimla for his higher education. After completing his BA from BM College in Shimla, he embarked on his acting career. Amrish Puri initially began his career in theatre. Later, he transitioned into films. He held a deep affection for the stage, and his plays were even attended by renowned figures like Indira Gandhi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee. A historic meeting with Padma Vibhushan recipient, the theatre artist Abraham Alkazi, in 1961, significantly shaped his trajectory, and he subsequently became a celebrated figure on the Indian stage.
Amrish Puri's Wife
Amrish Puri's wife was Urmila Divekar. Before venturing into films, Amrish Puri worked for the Employees' State Insurance Corporation, Ministry of Labour and Employment. It was there that he met his wife, and their connection blossomed into love. Initially, his family wasn't supportive of their relationship. However, eventually, they accepted their union. They were married on January 5, 1957, with the blessing of their families. They had one son, Rajiv Puri, and one daughter, Namrata Puri.
Amrish Puri's Film Career
Amrish Puri started his film career in 1971. His debut film was Prem Pujari. He subsequently acted in several other films, but significant success eluded him. Nevertheless, he persevered and gradually gained recognition as a villain. By the 1980s, Amrish Puri had become a prominent figure in the film industry. A pivotal turning point in his career came in 1987 with Shekhar Kapur's film Mr. India. His role as Mogambo, in particular, resonated deeply with audiences, becoming immensely popular. After Gabbar Singh in Sholay, if any other villain earned such acclaim, it was Mogambo. His dialogue "Mogambo khush hua" (Mogambo is pleased) became extremely popular at the time. He didn't stop there, and went on to act in films such as Nishant, Gandhi, Coolie, Nagina, Ram Lakhan, Tridev, Phool Aur Kaante, Vishwatma, Damini, Karan Arjun, and Coal. Amrish Puri worked not only in Hindi films but also in Kannada, Punjabi, Malayalam, Telugu, and Tamil cinema, as well as Hollywood productions. He graced over 400 films throughout his career.
Amrish Puri's Death
On January 12, 2005, at the age of 72, Amrish Puri passed away due to a brain tumour. His sudden demise plunged the Bollywood world, and indeed the entire nation, into mourning. While Amrish Puri is no longer with us, his legacy continues to live on through the films he graced.
