D O B October 18,1950
Languages Hindi
Place of Birth Ambala, Haryana
Known For Actor, Singer
Married Yes

Biography Om Puri born October is an Indian actor who has appeared in both mainstream Indian films and art films His credits also include appearances in British and American films He has received an honorary OBE Puri was born in Ambala Haryana in a Punjabi Khatri family and spent the early part of his life living with his maternal uncle in Sanaur Patiala Punjab India He graduated from the Film and Television Institute of India He is also an alumnus of the class of National School of Drama where Naseeruddin Shah was a co-student Puri has worked in numerous Indian films and also in many films produced in the United Kingdom and the United States He made his film debut in the film Ghashiram Kotwal a film based on a Marathi play of the same name He has claimed that he was paid peanuts for his best work He has collaborated in many films with Amrish Puri as well as Naseeruddin Shah Shabana Azmi and Smita Patil in art films such as Bhavani Bhavai Sadgati Ardh Satya Mirch Masala and Dharavi He has also been active in Punjabi cinema In the s Puri also made two highly successful Punjabi films called More Chan Pardesi and Long Da Lishkara After nineteen years Puri returned to Punjabi cinema with the film Baghi He recently acted in another Punjabi film Gurdas Mann's Yaariyan He was critically acclaimed for his performances in many unconventional roles such as a victimized tribal in Aakrosh a film in which he spoke not a single line of dialogue save for during flash-back sequences Jimmy's manager in Disco Dancer a police inspector in Ardh Satya where he revolts against life-long social cultural and political persecution and for which he got the National Film Award for Best Actor the leader of a cell of Sikh militants in Maachis as a tough cop again in the commercial film Gupt in and as the courageous father of a martyred soldier in Dhoop In Puri acted in a Kannada movie A K as a strict police officer who tries to keep the city safe from the underworld which went on to become a huge commercial hit Puri's acting in the movie is very memorable He has rendered his own voice for the Kannada dialogues In the same year he starred in the successful British comedy film East is East where he played a first generation Pakistani immigrant in the north of England struggling to come to terms with his far more westernised children Puri also had a cameo in the highly acclaimed film Gandhi directed by Richard Attenborough In the mid s Puri diversified to play character roles in mainstream Hindi cinema where his roles are more tuned to mass audiences than film critics He also became known internationally for starring in many British films such as My Son the Fanatic East is East and The Parole Officer As well as these he appeared in Hollywood films including City of Joy opposite Patrick Swayze Wolf alongside Jack Nicholson and The Ghost and the Darkness opposite Val Kilmer In he appeared as General Zia-Ul-Haq in Charlie Wilson's War which stars Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts He has also worked in Hindi television serials like Kakkaji Kaheen roughly meaning Uncle says as a paan-chewing 'Kakkaji' which was a parody on politicians and Mr Yogi as a suave 'Sutradhaar' who enjoys pulling the protagonist's leg These two serials underlined Om Puri's versatility as a comedian He received critical acclaim for him performance in Govind Nihalani's television film Tamas based on a Hindi novel of the same name He also essayed comic roles in Hindi films like Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron which reached a cult status followed by Chachi Hera Pheri Chor Machaye Shor and Malamaal Weekly His more recent Hindi film roles include Singh Is Kinng Mere Baap Pehle Aap and Billu Puri was seen in the role of Mohammad Ali Kasuri in Road to Sangam In he appeared in The Hangman