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{{Short description|Indian actor (1932–2005)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Amrish Puri
| image = Amrish Puri.jpg
| caption = Puri at the premiere of ''[[The Hero: Love Story of a Spy]]'' in 2003
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1932|06|22|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Nawanshahr]], [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab]], [[British Raj|British India]]<br />{{small|(present-day [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], [[India]])}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2005|01|12|1932|06|22|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]], [[India]]
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 1967–2005
| works = [[Amrish Puri filmography|Filmography]]
| spouse = {{marriage|Urmila Diveker|1957}}
| children = 2
| relatives = [[Chaman Puri]] (brother)<br />[[Madan Puri]] (brother)<br />[[K. L. Saigal]] (cousin)<br />[[Vardhan Puri]] (grandson)
| signature = Amrish Puri signature.jpg
| signature_alt = Amrish Puri's signature
}}

'''Amrish Puri'''<ref name="HT1" /> (22 June 1932 – 12 January 2005)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2005/jan/12puri.htm |title=Amrish Puri is Dead |date=12 January 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130709081955/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2005/jan/12puri.htm |archive-date=9 July 2013 }}</ref> was an Indian actor, who was one of the most notable and important figures in [[Cinema of India|Indian cinema]] and [[Theatre of India|Theatre]]. He acted in more than 450 films, established himself as one of the most popular and iconic actors in [[Indian Cinema]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.outlookindia.com/art-entertainment/more-than-mogambo-the-many-shades-of-amrish-puri-news-204057 | title=More Than 'Mogambo': The Many Shades of Amrish Puri | date=23 June 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.filmfare.com/details.php?id=17 | title=Bollywood News, Filmfare Awards, Movie Reviews, Celebrity Photos & Updates }}</ref> Puri is remembered for playing various roles in variety of film genres, specially iconic villainous roles in [[Bollywood|Hindi Cinema]], as well as [[World cinema|International Cinema]]. He reigned supreme in villainous roles in the 1980s and 1990s, his dominating screen presence and distinctive deep voice made him stand out amongst the other villains of the day.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.thequint.com/topic/amrish-puri | title=Amrish Puri }}</ref> Puri was active in both [[art cinema]] such as in some of [[Shyam Benegal]] and [[Govind Nihalani]]'s films as well as in mainstream cinema. Puri won three [[Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor|Filmfare Awards for Best Supporting Actor]] in eight nominations.{{CN|date=January 2023}} He also holds most [[Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role|Filmfare Award for Best Villain]] nominations.

While he predominantly worked in [[Hindi]]-language films, he had also appeared in [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]], [[Kannada]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Malayalam]] and [[Marathi language|Marathi]] language films. Puri played some of most remembered villainous roles in ''[[Vidhaata]]'' (1982), ''[[Shakti (1982 film)|Shakti]]'' (1982), ''[[Hero (1983 film)|Hero]]'' (1983), ''[[Meri Jung]]'' (1985), ''[[Nagina (1986 film)|Nagina]]'' (1986), ''[[Mr. India (1987 film)|Mr. India]]'' (1987), ''[[Shahenshah (1988 film)|Shahenshah]]'' (1988), ''[[Ram Lakhan]]'' (1989), ''[[Tridev]]'' (1990), ''[[Ghayal (1990 film)|Ghayal]]'' (1990), ''[[Saudagar (1991 film)|Saudagar]]'' (1991)'', [[Thalapathi]]'' (1991), ''[[Tahalka]]'' (1992), ''[[Damini]] (1993)'', ''[[Karan Arjun]]'' (1995), ''[[Kaalapani]]'' (1996), ''[[Jeet (1996 film)|Jeet]]'' (1996), ''[[Koyla]]'' (1997), ''[[Baadshah (1999 film)|Baadshah]]'' (1999)'', [[Gadar: Ek Prem Katha]]'' (2001), and ''[[Nayak: The Real Hero]]'' (2001)''. ''Puri's performance of the main antagonist Mogambo from [[Shekhar Kapur]]'''s [[Mr. India (1987 film)|Mr. India]] ''(1987) is considered as one of greatest villains of all time in [[Indian Cinema]].''<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/10-villains-from-bollywood-we-love-to-hate-with-a-passion-246563.html | title=10 Villains from Bollywood We Love to Hate with a Passion | date=24 October 2015 }}</ref>''<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.indicine.com/movies/bollywood/best-bollywood-villains-all-time-top-5/ | title=Best Bollywood Villains All Time: TOP 5 }}</ref> It was reported that he received a salary of ₹10 million (US$771,890.82)'', ''making him the highest-paid Indian villain actor of all time. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://m.rediff.com/movies/1998/mar/17am.html|publisher=rediff|title=Movies March 1998}} {{dead link|date=November 2022}}</ref> His comic role in ''[[Chachi 420]]'', that he acted alongside [[Kamal Haasan]] was well received by critics.

Puri was a highly prolific actor; he also featured in positive supporting roles, of which he won 3 times [[Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor|Filmfare Awards for Best Supporting Actor]]. Some of his notable positive roles are ''[[Phool Aur Kaante]]'' (1991), ''[[Gardish]]'' (1993), ''[[Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge]]'' (1995), ''[[Ghatak: Lethal|Ghatak]]'' (1996), ''[[Diljale]]'' (1996) ''[[Pardes (1997 film)|Pardes]]'' (1997), ''[[Virasat (1997 film)|Virasat]]'' (1997), ''[[China Gate (1998 film)|China Gate]]'' (1998), ''[[Badal]]'' (2000), ''[[Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai]]'' (2001), ''[[Mujhse Shaadi Karogi]]'' (2004) and ''[[Hulchul (2004 film)|Hulchul]]'' (2004).

To Western audiences, he is best known as ''[[Mola Ram (Indiana Jones character)|Mola Ram]]'' in [[Steven Spielberg]]'s [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]] film ''[[Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom]]'' (1984) and as ''Khan'' in [[Richard Attenborough]]'s [[Gandhi (film)|Gandhi]] (1982).

His grandson,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Vardhan Puri Explains How Much He Is Like His 'Dadu' Amrish Puri|url=https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/vardhan-puri-explains-how-much-he-is-like-his-dadu-amrish-puri-2132330|access-date=14 November 2019|website=ndtv.com|language=en}}</ref> [[Vardhan Puri]] is also an actor in Indian Cinema, having written and starred in a film produced by a production house named after Puri, Amrish Puri Films.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/yeh-saali-aashiqui-motion-poster-vardhan-puri-and-shivaleeka-oberois-debut-film-to-release-on-november-22/articleshow/71627879.cms|title='Yeh Saali Aashiqui' motion poster: Vardhan Puri and Shivaleeka Oberoi's debut film to release on November 22 – Times of India|website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=20 February 2020}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Amrish Lal Puri was born in a [[Punjabi Hindu]] family in [[Nawanshahr]], [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab]], to Lala Nihal Chand and Ved Kaur.<ref name="HT1">{{cite web|title=Mogambo Amrish Puri lives on: A tribute|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/mogambo-amrish-puri-lives-on-a-tribute/story-UHSxi1EgFV6Ga4rKavjnnL.html|website=[[Hindustan Times]]|access-date=11 May 2016|date=11 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160516022532/http://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/mogambo-amrish-puri-lives-on-a-tribute/story-UHSxi1EgFV6Ga4rKavjnnL.html|archive-date=16 May 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> He had four siblings, elder brothers [[Chaman Puri]] and [[Madan Puri]] (both of whom were also actors), elder sister Chandrakanta, and a younger brother, Harish Puri. He was the first cousin of the actor and singer [[K. L. Saigal]].<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?isbn=9352141601 | title=K. L. Saigal: The Definitive Biography | publisher=Penguin UK | access-date = 17 October 2016}}</ref>

== Career ==
Puri acted in more than 450 films between 1967 and 2005, most of which were commercially successful, and was one of the most successful [[villain]]s in Bollywood. Yet, his early years were marked by relentless struggle and he was nearly fifty years of age before he first played a leading character (as main villain) in a film.

Puri's family had some film connections. The singer and actor [[K. L. Saigal]], one of the pioneers of Indian cinema, was Puri's first cousin. Enamoured by the fame of their cousin, Puri's older brothers, Chaman Puri and [[Madan Puri]], had moved to Mumbai in the 1950s to try their luck in films and had found work as character actors.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theprint.in/theprint-profile/amrish-puri-bollywoods-mogambo-who-was-more-than-just-an-iconic-villain/176713/|title=Amrish Puri, Bollywood's 'Mogambo' who was more than just an iconic villain|last=Singh|first=Aastha|date=12 January 2019|website=ThePrint|language=en-US|access-date=20 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730163303/https://theprint.in/theprint-profile/amrish-puri-bollywoods-mogambo-who-was-more-than-just-an-iconic-villain/176713/|archive-date=30 July 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Puri likewise came to Mumbai in the mid-1950s to try his luck, but failed his first screen test. He however managed to land a stable job with the [[Employees State Insurance Corporation]] (ESIC), a government organization, and indulged his hobby of acting by becoming part of an amateur ''natak mandali'' or stage group. His group often performed at the [[Prithvi Theatre]] in plays written by [[Satyadev Dubey]]. He eventually became well known as a stage actor and even won the [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]] in 1979.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gatewayforindia.com/entertainment/amrishpuri.htm|title=Amrish Puri- A tribute|website=www.gatewayforindia.com|access-date=20 April 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060427090729/http://www.gatewayforindia.com/entertainment/amrishpuri.htm|archive-date=27 April 2006|url-status=live}}</ref> This theatre recognition soon led to work in television advertisements and eventually to films at the relatively late age of 40 (forty).

This was in the early 1970s, and he hardly had a dialogue to utter in his first few films, which is remarkable, because his baritone voice was to be his source of fame in later years. These bit appearances were still counted a hobby, since he continued with his government job in order to support his family. Throughout the 1970s, Puri worked in supporting roles, usually as the henchman of the main villain. The super-hit movie ''[[Hum Paanch (film)|Hum Paanch]]'' (1980) was the first film in which he played the main villain. His acting performance, personality and voice were all noticed and duly appreciated in this film. After that, he started getting cast as the main villain in other movies. Puri went on to work in [[Bollywood|Hindi]], [[Kannada]], [[Marathi language|Marathi]], [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], [[Malayalam]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]], [[Tamil films|Tamil]] and even Hollywood films. His main field was, of course, Hindi cinema.

In 1982, Puri played the main villain, Jagavar Choudhary in the Subhash Ghai super-hit film ''[[Vidhaata]]''. That year, he again played the main villain, JK in the movie ''[[Shakti (1982 film)|Shakti]]'' co-starring [[Dilip Kumar]] and [[Amitabh Bachchan]]. Next, in 1983, Ghai again cast him as the main villain, Pasha, in the hit movie ''[[Hero (1983 film)|Hero]]''. Puri regularly featured in subsequent Ghai films.

He is known to international audiences for his roles as the main [[antagonist]] [[Mola Ram (Indiana Jones character)|Mola Ram]] in [[Steven Spielberg]]'s ''[[Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom]]'' (1984) and as Gandhi's Muslim employer and patron in South Africa in [[Richard Attenborough]]'s ''[[Gandhi (film)|Gandhi]]'' (1982). For ''Indiana Jones,'' he shaved his head and it created such an impression that he kept his head shaved thereafter. His baldness gave him the flexibility to experiment with different looks as a villain in subsequent movies, and few are aware that in every film thereafter, Puri was wearing a wig. Puri and Spielberg shared a great rapport and Spielberg often said in interviews: "Amrish is my favorite villain. The best the world has ever produced and ever will!"<ref>{{cite news|title='Mogambo' Amrish Puri's Birth Anniversary|url=http://in.movies.yahoo.com/news/mogambo-amrish-puris-birth-anniversary-183000457.html|access-date=2 May 2013|newspaper=Yahoo Movies|date=22 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130625004352/http://in.movies.yahoo.com/news/mogambo-amrish-puris-birth-anniversary-183000457.html|archive-date=25 June 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Puri reigned supreme in villainous roles in the 1980s and 1990s. His dominating screen presence and baritone voice made him stand out amongst the other villains of the day. In villainous roles, Puri is best remembered as "Mogambo" in ''[[Mr. India (1987 film)|Mr. India]]'', "Jagavar" in ''[[Vidhaata]]'', "Thakral" in ''[[Meri Jung]]'', "Bhujang" in ''[[Tridev]]'', "Balwant Rai" in ''[[Ghayal (1990 film)|Ghayal]]'', Barrister Chadda in ''[[Damini]]'' and "Thakur Durjan Singh" in ''[[Karan Arjun]]''. His comic role in ''[[Chachi 420]]'', that he acted alongside [[Kamal Haasan]] was highly appreciated.

From the 1990s until his death in 2005, Puri also featured in positive supporting roles in many movies. Some of his notable positive roles are ''[[Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge]]'', ''[[Phool Aur Kaante]]'', ''[[Gardish]]'', ''[[Pardes (1997 film)|Pardes]]'', ''[[Virasat (1997 film)|Virasat]]'', ''[[Ghatak: Lethal|Ghatak]]'', ''[[Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai]]'', ''[[China Gate (1998 film)|China Gate]]''. He received the Filmfare Best Supporting Actor award for ''Meri Jung'' and ''Virasat''.

== Death ==
Puri was suffering from [[myelodysplastic syndrome]], a rare kind of [[blood cancer]], and had undergone brain surgery for his condition after he was admitted to the [[P.D. Hinduja National Hospital and Medical Research Centre|Hinduja Hospital]] on 27 December 2004. His condition required frequent removal of the blood accumulated in the cerebral region of the brain and after some time he slipped into a coma shortly before his death around 7:30 a.m on 12 January 2005.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050113/main4.htm |title=The Tribune, Chandigarh, India – Main News |publisher=Tribuneindia.com |access-date=21 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211063823/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050113/main4.htm |archive-date=11 December 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref>

His body was brought to his residence for people to pay their last respects, and his funeral was on 13 January 2005 at [[Shivaji Park]] crematorium.<ref>{{cite news|title=Film Villain Amrish Puri Dies|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A5381-2005Jan12.html|access-date=14 January 2013|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=13 January 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402123207/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A5381-2005Jan12.html|archive-date=2 April 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Legacy ==

On 22 June 2019, Puri was honoured with a [[Google Doodle]]. Commemorating his 87th birthday, Google carried his picture and the accompanying text read as, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again—and you might end up like Indian film actor Amrish Puri, who overcame an early setback on the way to fulfilling his big screen dreams."<ref>{{cite news|date=22 June 2019|title=Amrish Puri's 87th Birthday June 22,2019|website=Google|url=https://www.google.com/doodles/amrish-puris-87th-birthday|url-status=live|access-date=22 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190622100643/https://www.google.com/doodles/amrish-puris-87th-birthday|archive-date=22 June 2019}}</ref>

== Awards ==

=== Wins ===
* 1968: Maharashtra State Drama
* 1979: [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]] for Theatre
* 1986: Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – ''[[Meri Jung]]''
* 1991: Maharashtra State Gaurav Pur ''[[Ghatak: Lethal|Ghatak]]''
* 1997: Star Screen Award for Best Supporting Actor|Screen Award for Best Supporting Actor – ''[[Ghatak: Lethal]]''
* 1997: Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – ''[[Ghatak: Lethal]]''
* 1998: Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – ''[[Virasat (1997 film)|Virasat]]''
* 1998: Screen Award for Best Supporting Actor – ''[[Virasat (1997 film)|Virasat]]''

=== Nominations ===
* 1990: [[Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role|Filmfare Award for Best Villain]] – ''[[Tridev]]''
* 1992: Filmfare Award for Best Villain – ''[[Saudagar (1991 film)|Saudagar]]''
*1993: Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – ''[[Muskurahat (1992 film)|Muskurahat]]''
* 1993: Filmfare Award for Best Villain – ''[[Tahalka]]''
*1994: Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – ''[[Gardish]]''
* 1994: Filmfare Award for Best Villain – ''[[Damini – Lightning|Damini]]''
*1996: Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – {{Lang|hi-latn|[[Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge]]}}
* 1996: Filmfare Award for Best Villain – ''[[Karan Arjun]]''
* 1999: Filmfare Award for Best Villain – ''[[Koyla]]''
* 2000: Filmfare Award for Best Villain – ''[[Baadshah (1999 film)|Baadshah]]''
* 2002: Filmfare Award for Best Villain – ''[[Gadar: Ek Prem Katha]]''
* 2002: [[Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role]] – ''Gadar: Ek Prem Katha''

== Filmography ==
{{Main|Amrish Puri filmography}}

== Bibliography ==

* {{Cite book|last1=Puri|first1=Amrish|title=[[The Act of Life]]|last2=Sabharwal|first2=Jyoti|publisher=Stellar Publishers|year=2006|isbn=978-81-90224-74-1}}

== See also ==

* [[List of Bollywood actors]]

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb name|0700869}}
* [http://in.rediff.com/movies/2005/jan/12puri.htm Obituary from rediff]
* [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/988252.cms Obituary from Times of India]

{{Navboxes
| title = Awards for Amrish Puri
| list =
{{FilmfareAwardBestSupportingActor 1981–2000}}
{{ScreenAwardBestSupportingActor}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Puri, Amrish}}
[[Category:1932 births]]
[[Category:2005 deaths]]
[[Category:Punjabi Hindus]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian male actors]]
[[Category:Filmfare Awards winners]]
[[Category:Screen Awards winners]]
[[Category:Indian male film actors]]
[[Category:Indian male stage actors]]
[[Category:Male actors in Hindi cinema]]
[[Category:Male actors in Kannada cinema]]
[[Category:Male actors in Malayalam cinema]]
[[Category:Male actors in Marathi cinema]]
[[Category:Male actors in Punjabi cinema]]
[[Category:Male actors in Tamil cinema]]
[[Category:Male actors in Telugu cinema]]
[[Category:People from Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district]]
[[Category:Punjabi people]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]

Amrish Puri - Revision history

CleanupBot II at 14:01, 14 August 2023