Gufi Paintal (4 October 1944 – 5 June 2023), also known as Sarabjeet Singh Paintal, was an Indian actor and casting director. Initially trained as an engineer, he would go on to follow his younger brother (who had been trained at the Film and Television Institute of India) into acting. Arriving in Bombay in 1969, Gufi took up modelling, worked as an assistant director for movies and acted in various movies and serials. He also directed his brother. His most well-known role is that of Mama (Maternal Uncle) Shakuni in the adaptation of Mahabharat by B.R. Chopra and his son Ravi Chopra, which Paintal himself recognized as his best role.[1] He was so associated with his Shakuni character in India that Paintal presented a political discussion show on the news channel Sahara Samay in the character of Shakuni.[2]
Paintal directed the movie Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, which sketches the life of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, a 16th-century devotee of Krishna who is recognised as an incarnation of the god by followers of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. The film was produced by Pawan Kumar with music by Ravindra Jain.[3] In 2010 he was appointed head of facility at the Abbhinnay Acting Academy in Mumbai, a school established by his Mahabharata co-star Pankaj Dheer.[4][5]
Death
Paintal died on 5 June 2023 in a Mumbai hospital from age-related issues.[6]
Filmography
Films
| Year | Films | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Rafoo Chakkar | Salim |
| 1978 | Dillagi | Ganesh |
| 1978 | Des Pardes | |
| 1994 | Suhaag | Akshay kumar's maternal uncle |
| 1995 | Maidan-E-Jung | Mamaji |
| 1997 | Daava | Mangal Singh, One Piece kathiavadi Ghodo |
| 2000 | The Revenge: Geeta Mera Naam | |
| 2006 | Ghoom | Vijay Dikshit's Boss |
| 2013 | Mahabharat Aur Barbareek | Shakuni |
| 2014 | Samrat & Co. | Dinesh Das a.k.a. DD Family Lawyer |
Television
| Year | Serial | Role | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Bahadur Shah Zafar | DD National | |
| 1988–1990 | Mahabharat | Shakuni as an actor & Also the Casting Director | DD National |
| 1988–1990 | Kanoon | Justice Raghunath | DD Metro |
| 1992 | Sauda | DD National | |
| 1997–2001 | Om Namah Shivay | Shakuni | DD National |
| 1998–1999 | Akbar Birbal | Mulla Do Pyaza | DD National |
| 2001 | CID (Indian TV series) | Chander | Episode 195, 196 |
| 2002 | Ssshhhh...Koi Hai | Dr. Jarkos | Star Plus |
| 2003 | The Magic Make-Up Box | Brithari | Zee TV |
| 2011–2012 | Dwarkadheesh Bhagwaan Shree Krishn | Shakuni | Imagine Tv |
| 2012–2013 | Mrs. Kaushik Ki Paanch Bahuein | Brijbhushan Bhalla[7] | Zee TV |
| 2013 | Bharat Ka Veer Putra – Maharana Pratap | Humayun | Sony TV |
| 2016–2018 | Karmaphal Daata Shani | Vishwakarma | Colors TV |
| 2018 | Karn Sangini | Kripacharya | Star Plus |
| 2019–2023 | RadhaKrishn | Vishwakarma | Star Bharat |
| 2021–2022 | Jay Kaniya lal Ki | Vishwakarma | Star Bharat |
References
- ↑ The other Paintal Template:Webarchive
- ↑ Sahara Samay: banking on youth Template:Webarchive
- ↑ Times Music : Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. timesmusic.com.
- ↑ Akshay Kumar inaugurates Pankaj Dheer's acting academy – Abbhinnay. businessofcinema(9 April 2010). Retrieved 25 September 2011.
- ↑ Akshay inaugurates Abbhinnay Acting Academy. The Times of India. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
- ↑ Gufi Paintal the Shakuni Mama is sadly no more, he was 79. www.hamaribaat.com. Retrieved 2023-06-05.
- ↑ Gufi Paintal in Mrs. Kaushik. The Times of India.