Amrish

Puri
Amrishlal Puri (22 June 1932 – 12 January 2005[1]) was an
Indian actor, who was an important figure in Indian theatre and
Amrish Puri
cinema. He worked with notable playwrights of the time, such
as Satyadev Dubey and Girish Karnad. He is remembered for
playing iconic villainous roles in Hindi cinema as well as other
Indian and international film industries. To Indian audiences he
is the most remembered for his role as Mogambo in Shekhar
Kapur's Hindi film Mr. India (1987), and to Western audiences
he is best known as Mola Ram in Steven Spielberg's Hollywood
film Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984). Puri has
won three Filmfare Awards for Best Supporting Actor.

Contents
Early life
Career
Death Amrish Puri at the premiere of The
Awards Hero: Love Story of a Spy
Wins Born 22 June 1932
Nominations Lahore, Punjab,
Filmography British India
See also Died 12 January 2005
References (aged 72)
Mumbai,
Further reading
Maharashtra, India
External links
Occupation Actor
Years active 1970–2005
Early life Spouse(s) Urmila Diveker
(1957–2005)
Amrish Puri was born in Nawanshahr, Punjab in a Khatri family
of Nihal Singh Puri and Ved Kaur. [2] He had four siblings, elder Children 2
brothers Chaman Puri and Madan Puri (both of whom were Relatives Madanlal Puri
also actors), elder sister Chandrakanta, and a younger (brother)
brother, Harish Puri. He was the first cousin of the actor and
Signature
singer K. L. Saigal.[3]

Career
Amrish Puri acted in more than 400 films between 1967 and 2005, and was one of the most
successful villains in Bollywood. Puri first came to Mumbai following the footsteps of his elder brothers-
Madan Puri and Chaman Puri, who were already established actors known for playing villainous roles.
He failed his first screen test, and instead found a job with the Employees' State Insurance
Corporation Ministry of Labour and Employment (ESIC). At the same time, he started performing at
the Prithvi Theatre in plays written by Satyadev Dubey. He eventually became well known as a stage
actor and won the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1979.[4] This theatre recognition soon led to work
in television ads and eventually to films at the relatively late age of 40.

Puri went on to work in Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, Hollywood, Punjabi, Malayalam, Telugu and Tamil
films. Though he was successful in many regional films, he is best known for his work in Bollywood
cinema.

Through the 1970s, Puri often worked in supporting roles, usually as the henchman of the main villain.
He was noticed in the 1980 super-hit movie Hum Paanch in which he played the main villain. After
that, he started getting cast as the main villain in other movies. In 1982, Puri played the main villain,
Jagavar Choudhary in the Subhash Ghai super-hit film Vidhaata. That same year, he again played the
main villain, JK in the movie Shakti starring two legends- Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan. Next, in
1983, Subhash Ghai again cast him as the main villain, Pasha in the hit movie Hero. Puri regularly
featured in subsequent Subhash Ghai films.

Puri reigned supreme in villainous roles in the 1980s and 1990s. In those decades, there was hardly
any Bollywood film that did not feature Puri as a villain. His dominating screen presence and baritone
voice made him stand out amongst the other villains of the day.

He is known to international audiences for his roles as khan in Richard Attenborough's Gandhi (1982)
and as the main antagonist Mola Ram in Steven Spielberg's Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
(1984). He shaved his head for the role, and it created such an impression that he kept his head
shaved. His bald look gave him the flexibility to experiment with different looks as a villain in
subsequent movies. 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!"[5]

In villainous roles, Puri is best remembered as "Mogambo" in Mr. India, "Jagavar" in Vidhaata, "Thakral"
i n Meri Jung, "Bhujang" in Tridev, "Balwant Rai" in 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.

Since 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, Virasat, Ghatak,China Gate,and Mohabbatein. He received the Filmfare Best Supporting Actor
award for Meri Jung and Virasat.

Death
Amrish Puri was suffering from myelodysplastic syndrome, a rare kind of blood cancer, and had
undergone some brain invasive surgery for his condition after he was admitted to the 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.[6]

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.[7]

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 Puraskar
1994: Sydney Film Festival, Best Actor Award – Suraj Ka Satvan Ghoda
1994: Singapore International Film Festival, Best Actor Award – Suraj Ka Satvan Ghoda
1997: Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award – Ghatak
1997: Star Screen Award for Best Supporting Actor – Ghatak
1998: Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award- Virasat
1998: Star Screen Award for Best Supporting Actor – Virasat
2000: Kalakar Awards for Best Supporting Actor

Nominations
1990: Filmfare Best Villain Award– Tridev
1992: Filmfare Best Villain Award – Saudagar
1993: Filmfare Best Villain Award – Tahalka
1993: Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award – Muskurahat
1994: Filmfare Best Villain Award – Damini
1994: Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award – Gardish
1996: Filmfare Best Villain Award – Karan Arjun
1996: Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award – Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge
1999: Filmfare Best Villain Award – Koyla
2000: Filmfare Best Villain Award – Baadshah
2002: Filmfare Best Villain Award – Gadar: Ek Prem Katha
2002: Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role – Gadar: Ek Prem Katha

Filmography
Amrish Puri acted in more than 400 films between 1967 – 2005.

Year Title Role Notes

1970 Prem Pujari Jerry, Henchman in church

Aahat - Ek Ajeeb
Kahani

Reshma Aur Shera Rehmat Khan

1971 Shantata! Court Chalu

Marathi film
Aahe
 Hulchul Public Prosecutor

Sone Ke Haath

1973 Kaadu Chandra Gowda Kannada film

Hindustan Ki Kasam

Salaakhen Master

1975 Nishant Eldest Zamindar

Daaku

1976 Manthan Mishraji

Smothered Voices

Immaan Dharam Dharam Dhayal

Bhumika Vinayak Kale

Sat Sri Akal

1977
Rangaa Aur Raja

Paapi Michael Uncredited

Gyaniji

Alibaba Marjinaa Jabbar

Kondura Konduraswamy

Hungama Bombay
1978 Jaggu Ustad
Ishtyle

Bandie Anand

Hamare Tumhare General Manager

Man in Ghost train reading horror

Jaani Dushman
story
1979
Sawan Ko Aane Do Chandrika's dad

Naiyya

Lakhan

Chann Pardesi Joginder Singh

Aakrosh Dusane, Public Prosecutor

Qurbani Rakka

Gehrayee Tantric magician

1980
Dostana Balwant Singh

Hum Paanch Veer Pratap Singh

Patthar Se Takkar Dr. Anand

Maan Abhiman Madhuraprasad Chowdhary

Krodhi Madhavan
 Kalyug Kishan Chand
1981
Naseeb Don

Be-Shaque Gopal

Nai Imarat

Ek Aur Sangraam

Apna Bana Lo Mr.Joshi

Ashanti Raja Bhishm Bahadur Singh

Aadat Se Majboor Agnihotri (a.k.a. Johinder Singh)

Shakti J.K. Verma

1982 Johny I Love You Zalim Singh

Gandhi Khan

Vidhaata Jagavar Chowdhary

Vijeta Chief Instructor Varghese

Sugandh

Main Inteqaam Loonga Goverdhan Das (GD)

Nishaan

Andha Kanoon Mr.Ram Gupta

Ardh Satya Anant's Father

Coolie John D'Costa

1983
Mandi Darvish

Hero Pasha

Haadsa R.K. Chakravarty

Bekhabar

Bhool

Aakhir

Mashaal S.K.Vardhan

Indiana Jones and the

Mola Ram
Temple of Doom

Insaaf Kaun Karega Bhanupratap

Gangvaa Special Appearance

Duniya Balwant Singh Kalra

Jagir Lakhan

1984 Awaaz Moolchand

Jhootha Sach Kolga

 Kasam Paida Karne
Udaybhan Singh
Wale Ki

Zakhmi Sher Swami Kashinath Singh

Yeh Desh Dhulia

Party Doctor

Bandh Honth

Gandu Bherunda Professor Jai

Aaj Ke Sholay Balbir Gupta

Mohabbat Choudhary

Zabardast Balram Singh

Meri Jung G.D. Thakral Filmfare Best Villain Award,

Teri Meherbaniyan Thakur Vijay Singh

1985
Phaansi Ke Baad Damodar Seth

Patthar Dil Rana Surajbhan Singh

Paisa Yeh Paisa Jugal

Karmayudh Sohanlal Puri

Aghaat Chakradev

Pyar Ho Gaya Sapna's Father

Kaanch Ki Deewar Bhoop Singh

Aap Ke Saath Persha

Sultanat Razoulli Al-Jabber Al-Nasser

Janbaaz Rana Vikram Singh

Begaana A.P. Lall

Samundar Raiszada Narsingh

Asli Naqli Durjan Singh

1986 Dosti Dushmani

Ek Aur Sikander Sher Khan

Tamas (mini TV series)

Ricky

Naseeb Apna Apna

Nagina Baba Bhaironath

Mera Dharam Thakur Digvijay Singh

Maa Ki Saugandh

On Wings of Fire Nihavand ruler

Khazana Narrator Uncredited

 Loha Sher 'Shera' Singh

Dadagiri Bhanupratap

Madadgar Sunita's Mama

Dance Dance A.M.Singh

Mr. India Mogambo

Hawalaat Seth Dharam Das

Sadak Chhap Dharamdas, MP

1987
Kaun Jeeta Kaun Haara

Pharam Dharam Shamshera

Sher Shivaji

Jawab Hum Denge Dhanraj

Inaam Dus Hazaar Captain S.P.Singh

Dil Tujhko Diya Mohla

Dance Dance Raja Bahadur A.M. Singh

Raj Kapoor Himself

Hun Farishte Nahin Pashrutam Das / Din Dayal

Shahenshah J.K.Verma Uncredited

Khoon Bahaa Ganga

Mein

Waris Dulla K. Singh

Mohabbat Ke Dushman Shahbaaz Khan

Commando Marcelloni

Rukhsat Jagdish Chopra

Janam Janam Yuvraj Thakur Balbir Singh

1988
Dayavan Inspector Ratan Singh

Ganga Jamuna
Thakur Hansaj Singh
Saraswathi

Yateem Dacoit Porkhiya

Saazish Diwan

Mar Mitenge Ajit Singh

Chandraprakash Singh (Vishal's

Hamara Khandaan
dad)

Aakhari Poratam Anantananda Swamy (Telugu Movie)

Jurrat Kama

Mil Gayee Manzil Mujhe

Suryaa: An Awakening Gangadhar Chowdhary

 Do Qaidi K.K

Farz Ki Jung Jai Kishan (JK)

Ilaaka Nagar

Daata Gopal Das

Naa-Insaafi Billa

Nominated- Filmfare Best Supporting

Tridev Bhujang / Bhairav Singh
Actor Award
1989 Batwara Hanumant Singh

Hisaab Khoon Ka Ranvir Pushp

Mahaprabhu Janak Sagar Jagat

Jaadugar
Narayan Chintamani

Aag Se Khelenge Zakha

Tujhe Nahin Chhodunga

Ram Lakhan Bhisambar Nath

Nigahen : Nagina Part II Bhairon Nath Voice, Uncredited

Nafrat Ki Aandhi Chandidas Khurana

Mujrim Khan

Mera Farz

Vidrohi

Kondaveeti Donga Khaadra /SP Telugu film

Hatim Tai

Naaka Bandi Mangal Singh / Santhal

Jagadeka Veerudu
Mahadrashta Telugu film
Athiloka Sundari

Ghayal Balwant Rai

1990 Aaj Ka Arjun Thakur Bhupendra Singh

Doodh Ka Karz Raghuvir Singh Marathi Film

Tejaa Jarahwar

Qayamat Ki Raat Shera

Muqaddar Ka Badshaah Vikral Singh

Kishen Kanhaiya Lala Gendamal

Kaaranama

Jeene Do Thakur Sher Bahadur Singh

Trinetra Singhania

Mohabbat Pehli Nazar

Mein
 Jigarwala Dhurjan Singh

Iraada

Benaam Badsha Jaikal

Ajooba Vazir-e-Ala (a.k.a. Vazir)

Nominated- Filmfare Best Villain

Saudagar Chuniya
1991 Award

Aditya 369 Antique Collector Telugu Movie

Dharam Sankat Jagira

Phool Aur Kaante Nageshwar "Don"

Thalapathi Kalivardhan Tamil film

Shikari : The Hunter Nahar Singh

Numbri Aadmi Rana

Mast Kalandar Raja Sahab

Kohraam

Sydney Film Festival, Best Actor

Award,
Suraj Ka Satvan Ghoda Mahesar Dalal
Singapore International Film Festival,
Best Actor Award

Ramayana: The Legend

Ravana Voice over in Hindi-dub version
of Prince Rama

I Love You

Vishwatma Azghar Jurhad

Vansha Vilasrao Chaudhary

1992
Zindagi Ek Jua Bhalla

Deewana Dhirend (Ravi's uncle)

Nominated- Filmfare Best Villain

Tahalka General Dong
Award

Gopichand Verma (Former Nominated- Filmfare Best Supporting

Muskurahat
Justice) Actor Award

Time Machine (Incomplete film)

Ashwamedham Telugu film

Divya Shakti Tau (Mafia Don)

Kundan Thakur Shamsher Singh

Barrister Indrajit Chaddha Nominated- Filmfare Best Villain

Damini
(Scheming Lawyer) Award

Nippu Ravva Balagam Dhanraj Telugu film

1993
Nominated- Filmfare Best Supporting
Gardish Purushottam Sathe
Actor Award
 Sangram Raja's father

Major Chandrakanth Gnaneswara Rao Telugu film

Elaan Ramakant Chaudhry

Maha Shaktishali

Pehla Pehla Pyaar Hukam Singh

1994
Droh Kaal I.G.P Pathak

Tejaswini Lala Khurana

Paramaatma Chaudhry Rudranarayan

Mohabatto Ka Safar

Nominated- Filmfare Best Villain

Karan Arjun Thakur Durjan Singh
Award

Jai Vikraanta Thakur Jaswant Singh

Thakur Ranvir Singh 'Daata

Maidan-E-Jung
Guru'

Prem Vanraja

Hulchul Shobraj
1995
Oh Darling! Yeh Hai
Don Quixote
India!

Gundaraj Police Inspector

Dilwale Dulhania Le Nominated- Filmfare Best Supporting

Chaudhry Baldev Singh
Jayenge Actor Award

Haqeeqat ACP. Shivcharan

Paappi Devataa Ratan Seth

Kartavya Thakur Ugranarayan Singh

Vijeta Wing Commander Varghese

Kala Pani Mirza Khan Malayalam film

Tu Chor Main Sipahi Thakur Gajendra Singh

Gajraj Choudhary (Underworld

Jeet
Don)

Diljale Dara

Beqabu ACP Amritlal Bakshi

1996
Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award

Ghatak Shambu Nath Star Screen Award for Best

Supporting Actor

Smuggler

Sardari Begum Hemraj

 Jaan Surya Dev Singh

Khiladi No 1

Nominated- Filmfare Best Villain

Koyla Raja Saab
Award

Mahaanta Seth. Kedar Nath

Tarazu Appa Rao

Pardes Kishorilal

Chachi 420 Durgaprasad Bhardwaj

1997 Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award

Virasat Raja Thakur Star Screen Award for Best

Supporting Actor

Itihaas Pradhan Des Pandey

Nimayak Balwant

Himalay Putra Malhotra, Seema's father (special appearance)

Dhaal: The Battle of

Pilot Baba
Law Against Law

Sham Ghansham Collector Bhim Singh

Salaakhen Jaspal Rana

Barood Mr.Singhal

Jhooth Bole Kauwa

1998 Abhayankar (Police officer)
Kaate

Doli Saja Ke Rakhna Jojo Pinto

Dhoondte Reh Jaaoge! Voice on the phone with Tiger

China Gate Col. Kewal Krishan Puri

Lal Baadshah Thakur Dhayal Singh

Aarzoo Dayashankar

Zulmi Balraj Dutt

Jai Hind
1999 Taal Jagmohan Mehta

Nominated- Filmfare Best Villain

Baadshah Suraj Singh Thappar
Award

Gair C.K Oberoi

Kaala Samrajya Kaalkeshwar Singh

Badal ACP Ranjeet Singh

Ek Ajooba Guruji

Dhaai Akshar Prem Ke Yagvender Gareval

2000
 Mohabbatein General Khanna (special appearance)

Shaheed Uddham Singh The Sufi Saint

On Wings of Fire Nihavand ruler

Zubeidaa Suleiman Seth

Pandit Shiv Prasad (Censor

Censor
board member)

Chori Chori Chupke

Kailashnath Malhotra
Chupke

Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai Balram Singh (Tau of Karan)

2001
Nominated- Filmfare Best Villain
Award
Mayor Ashraf Ali (Sakina's
Gadar: Ek Prem Katha Nominated- Zee Cine Award for Best
father)
Actor in a Negative Role

Jagdish Kumar Malhotra (Ronit's

Yaadein
uncle)

Nayak: The Real Hero Chief Minister Balraj Chauhan

Badmaash No.1

Badhaai Ho Badhaai Mr. Chaddha

Shararat Prajapati
2002 Baba Tantrik Tamil film

Jaani Dushman: Ek
Sadhu (sage)
Anokhi Kahani

Rishtey Yashpal Chaudhary

Khushi Vir Bhadra Singh

The Hero: Love Story of

I.S.I Chief Ishak Khan
a Spy

2003 Jaal: The Trap Major Amrish Kaul

Jatta Singh Bedi (Jaswinder's

Out of Control
father)

Dil Pardesi Ho Gayaa Brigadier Sarfaroz Khan

Surya Thakur

Police Force: An Inside

Mr. Pandey
Story

Love Kannada film

Dev Chief Minister Bhandarker

Brigadier Gautam Puri (Sp.

Lakshya Uncredited
App.)
2004 commissioner of police Samar
Garv: Pride and Honour
Singh

Mujhse Shaadi Karogi Colonel Dugraj Singh

Taarzan: The Wonder

Kartar Singh/Baa Ji
Car

Aitraaz Mr. Ranjit Roy

Hulchul Angar Chand

Ab Tumhare Hawale
Narrator
Watan Saathiyo

Woh Tera Naam Tha Ustad Samad Khan

2005 Kisna: The Warrior Poet Bhairo Singh (final film role)

See also
List of Bollywood villains

References
1. "Amrish Puri is Dead" (https://web.archive.org/web/20130709081955/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2005/jan/
12puri.htm). 12 January 2005. Archived from the original (http://www.rediff.com/movies/2005/jan/12puri.htm)
on 9 July 2013.
2. "Mogambo Amrish Puri lives on: A tribute" (http://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/mogambo-amrish-
puri-lives-on-a-tribute/story-UHSxi1EgFV6Ga4rKavjnnL.html). Hindustan Times. 11 January 2010. Retrieved
11 May 2016.
3. K. L. Saigal: The Definitive Biography (https://books.google.com/books?isbn=9352141601). Penguin UK.
Retrieved 17 October 2016.
4. Amrish Puri at gatewayofindia (http://www.gatewayforindia.com/entertainment/amrishpuri.htm)
5. " 'Mogambo' Amrish Puri's Birth Anniversary" (https://web.archive.org/web/20130625004352/http://in.movies.
yahoo.com/news/mogambo-amrish-puris-birth-anniversary-183000457.html). Yahoo Movies. 22 June 2012.
Archived from the original (http://in.movies.yahoo.com/news/mogambo-amrish-puris-birth-anniversary-18300
0457.html) on 25 June 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
6. http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050113/main4.htm
7. "Film Villain Amrish Puri Dies" (https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A5381-2005Jan12.html).
The Washington Post. 13 January 2008. Retrieved 14 January 2013.

Further reading
The Act of Life – An Autobiography by Amrish Puri with Jyoti Sabharwal.

External links
Amrish Puri (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10321068) at Find a Grave
Amrish Puri (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0700869/) on IMDb
Obituary from rediff (http://in.rediff.com/movies/2005/jan/12puri.htm)
Obituary from Times of India (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/988252.cms)
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Amrish_Puri&oldid=893282264"

This page was last edited on 20 April 2019, at 08:35 (UTC).

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. By
using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the
Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.