Amrish Puri (22 June 1932 – 12 January 2005) was a leading theatre and film actor from India, who was a key player in the Indian theatre movement that picked up steam in the 1960s. He worked with notable playwrights of the time, such as Satyadev Dubey and Girish Karnad. However, he is primarily remembered for essaying iconic negative 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).
Early life and background
Amrish Puri was born in Nawanshahr (former Tehsil of District Jalandhar), Punjab. His siblings include elder brothers Chaman Puri, Madan Puri (both actors) and elder sister Chandrakanta and younger brother Harish Puri. He later moved to Shimla and graduated from B.M. College, Himachal Pradesh.
Amrish Puri came to Mumbai in the footsteps of his elder brothers Chaman Puri and Madan Puri (both actors), who was already an established actor known for playing negative roles. He failed his first screen test, and found a job with the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC). At the same time, he started performing at the Prithvi Theatre, in plays written by Satyadev Dubey. He eventually became well known as stage actor and won the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1979. This theatre recognition soon led to work in television ads and eventually to films at the late age of 40.
He went on to work in Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, Hollywood, Punjabi, Malayalam, Telugu and Tamil films. Though he was successful in all of these industries, he is best known for his work in Bollywood cinema. He has appeared in over four hundred films. His dominating screen presence and baritone voice made him stand out amongst the other villains of the day. He is best known for his role as Mogambo in the 1987 blockbuster, Mr. India and for his portrayal of Mola Ram, the antagonist in Steven Spielberg's Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.
International
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 the 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 and became one of the most popular villains in Hindi Cinema. Amrish and Spielberg shared a great rapport and Spielberg often said in interviews that, "Amrish is my favorite villain- The best the world has ever produced and ever will!".
It is also rumoured (though unconfirmed) that he may have portrayed the villain Scar in the Hindi dub of the 1994 blockbuster The Lion King.
Death
He died on 12 January 2005, due to cerebral haemorrhage resulting from complications of myelodysplastic syndrome. in Mumbai, Maharashtra, aged 72.
Awards
Wins
1968: Maharashtra State Drama Competition
1979: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Theatre
1986: Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award, 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
Nominations
1990: Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award – Tridev
1993: Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award – Muskurahat
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
Sourse : Wikipedia
