Om Puri saved Naseeruddin Shah when the latter's former friend tried to stab him

Naseeruddin Shah

Naseeruddin Shah is one of the most talented and loved actors in the country. In 2014, the senior actor launched his autobiography titled 'And Then One Day'. In the book, he narrates interesting anecdotes from his personal and professional life. One of the incidents from the 70s had left his fans and movie lovers in shock.

Naseeruddin Shah had spoken about a co-actor a former friend attempting to stab him with a knife. He also revealed that it was the late actor Om Puri who interfered and saved him. While shooting for the 1977 film Bhoomika, Naseeruddin and Om were having dinner at a restaurant when an actor friend of his, Jaspal, entered the place.

Naseeruddin and Jaspal were not on good terms back then and had some differences. "We ignored each other but, eyes fixed on me, he passed to sit on another table behind me, so I thought," the senior actor wrote in his book describing the moment.

He continued, "After a while, I was reminded of his presence by what felt like a short sharp punch in the middle of my back. I started to rise, wearily preparing myself for another free-for-all. Before I could move, Om with a strangled cry lunged at something behind me. I turned to see Jaspal holding a small knife, its point dripping blood, his hand raised to strike again, and Om and two others grappling to subdue him."

Witnessing the incident, the restaurant called the police and Naseer was in immediate need of medical attention. "Om returned to inform me that Jaspal had been taken to the kitchen and was being given the treatment. He wanted to take me to a doctor but was thwarted by the restaurant staff refusing to let us move till the police arrived," he wrote. When the ambulance came, Om Puri climbed in and pleaded with the cops to be gentle with him. "Om made the cardinal error of climbing in as well without permission and managed to rile the boss-man, thereby asking the cops to be gentle with me. He was ordered to get off and after considerable pleading with the goon in charge was allowed to stay. Neither of us had an idea where we were headed but I prayed it was not the police station," he wrote.

Naseer was first taken to the Cooper hospital and later to Jaslok hospital. While in the hospital, Naseer learnt that Jaspal was taken in by the cops but was released on bail, which was arranged by filmmaker Saeed Akhtar Mirza. "While recuperating I learnt that Jaspal, after spending two nights in custody, had been bailed out by Saeed Mirza in whose film Arvind Desai he had replaced me when I was unable to find the time for it. Saeed had always been hugely biased towards Jaspal since our FTII days and was now sheltering him in his own home; I hoped he knew what he was doing," he wrote.