Born on October 18, 1950, Om Puri, a giant of parallel and new wave cinema, is best known for some stellar performances in Ardh Satya, Aakrosh and Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron. 

With his instantly recognisable rich baritone and chameleon-like ability to transform on-screen, Om Puri was at ease playing an angst-laden police officer in Ardh Satya to the comic role of a corrupt builder Ahuja in Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro.

Om Puri featured in several Indian, Pakistani, British and Hollywood mainstream commercial films.

Om Puri was the major face of the parallel cinema movement alongside his contemporaries Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi and Smita Patil, working collectively in some of the biggest Indian classics like Bhumika, Aakrosh, Sparsh, Bhavni Bhavai, Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Ata Hai, Mirch Masala, Sadgati, Arohan, Ardh Satya and Mandi

Om Puri, who starred in around 300 movies, won the National Film Award for best actor for his role as a police inspector in the 1982 film Ardh Satya.

He also received the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award of India in the year 1990.

After the end of the art cinema movement, Puri shifted to mainstream cinema where he did memorable character roles while continuing to give noteworthy performances in films like Vijeta, Ghayal, Droh Kaal, Maachis, Ghatak: Lethal, Chachi 420, Khoobsurat, Pukar, Hera Pheri and Dev.

Om Puri earned international fame in many British films, such as My Son the Fanatic, East Is East, The Parole Officer and others.

He also appeared in Hollywood films like City of Joy, Wolf, The Ghost and the Darkness among others.

Did you know Om Puri made his film debut in 1976 with the Marathi film Ghashiram Kotwal?

Om Puri appeared in the 2015 Salman Khan movie Bajrangi Bhaijaan. He played the part of a progressive imam, who protects Bajrangi and Munni from the Pakistani security forces and offers them refuge at the madrassa he teaches in.

Om Puri with Saira Banu and Javed Jaaferi

Om Puri passed away tragically at his Oshiwara home on January 6, 2017. The Padma Shri awardee was found lying on the floor, bleeding from his head. It was later known that the actor had suffered a fatal heart attack.

The primary cause of Om Puri's death was a heart attack. There was an injury on the left side of his head, which suggested that after suffering the heart attack, he fell to the ground

Om Puri is truly missed!