--- name: "Om Puri" canonical: "https://film.one/person/om-puri" fi1m_id: "om-puri" imdb_id: "nm0700875" tmdb_id: 11851 wikidata_id: "Q80309" roles: ["Actor"] born: "18 October 1950" died: "6 January 2017" reviewed_on_fi1m: 4 average_fi1m_score: 70 average_as: "actor" average_over: 3 updated: "2026-10-07T13:27:44.120011+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Om Puri ## Identity Om Puri - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/om-puri - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** om-puri - **IMDb ID:** nm0700875 - **TMDB ID:** 11851 - **Wikidata ID:** Q80309 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Om_Puri, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q80309, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0700875/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/11851 Actor. Born 18 October 1950 in Ambala, Haryana, India. Died 6 January 2017. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 18 October 1950, Ambala, Haryana, India - **Died:** 6 January 2017 - **Active:** 1982–2007 - **Also known as:** ओम पुरी, ওম পুরী, ომ პური - **Titles on Fi1m:** 4: 3 acting, 1 other - **Frequently works with:** [Mike Nichols](https://film.one/person/mike-nichols.md) - **Average Fi1m score:** 70, as actor, over 3 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 73 (1), 1990s 67 (2), 2000s 76 (1) - **Score spread:** 0 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 0 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 1 of 2 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Drama 3, Comedy 2, Romance 2, History 1, Horror 1 - **Screen time:** 6 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $171m across 3 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Om_Puri, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q80309, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0700875/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/11851 ## Streaming the US now - **Tubi:** [*Wolf*](https://film.one/film/wolf.md) (60) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Om Puri > Om Puri could make an overbearing father funny and still leave us afraid for his family. We value the seriousness he brings to comedy, even when the film around him is less willing to face the hurt. In *East Is East* (1999), Om Puri makes a father's instructions carry the possibility of a threat. George Khan expects his children to accept his authority, and Puri finds humour in his inability to imagine that they might want lives of their own. He gives that certainty enough human feeling for us to understand George's wish to remain in charge. We never mistake understanding him for a reason to take his side. His early work in Indian parallel cinema included *Ghashiram Kotwal* (1976), his debut. Director Govind Nihalani gave him two important roles: Lahanya Bhiku in *Aakrosh* (1980) and the conflicted police officer Anant Velankar in *Ardh Satya* (1983). The silence, gestures and expressions in *Aakrosh* show an actor able to convey complicated feelings with little dialogue. That patience is worth remembering alongside the certainty of George Khan. The move into international work came in the early 1990s, with *City of Joy* (1992) among the films that took him beyond Indian cinema. He learnt to pull a rickshaw to play Hazari Pal in Roland Joffé's drama, a practical piece of preparation for a physically demanding role. Alongside such work, he moved between intense dramas and lighter comic parts in mainstream Hindi films. That experience helps explain his usefulness to *East Is East*, which asks for both at once. Damien O'Donnell's family comedy gives him room to be funny, and Puri does not need to turn George into a fool to find the jokes. Linda Bassett and Puri make the household believable even when the humour grows broad. We were troubled by his performance because the threat behind George's instructions remained palpable when the film wanted us laughing again. He makes it difficult to accept this father as the lovable nuisance that family comedies so often offer us. An actor this willing to make a father frightening needs a director prepared to stay with the consequences. O'Donnell sometimes reaches for another joke before the family has had time to be upset, and Puri's credibility makes that impatience harder to ignore. *East Is East* is worth choosing for him and Bassett, provided a reassuring family comedy is not what the evening requires. ## Biography Om Puri was an Indian actor who worked in Hindi art films and mainstream cinema as well as British and American productions. He trained at the National School of Drama and the Film and Television Institute of India. He appeared in *Gandhi* (1982), *East Is East* (1999) as George Khan, *Charlie Wilson's War* (2007) and *The Hundred-Foot Journey* (2014). Puri received an honorary OBE in 2004 for services to British film and was nominated for a BAFTA for his performance in *East Is East*. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, bbc.com.* ## On Fi1m (4) ### Performed in (3) — the average rests on these - *Rang De Basanti* (2006), Fi1m 76, as Amanullah Khan — [page](https://film.one/film/rang-de-basanti.md) - *East Is East* (1999), Fi1m 74, as George Khan — [page](https://film.one/film/east-is-east.md) - *Wolf* (1994), Fi1m 60, as Dr. Vijay Alezais — [page](https://film.one/film/wolf.md) ### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited - *Gandhi* (1982), Fi1m 73, as Nahari (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/gandhi.md) ## Complete filmography (240) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Rifle Ganj* (2021), Actor - *Gul Makai* (2020), as General Kayani - *The Gandhi Murder* (2019), as T.G. - *Lashtam Pashtam* (2018), as Saleem - *Load Wedding* (2018), as Raja's Father - *Tubelight* (2017), as Banne Chacha - *Viceroy's House* (2017), as Ali Rahim Noor - *The Ghazi Attack* (2017), as Indian Navy Admiral - *Chaar Sahibzaade: Rise of Banda Singh Bahadur* (2016), as Narrator (voice) - *Gandhigiri* (2016), as Rai Saheb - *Mirzya* (2016), as Abba - *A Death in the Gunj* (2016), as O.P Bakshi - *Actor in Law* (2016), as Rafaqat Mirza - *Warrior Savitri* (2016), as Yamaraj - *The Silent Crime* (2016), Actor - *Project Marathwada* (2016), as Tukaram - *Aadupuliyattam* (2016), as Muni - *Ghayal Once Again* (2016), as ACP Joe D'Souza - *Hogaya Dimaagh Ka Dahi* (2015), Actor - *Welcome Back* (2015), as Narrator (voice) (uncredited) - *Bajrangi Bhaijaan* (2015), as Molana - *Miss Tanakpur Haazir Ho* (2015), Actor - *Uvaa* (2015), Actor - *Hail Democracy!* (2015), as Kripa Shankar Pandey - *Leather Life* (2015), Actor - *Dirty Politics* (2015), as Dina Nath Singh - *Trafficker* (2015), as Supreme Court Judge - *Chaar Sahibzaade* (2014), as Narrator - *Little Terrors* (2014), as Abdul-Wadood Kamil - *The Hundred-Foot Journey* (2014), as Papa - *Heartless* (2014), as Dr. Sanjay Trehan - *Bhaji in Problem* (2013), as Balli - *Jatt Boys Putt Jattan De* (2013), as Sippy's Father - *Policegiri* (2013), as Commissioner - *The Reluctant Fundamentalist* (2013), as Abu - *Chakravyuh* (2012), as Govind Suryavanshi - *OMG: Oh My God!* (2012), as Hanif Qureshi - *Kamaal Dhamaal Malamaal* (2012), as David - *Krishna and Kamsa* (2012), as Kans (voice) - *Mere Dost Picture Abhi Baki Hai* (2012), Actor - *Chaar Din Ki Chandni* (2012), Actor - *Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya* (2012), as Chaudhary - *Agneepath* (2012), as Eknath Gaitonde - *Don 2* (2011), as Vishal Malik - *Bin Bulaye Baraati* (2011), as S.I. Pralay Pratap Singh - *Love Express* (2011), as Khadak Singh Bakshi - *Kucch Luv Jaisaa* (2011), as Madhu's Father - *Teen Thay Bhai* (2011), as Chixie Gill - *Action Replayy* (2010), as Rai Bahadur Dhyanchand - *West Is West* (2010), as George Khan - *Dabangg* (2010), as Kasturilal Vishkarma - *Kushti* (2010), Actor - *The Hangman* (2010), as Shiva Sathe - *Road to Sangam* (2010), as Nawab Mohammad Ali Kasuri - *Bolo Raam* (2009), as Inspector Indrajeet Singh Rathi - *Kurbaan* (2009), as Naseer Ahmed - *Life Goes On* (2009), as Alok - *London Dreams* (2009), as Mr. Khosla - *Baabarr* (2009), as Inspector Avadh Narayan Chaturvedi - *Delhi-6* (2009), as Madangopal - *Billu* (2009), as Sahukaar Daamchand - *Chal Chala Chal* (2009), as Omkar Nath - *Maharathi* (2008), as ACP Gokhale - *Mukhbiir* (2008), as S.P. Rathod - *Singh Is Kinng* (2008), as Rangeela - *Kismat Konnection* (2008), as Sanjeev Gill - *Mere Baap Pehle Aap* (2008), as Madhav Mathur - *Lovesongs* (2008), Actor - *Welcome* (2007), as Narrator (uncredited) - *Charlie Wilson's War* (2007), as President Zia - *Shoot on Sight* (2007), as Junaid - *Dhol* (2007), as Satyadev Tripathi - *Victoria No. 203* (2007), as Rana - *Buddha Mar Gaya* (2007), as Vidyut 'Vidya' Baba - *Fool N Final* (2007), as Bhaiyya - *Khallas: The Beginning of End* (2007), as A.C.P. Akhlaq Khan - *Delhii Heights* (2007), as Timmy Kohli - *Dosh* (2007), as Inspector Om - *Baabul* (2006), as Balwant Kapoor - *Don* (2006), as Vishal Malik - *Chup Chup Ke* (2006), as Prabhat Singh Chauhan - *Malamaal Weekly* (2006), as Balwant Singh Ballu - *Rang De Basanti* (2006), as Amanullah Khan — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/rang-de-basanti.md) - *Deewane Huye Paagal* (2005), as Scientist Khurana / Mehboob - *Kyon Ki...* (2005), as Dr. Khurana - *Mangal Pandey - The Rising* (2005), as Narrator (uncredited) - *Mumbai Xpress* (2005), as ACP S.P. Rao (Hindi) - *Kisna* (2005), as Juman Masum Kishti - *AK 47* (2004), as Yashwant Sinha - *King of Bollywood* (2004), as Karan 'K.K.' Kumar - *Kyun! Ho Gaya Na...* (2004), as Mr. Khanna - *Lakshya* (2004), as Sub. Maj. Pritam Singh - *Dev* (2004), as Commissioner Tejinder Khosla - *Aan: Men at Work* (2004), as Commissioner Khurana - *Yuva* (2004), as Prosenjit Bhattacharya - *Zinda Dil* (2003), Actor - *Dhoop* (2003), as Prof. Suresh Kumar Kapoor - *Kagaar* (2003), as Sub-Inspector Gokhale - *Second Generation* (2003), series, as Sharma - *Chupke Se* (2003), Actor - *Canterbury Tales* (2003), series, as Jetender - *Miss India: The Mystery* (2003), as Inspector Yograj - *Code 46* (2003), as Bahkland - *Kash Aap Hamare Hote* (2003), as Yashwant Raj Mankotia - *Maqbool* (2003), as Inspector Pandit - *Aapko Pehle Bhi Kahin Dekha Hai* (2003), as Shyam 'Sam' - *The Wound* (2002), as Inspector Gautam - *Guru Mahaaguru* (2002), as Crocodile - *White Teeth* (2002), series, as Samad - *White Teeth* (2002), as Samad - *Dhruva* (2002), Actor - *Chor Machaaye Shor* (2002), as DCP Pandey - *Shararat* (2002), as DCP Bhosle - *Awara Paagal Deewana* (2002), as Mafia Don - *Murder* (2002), series, as Akash Gupta - *Pyaar Diwana Hota Hai* (2002), as Dr.S.Puri - *Ansh* (2002), as Bhagat Pandey - *Kranti* (2002), as Colonel Krishnakant - *Pitaah* (2002), as Thakur Avadh Narayan Singh - *Bollywood Calling* (2001), as Subramaniam - *The Zookeeper* (2001), as The Vet - *Deewaanapan* (2001), as Prakash Saxena - *Indian* (2001), as Joginder Singh - *The Mystic Masseur* (2001), as Ramlogan - *Happy Now* (2001), as Tin Man - *The Parole Officer* (2001), as George - *Gadar: Ek Prem Katha* (2001), as Narrator (voice) - *Zahreela* (2001), Actor - *Farz* (2001), as ACP Arjun Singh - *Ghaath* (2000), as Ajay Pandey - *Kurukshetra* (2000), Actor - *Kunwara* (2000), as Balraj Singh - *Hera Pheri* (2000), as Kharak Singh - *Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge* (2000), as Bhola Nath - *Hey Ram* (2000), as Goel - *Pukar* (2000), as Colonel Hussein - *Khoobsurat* (1999), as Dilip Chaudhary - *A.K.47* (1999), as Commissioner of Police Yashwant Sinha - *East Is East* (1999), as George Khan — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/east-is-east.md) - *Gubbare* (1999), series, Actor - *China Gate* (1998), as Col. Krishnakant Puri - *Such a Long Journey* (1998), as Ghulam - *Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha* (1998), as Inspector Khan - *Zor* (1998), Actor - *Vinashak* (1998), as Inspector Abdul Rehman Khan - *C.I.D.* (1998), series, as Kidnapper / CBI Officer - *Chachi 420* (1997), as Banwarilal Pandey - *My Son the Fanatic* (1997), as Parvez - *Mrityudand* (1997), Actor - *Gupt: The Hidden Truth* (1997), as Inspector Udham Singh - *Zameer: The Awakening of a Soul* (1997), as Jaichand Marwah - *Chupp* (1997), as Keshup - *Aastha: In the Prison of Spring* (1997), as Amar - *Bhai* (1997), as Advocate Satyaprakash - *Ghatak* (1996), as Sachdev - *Maachis* (1996), as Sanatan - *The Ghost and the Darkness* (1996), as Abdullah - *Krishna* (1996), as Amar Prabhakar - *Prem Granth* (1996), as Baliram - *Talaashi* (1996), Actor - *Brothers in Trouble* (1995), as Hussein Shah - *Aatank Hi Aatank* (1995), as Sharad Joshi - *Tarpan* (1995), as Jassu - *Target* (1995), Actor - *Kartavya* (1995), as Ghulam Rasul - *Zakhmi Sipahi* (1995), as Om Chaudhary - *Purush* (1994), as Gulabrao Jadhav - *Drohkaal* (1994), as Abhay Singh - *Wolf* (1994), as Dr. Vijay Alezais — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/wolf.md) - *In Custody* (1994), as Deven - *Woh Chokri* (1994), Actor - *Triyacharitra* (1994), Actor - *Kirdaar* (1993), series, Actor - *Maya Memsaab* (1993), as Funeral Attendant - *Ankuram* (1993), Actor - *The Kite* (1993), as Mathura - *Angaar* (1992), as Parvez Hussain - *City of Joy* (1992), as Hazari Pal - *Current* (1992), as Velu - *Raat* (1992), as Sharji, the Tantrik - *Karm Yodha* (1992), as Sub Inspector Patwardhan - *Dharavi* (1991), as Raj Karan Yadav - *Narsimha* (1991), as Suraj Narayan Singh 'Baapji' - *Sam & Me* (1991), as Chetan Parikh - *Inner voice* (1991), as Arjun mangela - *Ghayal* (1990), as ACP Joe D’Souza - *Disha* (1990), Actor - *Ilaaka* (1989), as Bheema - *Puravrutham* (1988), as Raman - *Hum Farishte Nahin* (1988), as Gopi / Tala Master / Murlidhar - *Tamas* (1988), series, as Nathu - *The Discovery of India* (1988), series, as Narrator · Duryodhan / Narrator, Duryodhan, Narrator (voice), Raavan, Agulimal, Ashoka, Raj Raja Chola, Alauddin Khilji, Allauddin Khilji, Krishnadevaraya, Aurangzeb, Soldier-1, Nabakrishna Banerjee, Patel Range Gowda, Nigam (Ballia DM) - *Ek Hi Maqsad* (1988), Actor - *Kakkaji Kahin* (1988), series, as Kakkaji - *Marte Dam Tak* (1987), as Daulat / D.K. - *Mirch Masala* (1987), as Chowkidar Abu Miya - *Susman* (1987), Actor - *Genesis* (1986), as The weaver - *New Delhi Times* (1986), as Ajay Singh - *Long Da Lishkara* (1986), as Ditu - *Antaheen* (1986), Actor - *Zamana* (1985), as Shyam - *Child God* (1985), Actor - *Aghaat* (1985), as Madhav Verma - *Nasoor* (1985), as Dr Sunil Gupta - *Screen Two* (1985), series, as Hussein Shah - *Paththar* (1985), as Resham Singh - *Duniya* (1984), as Vasudev - *Raavan* (1984), as Samant (Staiton Master) - *The Crossing* (1984), as Ramnaresh - *Holi* (1984), as Principal Pandey - *Party* (1984), as Avinash - *Tarang* (1984), as Namdev - *Giddh: The Vulture* (1984), as Basya - *Maati Maangey Khoon* (1984), as Durjan Singh - *Seepeeyan* (1984), as Gokul - *Ardh Satya* (1983), as Sub-inspector Anant Velankar - *Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro* (1983), as Ahuja - *Mandi* (1983), as Ram Gopal - *Chokh* (1983), as Jadunath - *Arohan* (1983), as Hari Mondal - *Disco Dancer* (1982), as David Brown - *Gandhi* (1982), as Nahari (uncredited) — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/film/gandhi.md) - *Vijeta* (1982), as Arvind - *Naseeb Ni Balihari* (1982), Actor - *Chann Pardesee* (1981), as Tulsi - *Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyoon Aata Hai* (1981), as Madhu - *Kalyug* (1981), as Bhavani Pandey - *Shodh* (1981), as Surendra - *Bhavni Bhavai* (1981), as Maanav Bhagat - *Sadgati* (1981), as Dukhi - *Sparsh* (1980), as Dubey - *Aakrosh* (1980), as Lohanya Bhikhu - *Saanch Ko Aanch Nahin* (1979), Actor - *Shaayad* (1979), Actor - *Arvind Desai Ki Ajeeb Dastaan* (1978), as Rajan - *Bhumika* (1977), as Stage Actor - *Bonga* (1976), Actor - *Ghashiram Kotwal* (1976), as Ghashiram - *Murde* (1976), Actor ## Gallery - ![Om Puri](https://film.one/media/person/89032/gallery-53a18d2a5f27.jpg) Om Puri — gdcgraphics at https://www.flickr.com/photos/gdcgraphics/, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ee/OmPuriSept10TIFF.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Om Puri Inox Car park Yaara di Haveli restaurant (2016)](https://film.one/media/person/89032/gallery-cfd2817ecf2d.jpg) Om Puri Inox Car park Yaara di Haveli restaurant (2016) — joegoaukiffi3, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/24/Om_Puri_Photo-collage%2C_IFFI_Goa_2016.jpg/1280px-Om_Puri_Photo-collage%2C_IFFI_Goa_2016.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Indian actor (2011)](https://film.one/media/person/89032/gallery-ee21e64ee01f.jpg) Indian actor (2011) — E P Sajeevan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ac/Om_puri.JPG/1280px-Om_puri.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Indian actor (2011)](https://film.one/media/person/89032/gallery-f742a64378c4.jpg) Indian actor (2011) — E P Sajeevan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/24/Ompuri.JPG/1280px-Ompuri.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Om Puri](https://film.one/media/person/89032/gallery-d1bf651c0381.jpg) Om Puri — Image via TMDB - ![Om Puri](https://film.one/media/person/89032/gallery-a2a106eae070.jpg) Om Puri — Image via TMDB ## Awards ### Other awards — 4 won - Officer of the Order of the British Empire 2004: Officer of the Order of the British Empire (won) - Padma Shri in arts 1990: Padma Shri in arts (won) - National Film Award for Best Actor 1984: National Film Award for Best Actor (won), for *Arohan* - National Film Award for Best Actor 1982: National Film Award for Best Actor (won), for *Arohan* *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/om-puri