Padmashree, OBE and National Award winning Veteran actor Om Puri has passed away after a massive heart attack early on Friday morning. The actor was 66.
Filmmaker and activist Ashoke Pandit tweeted about the actor’s demise sometime ago. The cause of death is a heart attack, which he got early this morning.
Sad & shocked to know that versatile actor Om Puri jee has expired due to heart attack early morning today. #RIP.
— Ashoke Pandit (@ashokepandit) 6 January 2017
Born in Ambala, Haryana, to a Punjabi family, the actor made his debut in films in a marathi film Ghashiram Kotwal in 1972. Born in Ambala, Haryana, to a Punjabi family, the actor made his debut in films in a marathi film Ghashiram Kotwal in 1972. The critically acclaimed actor was one of the prominent names of parallel cinema that changed Indian cinema in the 1980s. A two time National Award winner, the actor was honoured with the Padmashri in 1990.
The actor has appeared in mainstream Bollywood cinema as well as Pakistani, British and Hollywood films. The actor has received an OBE as well as Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award of India.
An alumnus of Film and Television Institute of India as well as National School of Drama, Puri was on the forefront of what was called art films movement in the 70s. He has worked in acclaimed films such as Bhavni Bhavai (1980), Sadgati (1981), Ardh Satya (1982), Mirch Masala (1986) and Dharavi (1992).