Date of Birth: June 22, 1932
Zodiac Sign: Cancer
Date of Death: January 12, 2005
Biography
Amrish Puri was an iconic Indian actor known for his powerful voice and commanding screen presence. He was born on June 22, 1932, in Nawanshahr, Punjab, British India. Puri initially worked in theater and made a name for himself with his performances in plays by the legendary playwright Satyadev Dubey. He transitioned to films in the early 1970s and quickly became one of the most recognizable villains in Indian cinema. His breakthrough role came in the 1980 film “Hum Paanch,” but it was his portrayal of Mogambo in “Mr. India” (1987) that made him a household name. Amrish Puri also gained international fame for his role as Mola Ram, the villainous priest in Steven Spielberg’s “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” (1984). Throughout his career, he worked in over 400 films in various Indian languages, including Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, Punjabi, Malayalam, Telugu, and Tamil. Despite his frequent roles as an antagonist, Puri was known off-screen for his humility and professionalism. He passed away on January 12, 2005, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire actors and filmmakers.
5 Interesting Facts about Amrish Puri
1. Amrish Puri initially failed his first screen test and had to work in theatre for several years before making it big in films.
2. He was the younger brother of another well-known actor, Madan Puri.
3. Amrish Puri was a prolific stage actor and won the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1979 for his contribution to theatre.
4. His iconic line “Mogambo khush hua” from “Mr. India” remains one of the most memorable dialogues in Indian cinema.
5. Puri worked with some of the biggest directors in Indian cinema, including Satyajit Ray, Shyam Benegal, and Shekhar Kapur.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Amrish Puri
1. “I always wanted to become a hero, but destiny had other plans for me.”
2. “Even a villain needs to have a soul.”
3. “Acting is not about being famous, it’s about exploring the human soul.”
4. “I learned a lot from my failures, more than my successes.”
5. “Theater taught me discipline, which helped me survive in the film industry.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
At the peak of his career, Amrish Puri’s net worth was estimated to be around $20 million.
Children
Amrish Puri had two children: a son named Rajiv Puri and a daughter named Namrata Puri.
Relevant Links
1. [Amrish Puri on IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0700869/
2. [Amrish Puri’s profile on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amrish_Puri
3. [Amrish Puri on Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/amrish-puri/
