New Delhi. Actor Om Puri, who made his mark amid poverty, humiliation and struggle, was one of those rare personalities of Hindi cinema who made acting not a means of life but a spiritual practice. Today, on his birth anniversary, let us know those unheard stories to his life, which made an ordinary boy an internationally renowned actor.

Spent childhood in poverty, sold tea and washed utensils
Om Puri was born in Ambala, Haryana. The financial condition of the family was so bad that in his childhood he had to sell tea and even wash utensils in dhabas. When he was six years old, his father was falsely accused of cement theft and went to jail. After this incident the family reached the verge of starvation, but Om Puri did not give up.
Interestingly, he had no birth certificate. According to his mother, he was born two days after Dussehra, hence he considered 18 October 1950 as his birthday.

‘True diamond’ of acting emerged from NSD and FTII
Om Puri went to FTII Pune and NSD Delhi to learn the nuances of acting.
During the entrance interview at FTII, some members had said that “His face is neither that of a hero, nor that of a villain, nor that of a comedian. What will he do?” But director Girish Karnad got him admitted. Later, this face became the reality of Indian cinema.
His colleague in NSD was Naseeruddin Shah, with whom he became a close friend. While at FTII, he was the roommate of director David Dhawan. Initially David found Om Puri ‘humorless’, but with time his thinking changed.

When Om Puri saved Naseeruddin Shah’s life
In the year 1977, Naseeruddin Shah was attacked in a restaurant. At that time, Om Puri showed bravery and stopped the attacker and saved Naseeruddin’s life. This incident later became a symbol of their friendship, which is mentioned in many books and interviews.

Marriage, controversies and personal turmoil
Om Puri’s first marriage was with Seema Kapoor, which did not last long. He later married journalist Nandita Puri. Nandita wrote his biography “Unlikely Hero: The Story of Om Puri”, which covered many controversial aspects of Om Puri’s personal life.
After the publication of the book, differences between the two increased and they separated in 2016. Om Puri had alleged that his wife turned his personal matters into “cheap sensationalism”.

From ‘Aakrosh’ to ‘Hera Pheri’ – truth in every character
Om Puri left a deep mark in both art and commercial cinema.
From films like ‘Aakrosh’, ‘Ardhsatya’, ‘Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron’, ‘Chachi 420’, ‘Hera Pheri’ to international films like ‘City of Joy’, ‘East is East’, he shone on every stage. His acting was so close to reality that the audience felt not the character but Om Puri was living.

Questions raised on death, but legacy remained immortal
Om Puri died on 6 January 2017 in Mumbai. Initial reports suggested heart attack as the cause, but the postmortem mentioned head injury, which raised many questions.
After police investigation, the possibility of any foul play was ruled out.

End of an era, left behind acting school
Om Puri was not just an actor but a walking institution of acting. He was made for the students of FTII and NSD. His cinema is still a proof that the artist who comes out of struggle is the truest artist.