Kept his two wives away from each other to avoid any unpleasantness
Subhash K Jha (DNA; January 8, 2017)

On Friday, friends, specially Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi rushed to Om Puri’s home after hearing of his death. Sources close to the tragedy say Shabana was the pillar of strength to Om’s bereaved family.

They were the perfect co-stars. Om Puri and Shabana were together in monumental classics of our times including Roland Joffe’s City Of Joy, Shyam Benegal’s Susman and Sudhir Mishra’s Dharavi. And now, on his death she proved a perfect friend by managing a sensitive situation when both of Om Puri’s wives showed up at his home on his death.

Says a friend of Om, “Shabana made sure that there was no unpleasantness. She personally guided Seemaji inside to see Om’s body when Seemaji arrived, thereby avoiding all awkwardness in the situation.”

Says Shabana, “I did what was the need of the hour. It was only fair that both Nandita and Seema be treated with respect at the venue of the tragedy after Om’s death. Both women conducted themselves with great dignity.”

Shabana can’t get over the suddenness of the tragedy. “I did 14 films with Om and am deeply, deeply saddened by his death.”