Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 4, 2018)

Last year, I woke up on January 6 to the news that Om Puri had succumbed to a heart attack while brewing his morning cup of tea. Twelve months later, I still remember his booming laugh, anecdotes that peppered his conversations and being taken to task when another paper had apparently misquoted him. When I pointed out that it wasn’t my doing, he had retorted that he didn’t know the journalist in question but since they were from the same publishing house, I should take the blame or pass the message along. I chose the former and he called back after he’d calmed down to tell me he appreciated that I quietly faced the tongue-lashing. The incident made me feel closer to him.

As his first death anniversary nears, I connect with Govind Nihalani who had collaborated with him on half a dozen films. The filmmaker reveals that soon after Puri’s demise, he’d been flooded with calls from journalists wanting to know his assessment of the actor. Govind was initially bemused by the question, but it set him thinking and he realised in retrospect that what had set his friend apart from other actors was that while he had always been meticulous in his prep, the effort that went into giving a character his body language, accent, getup and sometimes a fictional biography was not visible on screen.

“Om was an excellent wristwatch whose beautifully designed dial displays the time to the last second and we accept it without thinking of the pendulum, springs and many tiny components within that contribute to the soft tick tock that goes unheard until it stops and with it the watch,” explains Govind. He points out that Om internalised his characters so subtly and his performances were so spontaneous that one took his genius for granted till reminded.

He goes on to share that this empathetic, compassionate man had a hard time controlling his emotions in the early years. Govind remembers a scene from Aakrosh where Naseeruddin Shah, a lawyer, is trying to convince Om’s character, Bhiku Lahanya, to tell his story so he can fight his case in court. But the daily labourer, in prison for a crime he didn’t commit, remains obdurately silent. His eyes dart around the room and his face mirrors myriad emotions, but his voice remains unheard till the last scene when to avert another rape, and the fate of his wife, he chops off the head of his young sister, then screams at the skies. The agonized cry of a wounded makes Aakrosh unforgettable and forges an instant connect with Om Puri.

“He was quick to grasp my cues and only faltered in that he couldn’t keep his emotions from spilling over. Frequently his eyes would well up and the tears would flow unchecked, forcing me to call for a retake, interrupting a word-perfect, rehearsed Naseer,” Govind says.

Twenty-four years later, when the director-actor duo worked again in Dev, he saw that Om had not only evolved as an actor, but had greater control over his emotions and craft. Govind talks about a scene where Om and Amitabh Bachchan, two senior cops, are chatting over a drink. In the course of the conversation, Om’s character, special commissioner Tejinder Khosla, recalls how joint police commissioner Bachchan’s son and his best friend had been gunned down by terrorists. “The painful memory makes him emotional to the point where Tejinder bursts out. But this time I didn’t have to tell him not to cross the line, like a good classical singer, he’d learnt to play with notes while staying within the daayra of a raag. It was a pleasure watching Amitji and him play out the scene underlining the maxim that less is more and the hallmark of any great actor,” Govind smiles.

Om Puri takes stock of the situation post statements made by him
Subhash K Jha (DNA; October 11, 2016)

Following Om Puri's comments made on Indian soldiers during a television debate and the incessant cries to boycott him, the actor remains unperturbed.

He says, "Let them boycott my films. Earlier they've spoken of boycotting Shah Rukh and Salman Khan's films. But those wanting to stop films featuring me should know that's not me on screen, that's a character. A better option of showing their anger towards me would be to spit on and tear my posters. But when you try to harm films you harm a lot of other people who haven't offended you in any way."

A little baffled by the outburst, he says, "I'll never participate in a television debate again. If you want to discusss national issues with come and talk face-to-face one-on-one. They asked me a question. I was answering. In the middle of my answer, they asked me about soldiers and in irritation, I said what I did. It was wrong. Terribly wrong of me to disrespect our soldiers. I pronounce myself guilty. Just saying I am sorry, is not enough. Let the Government decide my punishment. But I'd implore them to not just put me in jail where I will sit around eating free meals. Let me do something for the betterment of society."

Om now intends to visit the Uri marytr's families. "Let the current emotions settle down. The family is currently in bereavement and shock. Let them get out of this stress situation. Then I'll not only visit the soldiers' families, I'll also give whatever I can afford for their children.I want to assume the role of the soldiers' children's uncle. I want to become a part of their family."

Following the nationwide disgust at Om's comments on soldiers, the actor is considering retirement. "Yes, I might quit altogether. At the moment I've received an offer from Canada for a three-month assignment from January 2017 onwards, which I plan to take up."

Subhash K Jha (DNA; June 3, 2016)

Om Puri, who feels strongly on the issue of farmer suicides, will be seen in a film Project Marathwada this Friday where the actor plays a farmer who threatens to immolate himself in front of the chief minister’s office after financial assistance is denied to him.

Om feels the politicians of the country must watch films that address important issues. “Look at the financial risk taken by the makers of Project Marathwada. They know it doesn’t contain commercial ingredients. Still they chose to back the project. Politicians should at least take the trouble to watch such films, and help the project if they feel it’s worth it.”

The actor feels the issue of farmer suicides is not being tackled seriously enough. “When I was a child, our country had to import food grains from the West. Today, we are self-sufficient in food grains, all thanks to our farmers. And yet, we allow them and their families to starve. Shame!”

Om felt impelled to work in Project Marathwada as its makers believe in putting across the plight of farmers. Says Om, “To address the issue of farmers, we need to address the problem of droughts. To make sure a river doesn’t dry up, we need to find a way to connect all the rivers. It’s the the only way to ensure farmers don’t reach that breaking point where they need to end their lives.”

The committed actor hopes the film gets an audience. “The makers should at least get back their money. That is the only way filmmakers would be encouraged to make films on issues that plague our society.”

Subhash K Jha (DNA; November 26, 2015)


Not that Om downplays the radical wrongdoings. “Are we all supposed to run away from India just because there are sporadic cases of violence? Are you implying that such incidents are so common in our country that you need to run away? Radical undesirable elements exist among both Hindus and Muslims. They are just a handful of troublemakers. The majority of Hindus and Muslims are secular. This is my firm belief. ”

Om describes Aamir’s reaction as paranoid and calculated. “He has said he discussed this with his wife. So the statement about leaving the country was not spontaneous. No matter how we perceive his words, they make an extremely irresponsible statement.”

Om believes Aamir’s voice needs to be used cautiously. “He is not some ordinary rabble-rouser. He is Aamir Khan. And if he’s such a superstar in India, have only Muslims made him what he is? All of Hindustan loves you. How could you utter such shocking words?”

Om feels Aamir’s insecurities are baseless. “He is an influential man and therefore highly protected. What about the common man? For a popular voice to say this, and a voice that’s taken very seriously, is a very dangerous thing.”

Om reasons, “What is Aamir talking about? We Indians are the most tolerant people in the world. When the 26/11 attacks happened, did we rush into Pakistan with an army? Did we retaliate? No! We kept quiet while planes, buses, trains even our Parliament was attacked. Kashmiri pundits were driven out of their native land. We kept quiet. And now, Aamir wants to run away?! He can afford to buy his own island for his family’s safety. But what about the common man who has to face so many hardships every day? Should they all run away from their country?”

Subhash K Jha (DNA; April 14, 2015)


Om Puri, however, won’t mince his words. Says Om with a sigh, “Firstly, I’d like to say the lovemaking in our films is really the pits. We Indian actors don’t know how to make love on camera. There is so much awkwardness in the body movements. We are all limbs and elbows. It looks very fake and strained.”

Om also wants to know why Indian actors do lovemaking scenes with their clothes on. “Where in the world, and how, do people make love with their clothes on? It’s ridiculous. If you don’t want to show actors without their clothes, just shoot the faces. There is no point in shooting an unconvincing love scene. I am sorry to say our lovemaking scenes are highly unaesthetic.”

Om cites the instance of Basu Bhattacharya’s Aastha where he had such scenes with Rekha. “They could have been done much more aesthetically. Our actors are too conscious of their body to make love scenes look convincing.”

However, he does not think nudity is mandatory for a credible bedroom sequence. “In my lovemaking sequence with Smita Patil in Govind Nihalani’s Aakrosh, Smita wore her saree throughout. But because we were not hesitant to lose our inhibitions, the lovemaking didn’t look contrived.”

SAB KUCH DIRTY HI HOGA
Om’s lovemaking sequence with Mallika Sherawat in Dirty Politics, left him unhappy with the way it was shot. “Ab agar film Dirty Politics hai, toh sab kuch dirty hi hoga,” he says wryly. He admits that the ‘hot’ scene left him cold and told director KC Bokadia to shoot it “sensibly". Supposedly, Ms Sherawat didn’t cooperate.

Purvaja Sawant (BOMBAY TIMES; November 12, 2014)

Back from the hospital, Om Puri talks about his health scare and Helen Mirren
Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 24, 2014)

You were recently hospitalised for a mouth lesion. What caused it?
Cigarettes. But I'm fine now.

Were you scared?
Who wouldn't be? It could have been cancerous. Thankfully, it was benign.

So, have you kicked the butt?
I have been told to quit smoking but I can't just give it up immediately. I used to puff 30 sticks a day. Now I am down to four. I also want to start exercising again as I have to lose some weight. I was forced to give up exercise after a spine surgery which led to a knee problem.

Any withdrawal symptoms?
Headache, lethargy, irritability. I have been told to chew gum whenever I feel the urge to smoke.

Have you cut down on work too?
No, but frankly I don't have anything substantial after The Hundred Foot Journey. You don't get too much work at my age. Look at the films that are being made today. While we get very stylish content thanks to technology, there is no depth in the stories. The focus is only on making money. That is why I am going back to theatre. I will be doing a Hindi play very soon. I have completed 15 shows of a Punjabi play as well.

How was it working with Helen Mirren in The Hundred Foot Journey?
Helen is a wonderful actress. I didn't recognise her when I met her for the first time. She had really short hair which made her unrecognisable from her films. I went down on my knees and told her, "Your Highness, I am your slave." She laughed and hugged me.

How was it shooting in France?
Oh, it was great fun. There was some communication gap when we visited restaurants; most French people don't speak English. So after a while, I started cooking my own food. At times, the cast and crew came to my place for meals.

Are you doing Ardh Satya 2?
(Shrugs) Govind Nihalani hasn't approached me yet.