Noted Indian character actor Om Puri has died in the western city of Mumbai. He was 66.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a host of leading movie stars tweeted condolence messages shortly after Puri’s death Friday morning.
In a career spanning more than three decades, Puri had won a slew of national awards and international fame for his work in several critically acclaimed films.
His breakthrough film was the 1983 gritty drama « Ardh Satya, » or « Half Truth, » about a young policeman’s crisis of conscience as he deals with the nexus of crime and politics in India.
He also acted in the British comedy « East is East, » about the life of a Pakistani immigrant in England, and had a small role in Richard Attenborough’s film « Gandhi, » based on the life of the Indian freedom leader Mohandas Gandhi. He also acted in several Hollywood films, including « City of Joy, » « Wolf » and « Charlie Wilson’s War. »
In 2014, Puri starred with British actress Helen Mirren in the comedy « The Hundred-Foot Journey. »
Puri was made an honorary officer of the Order of the British Empire for his contribution to British cinema in 2004.
His body will be cremated later Friday.
