June 22 marks the birth anniversary of Amrish Puri, he was the scariest villain and the most endearing father of Bollywood films. One of the best actors of his times, Amrish worked in all kinds of films – from purely commercial movies to films like Hum Paanch, Bhumika, and Ardh Satya, establishing his credentials as a wonderful actor.
Amrish’s powerful voice, deadly, scary looks, and often demonic body language made him the ultimate villain. Here’s a look at some of his most popular characters:
Mogambo (Mr India)
We shall begin with the obvious one: You don’t really have to be a 90’s kid to know about Mogambo. If you speak Hindi or watch Hindi films, you have certainly used the legendary ‘Mogambo Khush Hua’ dialogue at least once in your life.
Nagina
Amrish Puri played the snake-charmer Baba Bhairo Nath in the film Nagina starring Sridevi as a nagin. Amrish was seen in a tantrik’s get-up, wooing the snakes in the film which was the biggest solo hit of that year. He wanted to acquire the sacred mani, the location of which is known only to the nagin Sridevi. As much as the audience loved Sridevi, they equally hated the character of tantrik.
Karan Arjun
Amrish Puri played the wicked Thakur Durjan Singh in the Salman Khan-Shah Rukh Khan starrer Karan Arjun. The man, who killed Karan and Arjun’s father and then the two, caused extreme suffering to Raakhee’s character for more than 20 years. He was hated by the cine lovers for obvious reasons. Amrish happily pulled the ruthless act with excellence like always and was even nominated for Filmfare Best Performance in a Negative Role.
Barrister Indrajit Chaddha (Damini)
Amrish played the manipulative lawyer who asks a father to get his own son killed in order to win a case. The lustful and judgemental way in which Amrish essayed the role of the lawyer, especially in the scene where he was required to rip apart Meenakshi Sheeshadri (Damini) in the courtroom, would give goosebumps to anyone.
GD Thakral (Meri Jung)
On one hand was Anil Kapoor and Nutan’s combination of touching and disturbing mother-son relationship in the film and on the other was Amrish as the criminal lawyer who is on the wrong side of the law.
Bauji (DDLJ)
Amrish Puri, who played the strict father of Kajol in the biggest romantic blockbuster Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, is still remembered for his climax dialogue, “Ja Simran, jeele apni zindagi” (Go Simran, live your life). The heart of a stone-cold father melted with the plight of his daughter Simran (Kajol) and Shah Rukh Khan (Raj) and he finally allowed her to join him on the moving train. His last line in the film is now a part of our everyday lives and is often used while telling a girl to enjoy her life.
Shambhunath Lal (Ghatak)
In a rare positive character, Amrish Puri played a sick father in the film and portrayed the sadness of an old, sick man seeking treatment in a metro city. He was the perfect picture of a Varanasi man, full of self-respect, stuck in the underworld drama of a big city. Amrish bagged the Filmfare Award for his performance in the film.
Gadar: Ek Prem Katha
Amrish Puri played the relentless father of Sakina in one of the biggest blockbusters of cinema Gadar: Ek Prem Katha. He was believed to be dead in riots, but Sakina discovers him to be alive as Mayor of Lahore. He was then shown as the opposing father who is not ready to accept his Hindu-Indian son-in-law Sunny Deol. He plays the villain till the end and even accidentally shoots his daughter, but finally accepts him leading to a happy ending.
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Before becoming the most dreaded villain in the 1987 film Mr India, Amrish Puri was already the most hated villain in international cinema for playing the role of terrifying Mola Ram in Steven Spielberg’s Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom in 1984. Though turned down by critics for being too dark and gruesome, the film was among the top ten grossers of that time. Amrish’s character was extremely hated for being the demonic thuggee priest who performs rituals of human sacrifices and enslaves children.
Chachi 420
Always seen as a heartless villain on screen, Amrish Puri was seen hitting at a man disguised as a woman in comedy film Chachi 420. Amrish played Tabu’s father in the film starring Kamal Haasan in the lead role of Lakshmi Godbole. He unknowingly flirts with his own son-in-law who is the middle-aged nanny of Tabu’s daughter in the successful flick. For the actor always seen as a villain, this was a welcome change.
Nayak
Amrish Puri played the indifferent chief minister who challenges Anil Kapoor, a journalist, to take his place for a day in the cult film Nayak. The CM, who callously ignores the riots to protect his vote bank but is caught on the wrong foot by a TV reporter, was wonderfully portrayed by Amrish Puri. He competed with Anil’s positive role with his villainous presence in the film which went on to become one of the most inspiring movies of all time.