Om Puri was known for his impeccable dialogue delivery, screen presence, and nuanced acting. A cinematic genius, Puri floored movie buffs with his superb acting chops across different cinema industries – Hindi films, regional, American, British and Pakistani films. Apart from delivering powerful performances, the late actor is also remembered for being in news for several controversial episodes that continued to haunt him until his death.
-Separation from his wife made a headline
Om Puri’s wife Nandita had written a book ‘Unlikely Hero: The Story of Om Puri’. Om was miffed with his wife Nandita for writing about her husband’s past relationships explicitly; that includes Om Puri’s sexual relationship with his maid when he was 14. Om thought that Nandita’s book tarnished his image.
-When Om Puri said that nobody forces any Indian to become a soldier
During a televised debate on IBN-7 at the time of Uri attack and the surgical strikes, Om Puri said, “Who had asked the soldiers to join the army? Who told them to pick the weapons?” thereby insulting an army soldier and his son who was martyred at Uri following which a case was filed against him for insulting Indian soldiers. Om later apologised for his comments and added, “I want to be tried by the army, I should be court-martialled. I want a constructive punishment. The army should teach me how to use weapons and send me on the same site where that brave man has sacrificed himself for the country. I don’t want to be forgiven. I am pleading to the nation I want to be punished.”
-Reacting on Aamir Khan’s hugely controversial statement
Aamir khan’s statement that his family felt ‘insecure’ in the country’s atmosphere of growing intolerance, Puri said, “I am shocked Aamir Khan and his wife feel that way. I find Aamir’s reaction to intolerance overblown and intolerable.”
-Beef ban controversies
Speaking to a group of journalists in Pakistan, Om Puri said, “Those who wanted to put a ban on slaughtering cows in the country were hypocrites. We export beef and earn dollars from it.”
-When Om Puri said Naxals are not terrorists
Once while speaking to reporters he said, “They (naxals) are not terrorists because they don’t resort to irresponsible acts of terror by planting bombs on streets. Naxals are fighters who fight for their rights. They don’t harass the common man and the poor.”
PNN