Amrish Puri has acted in over 450 films and was one of the most successful villians in Bollywood. He was nearly 50 years old when he first played his leading character as main villain in a film.
Puri family had some film connections with actor - singer K.L. Saigal because of which his brothers Chaman Puri and Madan Puri moved to Mumbai and worked as character artists. In the mid 50s Amrish Puri also tried his luck but failed in his first screen test. He managed to get a job and joined a stage group.
He often performed plays at the Prithvi Theatre and was a well-known stage actor. This theatre recognition soon led him to work in television advertisements at the age of 40.
He hardly had a dialogue to utter in his first few films because of his baritone voice which worked wonders for him later. Hum Paanch was his first hit film in which he played the main villain.
He was appreciated for his voice and acting. In 1982, Puri played the main villain Jagavar in Subhash Ghai’s Vidhata followed by Shakti and Hero.
He also went on to work in Kannada, Marathi, Telugu, Malyalam, Punjabi, Tamil and Hollywood films.
There is a long list of films where he has given brilliant performances as villain and character artist.
Few mentions are Mr. India, Shahenshah, Nagina, Tehalka, Meri Jung, Shakti, Hero, Qurbani, Ghayal, Damini, Karan Arjun, Tridev, Ghatak, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Pardes, Diljale,
Phool Aur Kaante, Saudagar, Koyla, Chachi 420, Baadshah, Virasat, China Gate, Aitraaz, Gadar: Ek Prem Katha and Nayak: The Real Hero.
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