Amrish Puri, a name that resonates with the power, intensity, and sheer brilliance of acting. From his iconic portrayal of Mogambo in the film “Mr. India” to his unforgettable performances in countless Bollywood movies, Amrish Puri has left an indelible mark on the Indian film industry. In this article, we will delve into the life, career, and legacy of this legendary actor, celebrating his immense contribution to Indian cinema.
Amrish Puri would have been 91 today if he was still with us. We lost this star in 2005 but his roles and work still remain with us. Let’s have a look at some of his best roles as a villain:
Mogambo (Mister India, 1987)
This movie was groundbreaking in many ways. Not only did it give us our very
unusual ‘superhero’, it had one of the most iconic Bollywood villains of all time. Mogambo became the touchstone for every villain that came after him and no one has managed to earn that much acclaim for a negative portrayal.
The classic ‘Mogambo Khush Hua’ is still a major part of Indian pop culture, you say it anywhere and everyone will get it. What is there to not love about this character- the hair, the costumes, the dialogues, the laugh!! Thankyou Shekhar Kapoor for blessing us all with Mogambo.
Also read: We Remember On Amrish Puri’s 91st Birth Anniversary
Bhairon Nath (Nagina, 1986)
It was not long ago when ‘Aao Kabhi Haveli Pe’ was trending like crazy and you know who we have to thank for this? Yes, none other than our very own Puri ji, whose Bhairon Nath from ‘Nagina’ said it and we wouldn’t shut up about it even after 34 years.
Yes, that is his magic, his dialogues have been passed onto generations and continue to entertain the hell out of us. I just noticed Sridevi and Amrish Puri together in a movie managed to give us something special every time!
Balraj Chauhan (Nayak, 2001)
I am not gonna lie, that interview in this movie was something that stayed with me for a very long time and introduced me to the darkness of politics. Although the movie was all about the ‘Nayak’, however, it takes a good villain to make a good hero and Balraj Chauhan did just that by stopping the police from taking any action during that jam! If you didn’t get that reference, go and watch the goddamn movie, you are missing out on.
Indrajit Chaddha (Damini, 1993)
One of the most hated tropes in court drama movies is the bad lawyer, the one who is defending the bad guy. You know he’s gonna ask some very uncomfortable questions and will do something to piss the hell out of us. The scene where he discusses the details of the sexual assault in the court room, we knew we hated him. Chaddha saab was gruesome but our Amrish ji was nothing less than a star to have played that character to perfection. Sunny Deol’s ‘Dhai kilo ka haath’ is another iconic thing to come out of this movie.
