Celebrated Indian actor Om Puri passed away on Friday, according to media reports. He was 66 years old and died of a heart attack early on Friday morning.
According to reports, Om Puri’s body is at his residence in Andheri.
Puri was a talented actor who had appeared in movies in several languages across the world. He had worked in Indian and Pakistani cinema, apart from Hollywood movies and British shows.
Om Puri, who is the recipient of two national awards (best actor), was recently in the news for his comments on central government's demonetisation. Though he hailed the move that will have "long term gains," Om Puri went on to criticize the "poor execution" of the move.
He was awarded the Padma Shri by the Indian government in 1990.
Puri was a student from the Film and Television Institute of India and the National School of Drama.
He married Nandita Puri in 1993, and the couple officially separated in 2013.
He started his career in the 1970s and continued taking up projects till the very end.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official twitter handle said the PM condoled the passing away of the iconic actor.
The Prime Minister condoles the passing away of actor Om Puri & recalls his long career in theatre & films.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 6, 2017
Film maker Karan Johar took to Twitter to condole the death of the veteran actor. With the demise of Om Puri, Karan Johar said that "cinema has lost a brilliant artist."
Solid actor....Solid filmography....immense talent.... #RIPOmPuri ....cinema has truly lost a brilliant artist....
— Karan Johar (@karanjohar) January 6, 2017
Actor Anupan Kher and director Madhur Bhandarkar also expressed their shock at Om Puri's demise
Seeing him lying on his bed looking so calm can’t believe that one of our greatest actors #OmPuri is no more. Deeply saddened & shocked.
— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPkher) January 6, 2017
Shocked to know that the immensely talented actor #OmPuri passed away. Big loss to our film industry. RIP
— Madhur Bhandarkar (@imbhandarkar) January 6, 2017