Om Puri {18th october 1950 – 6th January 2017}. His father worked on the railways and served in the Indian Army. Puri graduated from the Film and Television Institute of India Pune. He is also an alumnus of the 1973 class of National School of Drama Delhi. Puri is an Indian actor who has appeared in both mainstream Indian films and art films.
Puri has worked in numerous Indian films and in various films produced in the United Kingdom and the United States. He made his film debut in the 1976 film Ghashiram Kotwal, based on a Marathi play of the same name. He is known for art films such as Bhavni Bhavai, Sadgati, Aakrosh, Mirch Masala, Tamas, Dharavi, Maachis, East is East, Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron, In Custody, Dhoop, Gandhi and City of Joy.
Puri was a two-time winner of National Film Award for Best Actor for Arohan (1981) and Ardh Satya (1983). He also won BAFTA Award for East Is East (1999).
Puri was awarded Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award of India, in 1990.
The LIFFT iNDIA Om Puri Award For Best Actor is in conjunction with Om Puri Foundation.
