This actor once washed utensils on the roadside, was called ugly, became a star because of…

This actor was one of the most talented gems the Indian film industry has ever had. His acting and voice is still cherished by the cinema lovers.

This actor came from an underprivileged background. He was six years old when his father was put behind bars on allegations of theft of cement. He was a railway employee. This resulted in their family becoming homeless. To make ends meet, this actor’s brother, worked as a coolie (railway porter) and he worked in a local tea shop, did odd jobs and collected coal from nearby railway tracks to support his family. He and his brother’s children were later brought up by a maidservant.

His fondness for acting in films began in childhood after completing primary education, he decided to join the acting school in Delhi. His English was very poor as he studied in a Punjabi medium school. He improved his language with the help of Qaidi Saheb at the National School of Drama (NSD).

The actor started his career with the film ‘Ghasiram Kotwal’, but he got recognition from the 1983 film ‘Ardh Satya’. He later became known as the greatest actor of Indian cinema who had a mesmerising voice too.

Not many know that this famous star’s financial conditions were not good, which is why he used to wash dishes at roadside eateries. The actor himself said in a talk show, “I used to wash dishes at the age of six”.

We are talking about Om Puri, who was admitted to the National School of Drama due to his passion for acting, despite his ordinary appearance. He did not have the conventional looks of a hero. In fact, Shabana Azmi once called him ugly and questioned his dream of becoming an actor. Om Puri shared this interesting incident on ‘The Anupam Kher Show.’

Naseeruddin Shah was a close friend of Om Puri, and both studied together at the NSD. Om Puri once mentioned that he became a non-vegetarian because of Naseeruddin. The two worked together in films like Aakrosh, Droh Kaal, Sparsh, and Go too, friends. Apart from working in Bollywood, Om Puri has been a part of 12 International films including Code 46, The Parole Officer, Happy Now?, The Mystic Masseur, Bollywood Calling and Charlie Wilson’s War.

Om Puri was awarded the fourth highest civilian honour of India, Padma Shri in 1990.