Veteran Indian actor Om Puri, star of British hit
East is East, has died aged 66, a family member
has told the BBC.
The actor suffered a heart attack at his residence
in Mumbai early on Friday, reports say.
Om Puri, who acted in both mainstream and art
films, was known for his gritty performances in a
number of landmark Indian films in the 1980s.
He also appeared in a number of British films,
including a cameo in Richard Attenborough's epic
on Mahatma Gandhi.
A versatile actor, Puri was known for his roles in
Indian, Pakistani, British and Hollywood films. He
was awarded an honorary OBE for his
contribution to the British film industry in 2004.
He found international fame for his roles in
American and British films, including the 1999
British comedy East is East about a Pakistani
immigrant adjusting to life in the north of
England.
Puri also worked in City of Joy, The Reluctant
Fundamentalist and most recently in The
Hundred-Foot Journey.
At home, Puri was best-known for his
performances in critically acclaimed films like
Ardh Satya, Sadgati, Paar and the satirical Jaane
Bhi Do Yaaro.
Puri was one of India's truly successful crossover
actors, doing films with stars such as Jack
Nicholson and Tom Hanks, says BBC's Soutik
Biswas.
His roles in Govind Nihalani's Aakrosh as a tribal
man falsely accused of murder and a policeman
in Ardh Satya beaten back by the system remain
among the finest performances on Indian screen,
our correspondent says.
In a tweet two weeks ago, the actor reflected on
his life and career:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office led the
tributes to the actor:
