The Om Puri story: 26 years of marriage that ended in judicial seperation

Mumbai: Veteran actor Om Puri, known for his unforgettable performances in cinema classics like "Ardh Satya", "Aakrosh" and "City of Joy", passed away at his residence here this morning after a massive heart attack. The 66-year-old actor is survived by estranged wife Nandita and son Ishsan. Om Puri and wife Nandita opted for judicial separation after 26 years of marriage in February 2016.

• Puri and Nandita decided to live separately without going for a divorce with the actor getting visiting rights to son Ishaan, 18, after things turned ugly between them following her biography of the actor.
• "It was a clash of our sensibilities. This happens with people so there is nothing unusual in it. Nandita and I are supposed to talk only regarding Ishaan’s education and welfare,” Puri had told PTI over phone from Mumbai.
• His lawyer Jalaja Nambiar had said that the couple would have separate lives without divorce.
• "Mr Puri wanted divorce but because things started going here and there, he opted for an amicable settlement and the court granted them judicial separation under which they are a married couple legally but have their separate lives and cannot interfere in each other’s matter,” she said.
• Nandita, who had earlier filed a domestic violence case against the actor, seemed more positive.
• On being questioned on the accusations of domestic violence, Om Puri in a show on ABP News Channel said that, Nandita's accusations were lies and that she was able to get a fake FIR lodged becuase she was friends with an IAS officer and a media person.
• Puri also blamed the media for only puytting forth his wife's point of view and said that nobody bothered to ask his version of the split.
• Nandita and Puri’s differences came out in open with the release of his biography “Unlikely Hero: The Story of Om Puri” that his wife wrote.

Courtesy: Filmy Monkey

• At first, actor Om Puri accused the media of sensationalizing segments of his biography written by his wife Nandita, causing "much embarrassment" to him and his family.
• The book Unlikely Hero is a tribute to my friends, my colleagues, my mentors and the women in my life. Nandita is a journalist of repute and I am proud of her writing."
• "I have read some parts of the book and it sounds dignified and good," publishers Roli Books quoted Puri as saying in a statement.'
• "Unfortunately, the media has picked up certain portions out of context and glorified it. They have blown it out of proportion and added words I have not said or even heard of.
• It has upset my family, especially my twelve-year-old son and he has taken it badly," the actor said.
• "It has tarnished Nandita's reputation as a serious writer and my image as well. It pains me that because of the sensationalism by certain segments of the press, my family and I have to go through so much embarrassment," Puri added.
• Indignant with the media coverage, author Nandita said that the book has been misrepresented. She said she had tried to present an entire era of Indian cinema through her husband's life story but media has chosen to portray it as "pornography".
• The author said that Puri had chosen to talk about only those relationships in the book that had touched him and contributed to his being.
• "He chose to tell me about his relationships with those women, who meant a lot to him and touched him in a special way. But by pulling out those portions and putting them in wrong context, the media has not only tarnished Puri's image but has also hurt the women in his life," Nandita said denying reports that Puri was upset with her for making public the details of his private life.
• "If he did not want them to be public he would not have spoken to me about them," she added.
• However, later the book stirred a major controversy with Puri expressing displeasure over some of the references made in it from his personal life.
• Puri felt Nandita exposed his past relationships in the book in a disrespectful manner.

Regardless, Om Puri continues to be a giant of parallel and new wave cinema who delivered some stellar performances in "Ardh Satya", "Aakrosh" and "Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron" while being equally at home with Bollywood potboilers and Hollywood movies such as "East Is East" and "City of Joy". The actor, who starred in around 300 movies, won the National Film Award for best actor for his role as a police inspector in the 1982 film "Ardh Satya". He also received the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award of India in the year 1990. After the end of art cinema movement, Puri shifted to mainstream cinema where he did memorable character roles while continuing to give noteworthy performances in films like "Vijeta", "Ghayal", "Droh Kaal", "Maachis", "Ghatak: Lethal", "Chachi 420", "Khoobsurat", "Pukar", "Hera Pheri" and "Dev". The actor was recently in line of fire owing to his comments on Indian soldiers following the Uri attack. Watch Om Puri on 'Press Conference':